“Pet him for me, would you?”
Martha nods. “And how are you, young man?”
Connor waves. “Superb.”
Connor and I enter my building and hurry to reach my apartment. Yellow crime tape blocks my door. I stand in front of it, not knowing what to do. Connor rips off the tape, balls it up, and stuffs the wad into his pocket.
I stare at him.
“What?” he asks. “No spare key under the mat?”
“We can’t go in.”
His eyebrows draw down. “Why not?”
“Because of the yellow police tape.”
“I don’t see any tape.”
From across the hallway, my neighbor opens his door. He wears a brown checkered robe and a disapproving frown. “What have you done now? Police have been coming in and out of here for days. I couldn’t get any sleep from the noise.”
“Oh, you want to sleep?” Con pulls out a gun.
At the last second, I push Connor’s arm down, and the bullet goes through the wall. The noise of the shot is muffled by the suppressor. My neighbor scrambles inside and slams the door closed.
“What the hell was that?” I shout at Connor.
“He wanted peace and quiet.”
I tilt my head. “Are you crazy?”
“Mmhm.”
I gulp. “Really? As in for real?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know what is real for you or if my reality is considered real, but any asshole who comes at me with a piss-poor attitude will get the version of me they were looking for. People need to rethink their attitude. Dogs bark. Lions kill.”
“You could’ve told him to mind his business.”
“Words don’t mean shit anymore.” Connor breaks the door lock and enters my apartment. He goes straight into my bedroom as if he owns the place. There, he finds my suitcase inthe closet and throws it onto the bed. A single swipe of his long arm and all my clothes, along with the hangers, get scooped up. He throws them into the suitcase, then adds a few pairs of shoes.
“You want to grab your panties or should I?”
“Where are you taking me?”
Connor rolls his eyes. “I’m not taking you anywhere. Declan is taking you wherever he wants you to be.”
“And where is that?”
“I just told you. Wherever he wants you to be.”
I cross my arms. “I’ve got family that I need to notify. I can’t just up and disappear.”
“You’re not disappearing.”
“Please tell me what you’re planning to do with me.” My chin quivers.
Connor zips the suitcase closed. “No panties. Declan will appreciate the sentiment. Let’s go.” He rolls out the suitcase.
