“Maybe he is right, M. Perhaps you could ask Lana. But I would also suggest checking her whereabouts for any place that might have seemed off. It could be a clue,” Sara suggests. I sigh because I have to agree—Lana is my only way of knowing.
“Why would I do that?” I ask her.
“Lana lets you believe that she is always at home, at the gym, or at her two jobs. Maybe one place will stand out.”
“Call Hana and make that happen. And tell her that I need that information like yesterday.” Sara nods at me. “I need to know everything that she might know about her dad.”
“She won’t give that information up willingly, remember that.” Josh is correct, while Oliver nods along.
“Then I’ll take it unwillingly.” I put out my cigarette and look at all of them. “You all need to go because I need to pick up Lana. We’ll talk next week.” My team stands up and leaves for their homes. I go to my car to get Lana.
While I love my little hummingbird, I can’t help but think, has she been lying to me?
And if there’s one thing I hate more than anything, it’s liars.
42
Lana
“Yeah, I have dropped off your hens with your neighbor.”
“It wasn’t too big a job, I hope?” Emin asks me over the phone. I’m standing outside the hotel, waiting for M.
“Don’t worry, it wasn’t. Wait!” I yell over the phone before I hang up.
“Did you get the name of the previous owner?”
“I forgot, but I do remember that he had many animals. Like an arc.” Got it.
“Thank you. We’ll talk soon.” I hang up and cross my arms, hoping for some warmth. M has never said anything about my friendship with Emin. Probably because he is lis—
Fuck, he just texted me that he will be here in two minutes.
I wait and think about my day. The gig was a bit hard at the beginning, but I powered through it. It’s a little after 6 p.m., and, unusually, M isn't here right on time.
I’m not complaining, shit happens. But this is not like M.
Think of the devil, and he will show up. The delicious man wrapped in sin parks his car right in front of the hotel and steps out like he owns the fucking place. He is walking up to me with deliberate steps, and my alarm bells are ringing.
His smile is not quite reaching his eyes, and it seems practiced. He is wearing jeans and a black vest, and his hair has grown quite a bit, so it’s tousled. Why is he looking like he is about to do a job?
“Hi, Lana.”Lana.Notlittle hummingbird. This doesn’t feel good. He kisses me on the mouth, but not in a passionate way.
“Hi, M.”
“Before we go, I need you to do something.” I raise my eyebrows, and the coldness I experienced earlier is replaced by hot anger. What is he playing at? He points to the hotel with his chin.
“You are going to quit. Now.” I start laughing nervously, and I shuffle my feet in disbelief. When I look up at him, I see that he is not sharing my sentiment. He is dead serious.
“I’m not going to do that. I need this job.”
“I’ll provide for you.”
“No.” I only uttered one word, yet it feels like word vomit. M sighs in exasperation and reaches for something from his waistband. My eyes follow his movements, slowing down in time. He produces a gun with a silencer.
“You'd better do what I tell you.” He brings his face closer to mine. With his lips now near my ears. “Little hummingbird.” His tone is hushed, indicating that he is in control. I do the only sensible thing I can do at this point, I nod. My eyes find his, and I can read absolutely nothing.
They are filled with a void.
