“Fuck, man! Damn!” He sputters, whiskey falling from his lips.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t count to three.” I chuckle. “Don’t worry, be a good boy and I’ll get you a lollipop.”
“That’s not funny.” He looks at me as though he can’t tell if I’m being serious or not.
Leaning over, I whisper in his ear, “Trust me, you don’t have the equipment I’m interested in.”
As soon as the words escape my lips, I can see him visibly relax.
This kid is going to be fun to fuck with.
I finish stitching his arm, cut the string, and before I walk off, I smack his shoulder where the freshly sewn stitches lie.
“There. All done.”
“God dammit! Fuck!” He shouts, grabbing his shoulder, “Is this how you make friends?”
My head pops up at the unfamiliar word.
Friends.
I haven’t had anyone this close in proximity to me in years aside from my employees, and I don’t consider them friends. They don’t know my secrets; they only know me as the face of Vanguard.
It’s hard to live a normal life doing what I do. For thirteen years, it’s been me.
Alone.
Allowing no one close enough for fear they were the enemy or they would get hurt just by association.
Turning around to face him, I see Shado carefully putting his hoodie back on.
“I have an offer for you.”
His curiosity piqued, he arches his eyebrow at me. “Look, I know you’re lonely and all…”
Shaking my head, I can feel the agitation boiling in my chest.
Oh, now he’s going to annoy the fuck out of me.
We’re going to kill each other.
“Be my eyes on the streets.”
Shocked, he steps back. “The Dragon needs help?”
“There is word on the street that a friend of someone I killed a long time ago is back in town. If this is true and he meets up with old colleagues, I am going to need help this time.”
The words come out of my mouth like acid. I hate even admitting I may need help, but he’s younger than me, not as haunted as I am, and I could use him to gather intel. He will just have to prove to me that I can trust him.
What’s that saying?
Two sets of eyes are better than one?
The smug look on his face tells me he is relishing the idea of me needing him.
Facing the computer and leaning on the desk with my hands, I grow impatient with his hesitation.
Regretting ever mentioning it, I rescind the offer. “Ya know, forget I fucking asked. You know where the door is.”