“Sure.”
Jacob stares me down. “She was a nice girl.”
“Yes, I’m sure Hayden would agree.”
Jacob’s cheeks turn ruddy at my not-so-subtle dig. That means it’s time for me to leave him alone or incur his wrath, which would consist of not allowing me any dessert for a week straight. I cut a piece of the still warm zucchini bread, then bound up the stairs. Hayden’s bedroom door is cracked, so I stick my head in to check on him. He’s sitting at his computer desk, head in his hands, foot tapping a silent beat against the ground.
“Yo,” I call out softly.
Hayden’s shoulders lower a fraction before he turns to aim a glassy-eyed look my way. “Sup?”
I push into the room and kick the door closed to give us privacy. I set the savory bread on the table beside his elbow, then stalk around the room, inspecting the various posters hanging on the wall. Most of them are from science camps Hayden went to as a kid or concerts he attended with his older brother. Comfortable silence envelops us for a while, until I turn around to check that he’s eating his bread. Hayden’s sweet tooth will kill him one day, but Jacob’s doing his best to cut the habit by adding vegetables to anything he can as if Hayden is a wayward toddler. In some ways he is after his stilted childhood and genius.
“The mission the other night went as planned,” I tell him.
Hayden wrinkles his nose, licking his fingers clean as heshoves the last piece of bread into his mouth. With chipmunk cheeks, it’s easy to forget Hayden wrangles us all for Robin.
“Saw it on the news.”
I grin. “Another for the record books.”
Hayden hums and turns back to his computer. I watch curiously as he tugs his notepad closer, his hand making quick scratches at it. A second later, he turns around to brandish the paper at me. Taking the offending note from him, I look down at the paper in my hand with a curious tilt of my head. I recognize that name. Wait.
“Yeah, Reid’s uncle.”
All the air leaves me in a woosh. “You can’t be serious.”
“He’s coming into town to visit Mason and Reid, then attend some gala downtown.”
“I can’tkilltheir uncle.”
“Do you want to read the brief Robin sent me that warrants it?”
I swallow hard. It’s always a catch-22 after I read a brief. Sometimes it gives me the motivation I need to finish the job, to make a mark hurt, but sometimes it reminds me I’m playing judge and executioner when it’s not remotely my position. But there’s something inside me that likes the thrill of the kill, and that fact scares me most of all. Because when I’m done with this… When I move on after college, how am I going to get this same thrill? Hunting? I don’t think so. Killing animals just makes me sick. Killing humans who don’t deserve to be alive? Well, that helps me sleep deeply at night, so I don’t know what to tell myself anymore.
Finally, I shake my head, and Hayden grins in a way that chills me straight to the bone. It’s the smile that saysI’ve got your number. But he doesn’t, no one does. Tomorrow night, Senator Warton will be at the Adoria Hotel in downtownEastport for some gala to drum up donations for his upcoming campaign. Something about this situation makes me feel off guard.
“Reid wants to throw Dante a birthday party, by the way,” I say just as I’m about to leave.
Hayden tilts his head. “But his birthday is in September?”
I squeeze my eyes shut for a second and promptly flee the room. We’re allshittybrothers. Jesus. Dante does so much for us all and we don’t even know when his birthday is. Reluctantly, it makes me admit that maybe Reid is a good boyfriend. I pass by Dante’s room on the way to mine and can’t help but smile at the sound of Dante’s low laugh, followed by Reid’s irritated grumble.
Settling into the chair at my desk, I bring up as much information about the gala tomorrow night that I can. Ticketed entry only, which means I won’t be killing him at the gala. Probably better since I don’t want my face splashed across headlines as the accused killer of a South Carolina senator.
I lose track of time per usual, only realizing it’s dinnertime when the timer on my phone goes off. Dinner is usually promptly ready at the same time every night. Probably mostly for me. I’m not in the mood for food tonight though.
Skipping dinner
Jacob
I’ll save you a plate
Hayden says he’ll bring it up when he’s done
Thanks
Jacob
