Adam
Today did not go as planned.
But I’m not upset by it at all.
Instead of a simple date, followed by dinner and some time between the sheets if Nova was amenable, I called it a night after we left the MET, much to Nova’s chagrin.
It felt like I would be taking advantage of her after an emotional afternoon. I may play the bad guy, but that’s not really me. I could never harm her in any way.
The entire date was eye-opening. The reason Nova is connected to Oscar is tied to her emotional breakdown at the MET. She didn’t tell me any details, not that I expected her to, but there is more to the puzzle.
I shouldn’t have this compulsion to learn more, to make it better for her however I’m able to. Yet I do.
My phone rings, pulling me out of my thoughts and any more what-ifs involving Nova I could come up with.
“Roth,” I answer.
“Package arriving tonight. I need it at my apartment immediately after.”
“Yes, sir.” I hang up without so much as another word. It’s not needed. Oscar and I don’t make small talk.
At least my plans with Nova fell through, otherwise explaining this would not have been a good time.
A sigh leaves my lips. I really hope I’m closing in with Oscar. It may mean losing Nova, but with my new assignment, I’m starting to feel like a prisoner. My time is Oscar’s. My job is Oscar’s. Hell, my life is becoming Oscar’s, and that’s not something I want to get too deep into.
There’s always a fear that I’ll lose myself in one of these undercover missions, but this is the first time I truly feel like it’s starting to happen. I sense the edges of my humanity getting lost to the dark evilness that Oscar brings with him everywhere. The only shining light has been Nova.
I stare at the blank wall in my apartment, wondering for the millionth time how I’ll get out of here once this is over. What I’ll do when it’s all said and done. This might be the end for me for undercover work. My family would be thrilled. Would I move back to Texas?
No, I’d beg Kellen for a different role within our team. Texas isn’t home anymore. But changing my position would allow me to see them more. My four sisters worry; I know that. They’ve lived whole lives without my involvement. I’ve missed it all. I’m not sure if it’s old age or what, but that thought is depressing as hell.
I count to ten in my head before I heave myself up off the couch. Time to go sit at Bella’s and nurse a club soda until the newest package arrives.
The fact that Nova isn’t working tonight means every other woman up on that stage is like nails to my eyes. All I see—all Iimagine—is Nova on stage, dancing just for me. Except she isn’t even here.
Fuck. When did this operation get so damn complicated?
Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the bouncers flagging me down. It really is highly inefficient, and I need a better system because I’m not waiting all night by the cave for someone to deliver shit. Only when I get the go-ahead from Woodcroft will I do that.
It takes me ten minutes to walk to the cave.
What I see when I step into the darkened area stops me in my tracks.
A stone with a hieroglyph is sitting propped up against one of the sides of the stone cave. My mind flashes to where it’s previously been held, rolling through images like a rolodex trying to place it, but all I can figure out is that it’s old. Like, prehistoric old. Maybe Upper Paleolithic, judging by the image.
Holy shit.
How fucking insane do you have to be to stroll up anywhere and drop off a priceless artifact like it’s just some shit you’re throwing out?
I don’t have gloves. I don’t have anything that I could wrap it in. Looking around, I see nothing that could help me, so I do the only thing my mind can think of in this moment of panic. My first reaction is to go back to Bella’s and hope I find a towel or something. I enter through the back door and head to the dressing room in hopes I find something big enough. Maybe Nova has something in her locker I can borrow.
I’m just stepping into the dressing area when I run into someone.
“Shit, I’m sorry,” I say reflexively, not considering where I am orwhoI’m supposed to be.
“Chris?” Nova’s voice should calm me down, but all it does is make me more frantic.
“Nova, what are you doing here? Never mind. I need a favor. Do you have a towel or a blanket in your locker?”
