Right now, I’m more nervous than I’ve ever been before.
It hits me then, what I’ve done, and I wince internally.You gave him your real name? Are you fucking joking right now?
Yeah, I should’ve gone for a pseudonym. It isn’t like there are a lot of Ansels walking around. Tonight is not the time for forgetting shit like that.
Then the man does something that changes everything. He grins widely and gives me his name. “Brad.”
“Brad?” My smile dims as I feel the blood drain from my face. Fuck. “Oh. Oh shoot… It can’t be,” I mutter under my breath, frantically searching for my phone. There is no way this fine specimen is the man I’ve been sent for. I take a few steps away, my shoulders slumping. “There’s no fucking way.”
But as I pull my phone out and glance at the screen, my worst fears are confirmed.
UNKNOWN
Trailside Tavern tonight. Male, midthirties. Brad Miller.
Brad.I don’t know why I bother to check. I’d done a deep dive on Brad Miller the instant I’d received the message. I know everything there is to know about him, except what he looks like. For whatever reason, Brad has been careful not to share any photos of himself on social media. If he had, maybe I wouldn’t have mistakenly believed he’d be a loner incel with a receding hairline and a swelling gut.
No, he’s a loner incel with the jaw of a Greek god and dimples that make my knees unfairly weak.
It doesn’t matter, I tell myself as I stow my phone and square my shoulders. I’ve got my orders, and it’s time to follow through.
Brad is watching me with undisguised amusement. He doesn’t seem thrown by my odd reaction to his name, which is good. If this is to work, I need him to trust me. Not a lot, just enough to follow me out into the woods.
I lift my chin, aiming for confidence. I’m not sure if I hit it. My lip is trembling along with my hands, but hopefully Brad won’t notice.
I try to speak, but it comes out as a stutter. I shake my head and try again. “I mean, nice to meet you.”
The bartender interrupts us. Brad orders a whiskey while I automatically go for my usual. “A strawberry daiquiri please.”
A bit pointless, really. If things go according to plan, it’s not like I’ll have time to drink it. Besides, I shouldn’t be giving anything more away about myself. I’m supposed to be like an FBI special agent, creating a secret identity to hide my crimes behind.
I’m used to doing that, but usually there’s a screen in front of me. Turns out it’s much harder when your mark is staring you in the face.
Serves you right for getting tangled up in this bullshit in the first place.That voice sounds remarkably like Neo’s. My best friend is going to be pissed as hell if he ever finds out exactly what I’m up to.
Especially given that he warned you away from the job in the first place.
“So, what brings you here?”
Brad’s question startles me out of my thoughts. I frantically remind myself of the plan.Get him into the woods. Everything else is already set to go. Just get him outside.“Oh, well, I want to get fucked.”
I was right to be blunt about it. Challenge lights up Brad’s eyes as his tongue darts over his lips. “Is that so?”
I nod, my hair dropping over my eyes again. I really am overdue for a haircut. It’s starting to annoy me.
I should take him outside now. He’ll follow me. But the bravado that’s carried me this far has fled. I’ll need something more to get me through the rest of it.
Looks like I’m making time for my daiquiri after all.
“It is. After this drink, I may have the courage to go through with it.”
Brad frowns. I groan internally. Does he have to be this good-looking? I’m sure this would’ve been easier if he were ugly.
Okay, I’m not that shallow. To be honest, I think my brain is just hunting for a reason to back out. That’s not a possibility, though.
Not if I want to live to see the morning.
“Are you sure this is something you want to do if you need liquor to get you there?”
