Page 71 of The Spy Ring

TWENTY-FOUR

Jagger

“Our marriage ended,” I said before I took a hefty sip of the whiskey sour in front of me, “with a stroke of a pen.”

“That’s usually how they end,” the bartender said as he wiped down the bar around me.

“It’s funny but I never thought I would get married. And I really never thought I would be fired as a secret government spy because I went rogue and started to plant cameras in a person’s home that I didn’t have the authority to spy on.” I chuckled as I lifted my glass.

The bartender stopped cleaning and stared at me.

“Uh, were you supposed to tell me that?”

“No, probably not. But fuck it. What are they going to do to me?” I made air quotes with my fingers, spilling some of my drink. “Make me disappear?”

I laughed again but stopped as I found my answer. “Actually, they might. Best I not tell you any more.”

I winked at him, and the bartender started to walk backward until he was at the end of the bar where he stayed.

Alone once more. Perhaps I was meant to be alone. No friends. No family. I should get a plant. Something that doesn’t require a lot of water because I really don’t like hanging out in my apartment.

After Tiffany took my heart and slashed it into a thousand parts and then pissed on it yesterday, I left. I may be a lying, lonely jerk but I don’t hang around where I’m not wanted.

I spent the night barely sleeping and then most of the day trying to write a business proposal so I could ask the bank for a loan. I gave up an hour ago and came to this bar. It was filled with people just getting off work, lucky bastards.

I felt a slap on my back and without much thought as adrenaline kicked in, I grabbed the hand, turned, and twisted the man’s arm until he was pinned to the bar.

“Oh, Henrik. It’s you. How’s it going?” I asked.

“Fine,” he moaned, and I realized I still had him pushed against the bar so I let him go.

“Sorry, you surprised me.”

He rubbed his arm and nodded. “I could tell.”

“Where’s Morgana?” I asked as my eyes scanned the room.

I zeroed in on two other guys I recognized, Edgar and Alexander. They were seated at a table. Edgar pretended he didn’t see me while Alex smiled and waved.

“She’s having her bachelorette party. So, I decided tonight was a good night to do the bachelor night with the guys.” He glanced at my glass. “Is that a whiskey sour?”

I frowned. “Yeah.”

We stood there in silence for a minute. It was nice to drink in peace and not feel like I had to talk. But just as I was getting used to Henrik being there, he opened his mouth.

“You want to join us? I don’t think the guys would mind.”

I turned back to look at the table Henrik was pointing toward. The table was small, seated four at most. There was a candle in the middle as if it was meant for a romantic evening and not for a bunch of guys wanting to get drunk.

I nodded at Alex who began to wave again. As I was about to turn Henrik down, I saw Edgar putting his hand to his face, trying to hide from me.

“Sounds good. I’d be happy to join you.” I slapped Henrik on his shoulder.

He winced and rubbed where I had touched him, but led the way to the table.

“Hey, guys, look who I ran into,” Henrik announced.

Edgar’s eyes slid to me before he glanced back at Henrik. “He might steal your fiancée and make her do dangerous stuff for the government.”

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