I was half laughing, half trying to catch up. “Wait, so how did you even know to show up today? I didn’t even know about this meeting.”
Jagger gave a non-answer, straightening his tie with military precision. “Let’s just say I have my ways.”
“That’s not comforting,” I said. “What exactly is your job again? You’re not CIA, are you? Or, like, an assassin? Because honestly, that would make a lot of sense.”
Jace grinned. “Let’s think. What kind of shady job has you disappearing for weeks, then showing up with a tan and bruises?”
“Those were vacations,” Jagger snapped, glaring at him. “I like to do action sports when I vacation, and sometimes I get bruises.”
“Uh-huh,” Jace said, completely unfazed. “You took a vacation to Belarus, Jagger-meister.”
Jagger’s jaw flexed. “People do that all the time.”
“Whataction sportsdid you do on your vacation?” Jace asked.
Jagger sighed again, pushing some hair out of his face. “I forget. It was a long time ago.”
Jace looked delighted. “See? That was a shady answer. It was last month.”
Jagger ignored him, turning back to me. “You’re clear, Adler. He won’t bother you again.” Then, with a pointed glance at his brother, he said, “Try not to call me in for whatever soap-opera bullshit you three get into next time. I have an actual life.”
Jace grinned wider. “An actual shady life.”
Jagger shook his head and stalked out, vanishing down the hall as quietly as he’d appeared.
The door shut behind him, and I collapsed into the nearest chair, running both hands over my face as the adrenaline bled out of me. It hit me then—what Jagger had just done. What could’ve happened if he hadn’t.
“Holy shit,” I breathed. “That was terrifying.”
Jace puffed out his chest. “Terrifyingly effective, you mean. You’re welcome, by the way.”
I let out a laugh, still in disbelief. “Thank you.”
He grinned, clapping me on the shoulder. “Just as long as this earns me more bestilicious points. It obviously puts me ahead of Parkie-poo. What has he even done for you lately? Come up with a possum idea? That’s terrible.”
I shook my head, pushing to my feet. “He’s definitely behind in points.”
Jace did a fist pump as we both left the room, muttering something about rewarding him with corn dogs.
I was going to pick up Ophelia and then go to Costco right after this and get him some. Along with some milk. I’d even spring for the organic kind. He deserved it.
Steam still clung to the air, the scent of soap and disinfectant mixing with sweat as I toweled off fast, trying to get out of there so I could see Ophelia.
I slung the towel around my waist and yanked open my locker, grabbing for clean clothes. My phone buzzed on the bench beside me. I ignored it, already reaching for my sweats when movement flickered in the mirror behind me.
A figure stepped out from around the corner.
Tall. Black hoodie. Mask.
I jumped, and the towel slipped from my hand and hit the tile with aslap.
The masked guy groaned. “For fuck’s sake, Adler. Haven’t I seen enough of your dick?”
“Shit,” I griped, snatching the towel off the ground and holding it in front of me as I shook my head. It would be my luck that my Sphinx handler, or whoever it was, would continue to catch me in compromising positions. Although in my defense, he was always somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be.
It hit me then: If he was here, that meant…it was time for my third trial.
I groaned, thinking I’d been through enough today, as he flicked a crimson envelope at me with two fingers, the wax seal glinting under the fluorescent lights before it hit my chest and fell to the floor.
