Foster tucks his gun away and looks over his shoulder at me as he does a quick search of the body. “No drugs on him.”
I shrug. “We weren’t expecting it anyway. Any directions about the body?”
He’s already got his phone out, taking pics and rolling the body over to make sure he gets the face. Marc’s cheeks are still flushed, his face frozen in an expression of permanent terror, or at least until a good mortician gets their hands on him.
“Nope. Dirty alley is as good as anywhere.”
“Perfect. Let’s get out of here.”
We head back to where Foster parked, several blocks away from the scene. The body will eventually be found, and depending on how high-profile Marc David Johansson is it might be on the nightly news.
“Do you think Shadow feels comfortable with me now?” Foster asks as he pulls into traffic.
“He’ll ask my opinion and I’ll tell him you definitely don’t need any more training.”
“Is this the same process for everyone? Wraith said it was, but I wondered if Shadow didn’t trust me yet.”
“Shadow doesn’t trust anyone for a long time, so don’t take that personally. And yes, it’s the same for all of us. He just wants to make sure you get the culture embedded in you right away. That’s important to him.”
“He doesn’t talk much, but he seems cool.”
Glancing out the window at the passing buildings, I nod. “He is. He’ll warm up the more he gets to know you.”
“So is it like a prerequisite that everyone he hires is queer?”
I actually chuckle at that. “Just lucky.”
Foster nods. “Do you date any women?”
“I used to.” I drag a hand through my hair as memories ofmy closeted youth flood back. “I was in a rough situation, all that shit. It wasn’t safe for me to be out so I dated girls and convinced myself that I could be straight.” I also made a lot of money that way, but that’s none of Foster’s business.
“But you’re not bi?”
“No. You?”
“Nope. So, so gay.”
I chuckle. “Same.” Rubbing my hands together, I glance at him. “You’re lucky you found Joss. It’s hard dating with this lifestyle. It’s not like you can put the fact that you’re a hitman in your dating profile.”
Foster laughs. “No. You’re hot though. I don’t imagine you have a hard time meeting men.”
“I don’t, but I do have a problem with obsessing over men I can’t have.”
“Dude. Who would say no to you? Not flirting or anything, man, but you know, seriously?”
“It happens.” At least with one man. “I’m not ready for all that domestic shit anyway. I got a lot of time before someone locks me down.”
“I love it,” he says, his voice softening. “Never thought I would, but Joss is like…” He shrugs. “He’s a bright spot in a dark world.”
I bite my bottom lip. That feeling is familiar to me. Even though I hardly know Cashmere, he lights me up, and things have been pretty bleak since I’ve made myself stay away.
“I’m happy for you.”
“It’ll happen for you too. When you’re ready.”
“Yeah.”
We finish the drive in silence, and when we get home, we part ways. Foster joins the guys in the rec room to talk about his job tonight while I head straight to my bedroom. The only way I can make sure I won’t go right back out to Segreto is to get in the shower and knock one out. If I can’t see him, I can at least fantasize about him.
