His hands still, then continue pulling a cable he doesn’t connect to the camera he’s working on. Interesting…
“Because I’m good at disappearing,” is all he says in response.
I hold in a second snort. He’s better at disappearing than he is at hiding the lie he’s currently trying to sell me.
If the cameras aren’t wired into the electrical, then they’re Wi-Fi with a battery life… Which means I’ve got a deadline. My guess is it’ll be a lot sooner than the expiration date this visit alludes to, if HimLock even expects me to notice what’s happening.
I don’t call attention to the discovery, just in case…
He crouches by the door, unzips the duffel, and opens a black case. An assortment of tools glints under the overhead light, but his focus never wavers or wanders toward me.
“You don’t have to be afraid,” he says quietly, catching me off guard.
I quirk a brow. “I’m not.”
“Even when no one’s around, someone is,” he murmurs without looking at me. “Watching over you.”
“Someone’s always watching,” I reply, tone flat. “That’s the fucking problem.”
His mouth twitches like he’s fighting a smile, though it doesn’t last more than a second. He stands, finishes syncing the first camera, and moves to the next room like he’s got somewhere else to be.
And maybe he does…
Jace works fast. Efficient. Each sound of his drill bleeds into the next, creating a rhythm that screams competence. It’s clear to me that he’s done this before… The question is, was the recipient willing?
I follow him with my eyes, not my body, trying to ignore how familiar he feels. Trying not to wonder if that familiarity is his fault or mine. I know what happened between us was a one-time hookup, but why exchange numbers if you weren’t at least contemplating doing it again?
I wouldn’t say no…
I mean, I might say no right now. But later? I’d change my mind.
That’s why I don’t ever swap contact information.
He steps away from the new camera in my living room, straightening as he wipes his hands on his jeans like they’re dirty.
You know what’s really dirty?
A camera in my fucking bedroom.
But I don’t say anything.
Not yet.
“You’ll get a notification once the feed is active,” he informs me, tidying his tools and shit. “Everything runs through an app, and you should get an invitation to download any minute now.”
Jace doesn’t wait for a thank-you, or ask if I have any questions. He just gives a nod and a tight smile before he leaves. The lock clicks into place behind him, and I glare at a spot on the wall like I can produce fire from my eyes alone.
Silence fills the apartment.
And when I finally relent, coming to terms with the fact that I lack superpowers when I need them most… I grab my phone and open the HimLock app to a waiting message.
Locke:
How is the work going?
Eris:
Everything is done and secure.
