Page 127 of Overcast

“Perfect.” I bring my hand to my chest. “Damn, I thought I was really going to have to kill you.” She rolls her eyes and hits me with an exasperated look. “Too soon?”

“You need a lesson in how to talk to people,” she asserts. “Unless you’re bipolar or something.”

“I’d rather them just talk to me and answer my questions. I’m very good at it.”

“Mhm.” She sounds unimpressed, shocker.

“Are you gonna bring some of those strippers home?” Mills again. The stupid, annoying ass. “I wouldn’t mind getting an early lap dance for my birthday.”

I have so many comebacks I could say right now. Like, not unless he wants to electrocute Bianca to get a dance, then I’m all for it. Or Bishop making her boogie down on a pit of fire outside, that’d be interesting as hell.

However, I’m trying to shield Stormi from shit, not letting her into every detail of how I’m going to handle this.

Those fine lines I’ve been talking about.

She’s normal, I’m not.

She lives a boring and ordinary life. I live one that consists of stalking, hunting, and taking people out.

And she knows enough already.

“Are you...” Stormi’s face pales as she begins to fiddle with her fingers. “Are you going to...Dougie’s?”

Big-mouth Mills does it for the second time.

“You’re not going to see her, sweetheart, I promise.”

“Yes, but—” She glances downstairs, and I know the ideas and scenarios are running out in her head. Stormi doesn’t want to be the rat that gets the mouse killed.

Makes no sense but whatever.

Bianca so kindly let her take the fall, but I’m not surprised. It’s every man for himself out there, especially when you’re taking the life of a loved one. I’m in it every day, in the business of payback and offing the men and women who want to cause chaos and destruction of the country.

“Will you do me a favor?” She nods without hesitation, which pleases me a little too much. “Will you make me some tacos?”

Her pretty features soften. “Yeah.”

“And vanilla cupcakes?”

She tsks. “What did you do that deserves cupcakes?”

“I didn’t kill Mills.”

“Like you seriously could,” he answers back.

“Stay the fuck out of my conversation, douchebag.” Stormi’s hand falls on my forearm, and my body goes up a hundred degrees.

Now I know what Bishop’s victims feel like.

“Be nice,” she mutters. “He’s just messing with you.”

“Do I get my cupcakes if I do?” Pulling her hand from me, her smile grows wider.

“You’re impossible, Emric.”

“Only if I’m not getting my own way.”

“And a child.”

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