Page 39 of After Effect

There it is. “Name it.”

Baek was smiling. I hate his smile. “You’re a driver, right?”

How did he know that? I haven’t been in a race since before dad’s accident.

No, stop being paranoid. He’s seen my car. Of course I know how to drive. Plus, he just talked to Lilly. Lilly probably told him. But still, I didn’t want to just give myself away.

“Not really. Sometimes my father took me to the track as a kid, I guess.”My nerves were clearly visible in the amused reflection of Baek’s black pupils. I glanced to the side in an effort to hide the projection from my eyes.

“Mark did?” His expression was unreadable. “I’m sure you’ll do more than fine. I just need you to drive another shipment. But this one is a bit more time sensitive.”

“There’s only so much I can do in LA traffic.”

“You won’t be in LA traffic. You’ll pick up the package in Camarillo, then you’ll drop it off in Malibu.”

“How much time?”

“Half an hour from pickup.”

I shook my head. “I’d have to take back roads with how much beach traffic there is. There’s no way I’d get it there fast enough.” I didn’t want to turn him down, but what he was asking was near impossible. I’d have to average at least 60mph, and those roads are way too tight for that. At least… at least they are in the daylight.

“You’ll be doing it late at night. You’ll be fine.” He paused long enough to meet my gaze. “The time frame is important. The package is sensitive, and the receiver will be departing promptly at 1:00AM.”

“What’s in the package?” I hadn’t ever looked before. I hadn’t even asked. But it seemed like now was as reasonable a time as any to demand details. Why would the timeline matter this much. Was I delivering ice cream or some shit?

He cocked an eyebrow. “If you needed to know that, I’d have told you. Can you do it or not?”

“I…”

“Maybe this is too much for you.” He let out a sigh of pure disappointment. “Though if Lilly doesn’t have a packed field for her performance at the Bass Jumpers Tour, I won’t be able to get you any help in the future. You’ll be working off the rest of your debt to me in the filing room in the basement for the next fifty years.”

“I’ll do it.” I spoke without thinking. I already regretted it. “At midnight, I’m sure I can make that run.”

“Perfect. As you know, the Bass Jumpers Tour is Friday. I’ll text you the pick up point.”

The jarring jingle of a ringing phone cut through his words. Baek glanced at the caller ID then glanced at me. “I need to take this. I think we’re done with this discussion anyways.”

Hardly. But there was no use arguing anymore. I nodded as he picked up the receiver, then I turned on my heel.

“One moment.” I heard Baek’s voice behind me, and I gave him my attention one last time. He was covering the phone with his hand. “Don’t disappoint me, Corbin.”

I didn’t say another word. He returned to his call as I left the room. My feet carried me in a daze down to my car. I was supposed to meet Lilly soon, but my mind was still replaying my dad’s crash on repeat. My hand shook as I lifted the keys to the ignition. I missed the slot on every attempt. What was I getting myself into?

###

“Finchy! I have exciting news!” Lilly sat across from me at the coffee shop, ten minutes late for our meeting. She was always the fashionably late type. Most days it didn’t bother me. Today it was ten more minutes to stew in my frustration and anger and paranoia.

“I heard.” I passed her her usual and took a sip of my coffee to hide the cross expression on my face.

“Oh. I guess it makes sense that you would have…”

“How the fuck did it seem like a good idea to talk to Christian Fucking Baek without discussing it with me first?” My allotted ‘cool’ had run out for the day, apparently. Lilly was going to be getting my real thoughts and feelings.

“Y-you’re mad.”

“No fucking shit.”

“I thought this was a good opportunity...”

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