The waitress in the small coffee shop didn’t like him. She wasn’t blunt about it, but with every passing hour, she tried less and less to pretend. Well, hehadbeensitting there for over three hours and taking advantageof the generous offer of unlimited coffee refills. He should probably order something to eat, but everything on the menu was so damn expensive.
He had seen Daniel entering his office building hours ago, walking next to a tall, well-built man who was likely his coworker. Since then, Trevor had been waiting for Daniel to leave work so he could follow him and make sure nothing fishy was going on. It meant little, really, since Daniel could be plotting right now in the safety of his office, but Trevor had nothing to do about that—he couldn't risk being seen inside Daniel's building while supposedly being in Florida.
Trevor yawned and rested his arms on the tall counter, watching people coming and going like ants. There wasn’t enough money in the world that could make him enslave himself to some firm or a boss. He knew that the problem was with him and not with the rest of the world, but he was simply wired differently, always had been. His mom used to laugh at the concept of “normal”, but maybe because she, like Trevor, couldn’t pretend to be what they weren’t.
Someone sat next to him, but Trevor kept staring ahead, acknowledging his growing hunger. He was going to cave and order something, but fuck if he was leaving a tip.
“He finishes at six.”
Trevor blinked at the sound of a Russian accent. He glanced at the man sitting next to him. “Were youtalking to me?”
The man looked into his eyes, and Trevor’s balls shrunk.
“He finishes at six,” he said again.
“Who does?”
“The man you’re spying on.”
He now recognized him as the one who had walked into the building alongside Daniel this morning. “I’m not spying on anyone.” His voice wasn’t steady, maybe because the man was leaning in too close.
He’s going to break my face. Nicely played, Danny.
The Russian shrugged and looked to the front, his jawline sharp enough to cut glass. “Maybe I’m mistaken. I thought you were here because of the money.”
He should have used the opportunity to split with his bones still intact, but curiosity got the best of him. “You know who I am?”
“The evil brother.” The man eyed him. “You looked better in your old photos.”
“Ouch.”
“He doesn’t like you.”
“Are you two friends?”
The man laughed. Even his laughter had an accent. “I’m not a friend of that cheater, but I need to protect him from you.” He gave Trevor a disappointed glance, unimpressed with the challenge.
Trevor cleared his throat. “Listen, I’m just sitting here enjoying a bit of coffee. Not looking to cause anyproblems.”
The man narrowed his eyes. “How are you going to get your money back without causing problems?”
Trevor hesitated. The conversation was moving on an unexpected path, although it could be a trick.Does Daniel know I’m here? Did he send this guy over?Somehow, Trevor’s instinct told him that this was not Daniel’s doing. “How much do you know about what’s going on?”
“Enough to know that he still doesn’t have a solution, and that you are desperate.”
That was both rude and accurate. “What’s your name?”
“Dima.”
“Are you Daniel’s bodyguard?”
“I don’t know Daniel.”
“I meant Chris.”
“Then say Chris. Yes, I was made his bodyguard by the weird and loud man I work for.”
“I might be wrong, but it doesn’t seem like you dig this gig much.”
