I pushed off my bike and walked toward his car. “The girl. Was she a twin?”
Roger looked around before he rushed around his car and got in my face. “You risked me losing my fucking job for a dumbass question like that? The police are crawling around here today. You could get us both—”
I lowered my voice. “Was. She. A twin?”
“A—a twin? The documents would have—”
“If the documents had my answer, I wouldn’t be here. I told you to get me everything, Roger. You gave your word that you’d give me everything. So, why do I feel like you haven’t done exactly that even though I paid you to do a thorough job? Or do you not remember that little bonus we worked out?”
“Of course, I remember,” he glowered.
I grinned. “How is she, anyway? Your… bonus?”
His voice fell to a hushed whisper. “Just tell me what you want. I’m exhausted, all right?”
“I already told you: I want to know if she was a twin.”
His voice lowered into a hushed whisper. “How the hell am I supposed to know that?”
My hand bolted out and wrapped around his throat. “Get in your car.”
He gagged for air. “Dante, please. You’re—you’re hur—”
I reached down and tugged at the locked car door. “Open it, Roger.”
He fumbled with his keys. “I can’t—you’re hurt—I can’t breathe. Dante, I can’t—.”
I yanked the keys from his hand and pressed the singular button that unlocked the door. I tossed him inside and looked around at the empty parking lot before shoving my head inside the small compartment alongside him. I whipped the knife off my hip and flipped open the blade. It twinkled beneath the rays of sun that continuously peeked out from beyond the clouds above our heads. Clouds that hung heavy and low with the impending doom of a thunderstorm. Clouds that would rain down the way I’d spill his fucking blood if he didn’t give me the truth.
I traced it along his cheek as he shivered beneath me. His body, warning him of the danger hovering above him. His eyes, wider than the sun as they threatened to pop out of his head. I loved their fear. I smelled it two miles away and cherished the feeling every single time. I wanted him afraid. I wanted him crying. I wanted him to be a little pussy-whipped asshole in the palm of my hand. After all, it had taken me a great deal of time and effort to arrange a date between him and the woman he wouldn’t stop gushing over.
Then again, most people would do anything for money.
Even compromise their moral code.
“You’ve got one last chance, Roger,” I said, holding the sharpened blade to his jugular. “Go get me every fucking shred of information you’ve got on this girl and her medical records, including who the fuck was in that room with her the day she was born, or so help me fuckingGodthis E.R. won’t be able to help you once they find your mangled body in this pathetic excuse for a car you’ve got.”
“Fine, fine, fine,” he practically wheezed, “just get off me. Get off!”
I removed the knife. “You have until dinner time to get me what I need.”
“What!?” he squealed. “But—but that’s in less than one—”
I rose up and out of his car before I tucked my blade away. “Now, get. Time’s a’tickin’.”
I’d never seen anyone move so quickly in all my life. He practically scrambled out of that car, not bothering to close the door behind him. He tripped over his own two feet as he scrambled back toward the emergency room doors, and I put on my best smile. An elderly couple walked by me, their prying gazes slamming my heart against my chest. I hated Nosey Nancys, and it seemed as if this town was fucking full of them.
“Hello, there,” I said as I nodded and waved.
I watched them like a fucking hawk while the woman stared me down. The man managed to lift his hand and wave, but if he didn’t keep that wife of his on a leash, they’d be in trouble. As they flounced by, I thought about how I’d spill their blood. Maybe I’d string the old man up by his legs before asking his wife what she thought she was doing staring me down like that. Maybe I’d let her have a taste of me, the man she couldn’t stop gawking at, while her husband watched upside down.
“Lovely day, isn’t it?” I called out to them.
Much to my relief, though, the woman finally managed to smile and wave. “Looks like rain, though!”
I shrugged, holding out my arms. “Good thing I love the rain!”
“Hey, you and me both! We used to dance in it all the time,” the man said, waggling his finger between himself and his wife.
