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“You forgot this.” Kana passed him a messy, dirty blond wig.

“Fuck.” He ducked back into the seat and snatched the wig from her hands. He wrestled it over his hair, jamming the strands into every crevice.

“Wait,” said Kana. She tugged his sleeve, pulling him closer. She reached for his face before she froze. “May I?” she asked.

Alex nodded, hoping she would never have to ask for permission again.

Her cool fingers grazed his forehead, tucking in stray strands. A tingling rush shot through him when she slid her fingers under the cap’s edge and adjusted it, then styled the wig’s fringe into place. She stepped back, cheeks glowing pinker than usual, and smiled. “So that’s what you look like with your natural hair.”

He raised an eyebrow at her. “Is that a good thing?”

Hal dramatically cleared his throat in his ear, and Kana ducked out of the passenger side, hurrying around the car.

Before Alex joined them, he glanced at himself in the mirror. It was strange to see himself in his original hair color. It was almost like looking at another version of himself—the scared boy he hid away all those years ago. He sighed and slammed the car door behind him, hoping that this operation would finish soon before it stirred up any more unwanted memories.

Alex shoved his hands into his pockets, joining the crew, loitering at the street corner. Even with the few cars passing by on this chilly early morning, anyone would find three men in uniform strange.

Ken was the first one to notice him. “Stop slouching. It’s going to give it away that you’re faking it.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “Yessir,” he drawled, pulling his shoulders back. The security uniform was borrowed from Ken’s younger days. It fit Alex perfectly, which annoyed him more than it should have. “Look convincing now?”

Ken snorted. “Do the job right, and we’ll see.”

“The fuck does that mean?” Alex spat, fingers clenching.

“Guys!” Kana planted her hands on her hips. “Stop being dumbasses and get moving!” She muttered something under her breath. “I want to get this over with.”

Alex saluted. “Yes, ma’am.” He hovered his hand at the small of her back, ushering her ahead. “If we do everything right, we should be done in no more than an hour.”

“Would that give Connor enough time?” Hal asked, walking beside him. Alex hated to admit it, but the slick black suit and low man bun suited the guy. He’d never seen Hal this cleaned up. It was almost offensive how well he pulled it off.

“If not, we’ll wing it like always,” Alex reassured him.

The group stopped in front of the studio. A line of sleepy audience members already snaked around the alleyway. Alex stepped up to check how far back it went.

“Oh my God? Sammy?” someone screamed.

The line went dead silent. Everyone turned their heads in unison, like some fucking cult. Every single part of his body froze.

“Hi!” Kana waved with a pearly white smile.

People started screaming, their greedy hands outstretched.

“Sammy! Where were you?!”

“I love you so freaking much, Sammy! Oh my God!”

“Sammy, you’re my favorite Sugar!”

“I missed you, Sammy!”

Alex and Ken stepped in front of Kana. Hal locked in behind her. Hands reached for them from the line, greedy and grabbing. Alex’s fists clenched. One finger on her and somebody was losing teeth.

A sharp whistle cut through the commotion. A scrawny office man with a scowl on his face marched over.

“What on earth is going on—” He froze when his eyes landed on Kana. He rubbed his eyes under his thick square glasses and blinked a couple of times. “Do my eyes deceive me, or is that Sammy?”

Kana flashed a peace sign and a wink—full idol mode, like flipping a switch. “Yup! That’s me!” she chirped, her voice pitched a full octave higher than normal.