“Yeah, Lindy girl,” Cassius’s voice finds me, “do you want children?”
“I’m not sure.I always pictured a life with kids, but I love my job, my husband travels a lot too, so maybe it’s not in the cards for us.”
“Anything you want, I’ll give you,” Cassius says before she answers me.
“Wise,” she says.“Children slow you down.”
Twenty minutes.That’s how long I have to keep her talking.Long enough for Cassius to get in, get what he needs, and get out without being seen.Long enough that she’s not suspicious tomorrow when I approach her again.Long enough that she’ll talk to me without hesitating while somewhere else in the hotel my husband kills hers.
“You’re doing so good,” he says again.“I’ve got your back.Every second.”
I believe him.Even with panic licking the base of my throat.Even with my skin crawling.Even with guilt suffocating me at playing a part in the death of this woman’s husband.I believe him.Because I know exactly what kind of man we’re here to destroy.And I know exactly the kind of man waiting for me when it’s over.
The candle on our table flickers.I nudge it to the center three inches and watch the flame decide what it wants.The wine is red and warm in my chest, but I can’t taste it.Cassius orders for both of us, his hand resting over mine.L I N D Y /// G I R Lpresses gentle into my knuckles, and out of nowhere the image arrives: the same letters slick and red, bracketing my knees on tile.It feels borrowed; a memory from a future I don’t want.
“You were incredible today,” he says quietly, just for me.I stare at the candle between us.The flame flickers like it’s trying to whisper something I can’t hear.The ghosts crowd the glass, breath fogging reflections.
“I feel sick,” I admit.“I liked her.Ireallyliked her.What does that say about me?”
Cassius doesn’t flinch.“That you’re human.That you’re better than me.”
“You’re not bad, Cassius.”
“I’m not good either,” he replies.“But you are.And what you did today will save lives.That woman might mourn a man who probably never loved her, but you helped stop the kind of hurt that never heals.Don’t forget that.”
I blink fast, the tears threatening again.I nod instead of speaking and tap the underside of the table with my ring.Three.Five.
“I can’t lose you to guilt, Lindy girl,” he says.“You’re stronger than that.”
The water in the spa pool is warm, too warm.It’s supposed to be relaxing, but I can’t unclench my jaw.She’s humming some song under her breath, something jazzy and low, and I want to scream.The ghosts go alert, turning their heads the way dogs do before thunder.Gideon’s brim tips toward the ceiling.Stay alert, Melinda,he warns.
Cassius didn’t give me the full play-by-play, just enough to know he’ll be killing a man today.A man I pray doesn’t join myCassius killed usclub and start hanging around.
“I think I’ll book a facial today,” she says, stretching her arms over her head.Her hair is pulled up in a towel.She smells like eucalyptus.A tiny matte-black spider dangles from her neck—so small I would’ve missed it if Gideon’s gaze hadn’t snagged there.“You should come with me.It’s my treat.”
“Go with her darling,” Cassius breathes in my ear.Even.Too even.“It’s the perfect way to make sure you two are nowhere near us.”
Guilt rises, hands on my throat.She’s a nice woman.Not stupid, just softened by privilege.She doesn’t know what her husband is.Or maybe she does, and she’s convinced herself it’s something else.
She glances at me.“You okay?”
I nod quickly.“Just got a little lightheaded.”I press two fingers to my temple, three slow presses, pause, five more.
“Let’s go sit by the cold plunge pool,” she says.“Vegas takes it out of you if you don’t know how to pace yourself.”She tucks a loose towel edge with precision.“But the city rewards stamina.”
I follow her to the other side of the spa and sit back down on a lounger while she slips off to the restroom.
“How’s our timing?”I whisper.
A hairline crackle licks the line.“On schedule.I’m still watching.Almost done, darling.Just keep her away from her room.”His words clip off at the end, like he’s talking through his teeth.
“Okay.”I press my fingers to my temple, trying to breathe through the tightness in my chest.
But something’s wrong.I count the tiles.Thirty-one.Thirty-three.Thirty.The channel fuzzes for half a second.Clears.
“Cassius?”
White noise nips my ear.Clears again.
