Page 43 of Shifted

"My burner, you got my burner. Don't think you got my real number, buddy. We aren't that close, and I haven't forgotten your mission to kill me?" Then that cynical smirk formed on his face, "I questioned if this was an attempt to kill me. But then I realized you can't kill me?" He simply laughed and turned back to the room; a group of men and women sat dining at a table.

“Don’t be so sure about that Angel.” He mumbles, but I turn my attention to the room, ignoring his useless delusions of empty threats. Because he liked me, I could tell, because he would’ve killed me months ago, but here I was helping him.

As I focused in, I noticed a vacant chair sitting at the head of the table, "Their leader hasn't shown up yet, but they can't start dinner without him. He's my target, and when I kill him, I'm going to need your help getting me out of here unscathed."

"Can I let them leave a little mark on you?" He turned back to me, annoyed. He would fuck it up somehow, and him coming out unscathed seemed a bit unlikely, maybe a cut or two, "I’m joking."

Then, a man in his seemingly forties entered the room. He was a bit plump as he sat at the head of the table. Guards in red laced the room as the windows were tinted, "Idiots to dine near windows.” I whistled, waiting for our next move. But then a shot rang out, and I watched as a bullet shot through the plump leader's head without warning, "Jesus, couldn't you have warned me!" Before I could think, he grabbed my hand as shots began to fire at us in retaliation, "We have to go!" He yells, and we rush down the back staircase. As I pushed through the back exit, we were greeted by three men. Before they could react, I shot them each down.

Rushing down the side alley, they began to fire at us from behind, and I turned, attempting to fire back. We rush into another building, cutting through as people scream while I yell, “Sorry!" as I knock over a rack of expensive clothes.

We raced out of the store and through the streets towards an abandoned apartment complex by the Charles River. The hue of the night sky left us in pitch black as he shoved me through the window, slamming it shut. "Woah, way to be slick." I sigh.

"The opportunity presented itself; I had to take it, Angel." He looked out the window, checking to see if we were followed, and then we sat on the dusted floor, out of breath and lying low. "What a thrill," I joked.

"You agreed to help me," he claims. Maybe this man did want me to kill him tonight, but I was barely useful on this mission, rather a liability for him with his riskiness. "And I did, didn't I?"

The stranger beside me left me with a million questions. But the number one was who he was. Why was he always around and tended to find me? What was his peaked interest? He could’ve turned my pattern in for bounty, given someone else the advantage, and taken his kill. A woman who is so impossible to catch seems to run into him on every mission.

"Amartolós?"

"Yes Angel?"

"How do you always find me?" I lifted myself off the concrete with my hands, and I turned to face him as I leaned back against the old wood beam.

"I work for Isaac, and he sent me on the same mission once by accident. Since then, I've asked him to put me with you." Isaac had been risking my safety and security this whole time. I wish I could’ve said I was surprised. Instead, I felt a stupid smile form on my face.

"Awe, lucky me, I have a stalker." I watched as his eyes rolled. The mask limits our expressions, concealing what we might be expressing. Sometimes, I desperately wanted to know who was behind the black mask that covered his identity. But this seemed to be our game, Angel and Amartolós, "Is there more to it?"

He tensed with my words, and I hit a rough spot. It made him uncomfortable for some reason. "What do you mean?" he asks, and in turn, I move over to him. Our arms swipe past each other, the faintest outline of what tattoos were hidden underneath. I probably would pay a million to know who he was.

"I mean, could you tell me more about why you stalked me? I think I deserve to know the whole truth about my stalker." He leaned back, staring at me, and I could almost see a smile on his face.

"I can't get you out of my head, in all honesty, Angel. I'm curious about you; there's just something about you. I usually am able to have everything figured out, but I can’t with you," His hand slipped around my waist swiftly. "Come with me," he whispered, intriguing me. I wasn’t one to just go along with someone's orders, but here I was, putting one foot in front of the other as he began moving forward.

He dragged me towards the stairs and rushed us to the rooftop, which overlooked the Charles River. The city's skyscrapers surrounded us, their dazzling lights contrasting the moonlight. I felt his front press against my back as I stared forward. "I come here a lot to just sit in my thoughts." I leaned onto the railing, looking down ten stories. Then, I looked forward to the city, and then I felt it. I felt him again.

But this time, his arms wrapped around me from behind, "Is this the part where you kill me?" I felt his head shake against me from behind as his hand trailed down to my ass, squeezing it. But I’m not shocked by that. I’m shocked by his following words.

"Can I fuck you, Angel?"

My heart does a little flip from the thrill of it, but a tinge of guilt buries it, "I have a boyfriend.” I admit, but more so for an excuse not to. But it was true that Reed and I were in a relationship, and he was nothing but good to me. So, no matter how tempting it may be to get under this man's sheets, there was no excuse for me to endure acts of infidelity.

"But he's not Angel's boyfriend?” He whispers into my ear, "Your true identity and your secret one are different people, Angel?" I feel his hand travel to the hem of my thong. “So it wouldn’t really count, now would it?” I feel his warm breath against my skin, and goosebumps lace the area it touches. Soon, it spreads as his hand slowly sinks deeper.

Fuck.

I took his hand, slipping it down and cupping him against me. His finger slips in, followed by another, causing me to gasp as he slips in deep. Within seconds, he moved them faster and faster. Then he withdrew his hand, causing me to moan in displeasure.

"Why?" I beg. He turned to face me, holding out his hand, "Are you sure you want this Angel?” He asks a simple question that should make me want to stop, but it only leads me to ask more questions. “How can I trust you?" I ask, swallowing the lump burning my throat with a rush of emotions piling in.

"You can't." He admits, "But I'd like you to." I stare at him for a moment, skeptical. Then I take Amartolós’s hand, squeezing it. I lay back down against the concrete as he moved in over me, hovering over me, our hands intertwined.

"Can I fuck you, Angel?" He questions again. I feel my breathing unsteady as he speaks, this time as we lie in a more intimate position. I hesitate. I haven't had sex since my daughter was conceived.

"I—" I had no words. I wanted to speak, but the words didn’t seem to come out. He shifted back, looking at me, trying to get a sense of how I was feeling.

"Are you a virgin?" He asks, and I shake my head, "We don't have to do this, Angel, not if you’re not-"

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