His concern had centered on what a billionaire like Nikos Aeto could have in common with Kiki, but Harvey had made some good points about it being harder for Kiki to scare the man off.
When he’d seen Kiki’s closed expression a few minutes ago, he’d assumed the date hadn’t gone well. Maybe it had gone a little too well, only for Kiki to discover the timing was off. That could dampen the fervor.
No wonder Kiki looked so unhappy when she left,he mused with relief.
He chuckled as he looked into Harvey’s dancing eyes. He had to admit he felt a spark of hope ignite for Kiki, too. Maybe, just maybe, their blind-date blackmail had actually worked. Kiki deserved happiness more than anyone he knew.
“You really think this could develop into something between them?” Jim asked, letting the hopeful undertone seep into his voice.
“Absolutely,” Harvey said, his eyes glinting with determination as he reached for the bag of groceries. “Kiki’s a sweet girl. If anyone can break through her walls, Nikos can. I mean, it’s impossible to miss the chemistry between the two of them.”
Jim lifted an eyebrow. “Only because it’s impossible to keep you fromspying!”
Harvey laughed. “This is amoment! It deserves to be witnessed!”
Jim chuckled in response. “Okay. Let’s hope you’re right. I picked up Chinese takeout. Do you want to watch the movie you picked up yesterday?” he asked.
“Only if I can talk through it,” Harvey replied with a cheeky smile.
Jim huffed a laugh. “You always do.”
They put away the groceries and set their dinner on the tv table, Jim smiling fondly as Harvey continued to gush over the magnificent kiss he had witnessed.
Kiki perched on the edge of the shadows, a specter in black, waiting patiently outside Nikos Aeto’s apartment building. The evening air was thick with the scent of rain-soaked pavement. The rumble of city life washed around her as she paused, deciding her next move.
Her heart thrummed like a war drum, a rhythmic reminder of the task ahead. Her gaze bore into the entrance of the underground garage. It glowed like a beacon in the darkness, its bright lights casting long shadows on the walls as it illuminated the slick asphalt. Her eyes skimmed over the steady gaze of surveillance cameras and the diminutive booth where the attendant sat, oblivious to the world around him.
Two black SUVs pulled up in tandem. The glimmer of their polished surfaces caught her eye, sharp against the night. Anger flared through her veins and clenched her stomach when the gate whirred open. The attendant’s smirk was a bitter reminder of the corruption that tainted the souls of some humans.
She waited a few minutes, giving the vehicles time to disappear into the guts of the garage before she flicked her hand, energy thrumming in her fingertips as she unleashed a silent command. The attendant slumped forward, the smirk wilting away like a flower robbed of light as he collapsed in a heap inside his booth.
Kiki moved without hesitation, melding into the shadows as she slipped across the street. The lights flickered ominously over the entrance, as if warning the world of her intrusion, beforethey went out. She approached the booth, her senses alive, each heartbeat quickening her resolve.
She turned the door handle with deliberate care and stepped inside. The cramped space smelled stale, a suffocating mixture of cheap cologne and sweat.
The attendant lay crumpled against the corner, unaware of her presence. She swiftly patted him down, her fingers brushing against the fabric of his vest until she found the wad of cash nestled in an inner pocket. A smirk danced on her lips as she pocketed the money and gave a gentle pat to his cheek.
“You should make better choices, dude,” she murmured.
Kiki rose and stepped out of the booth. With a twist, she locked the door behind her before she pulled it closed.
That should really drive him crazy,she thought with amusement.
She relished the satisfaction of playing her part in this little game of shadows. This was the part of being a superhero that she liked. It looked like there was going to be a nice donation to Jose’s equipment fund.
She made sure she was far enough down the ramp to be covered by shadows before she waved her hand again. The lights flickered back on over the entrance.
The attendant rose, rubbing his head groggily, his confusion clear as he mumbled to himself. Her lips twitched when she noticed him squinting around the brightly lit interior of the booth. When he patted his pockets and let out an explosive curse, Kiki couldn’t help but chuckle silently, a ghostly sound swallowed by the ambiance of the city. The sound of his frustration rang in her ears like sweet music.
“You snooze you lose, dude,” she chuckled.
She turned and moved down the slope into the bowels of the underground parking lot. The lights flickered above her, a stuttering heartbeat guiding her deeper into the shadows. The atmospherethickened with tension as she navigated through rows of parked cars, each a fortress of expensive steel that protected her from being seen.
The murmur of low voices caused her to slow her steps. She moved forward with caution. Crouching behind the back wheel of a sleek Bentley, she pressed her back against the cool metal, her breath shallow, the world narrowing to the whispers resonating just a few feet away.
“Are you sure it’s the right Aeto?” one voice hissed, dark and gravelly, tinged with impatience.
“Who cares? We can take both of them. That way there is no confusion if we took the right brother or not,” another answered, smoother, dripping with confidence.
