Page 6 of Stalking His Assassin

Harper laughs. “You’re a terrible liar.”

I huff in annoyance. She’s very wrong about that. I’m adept at lying. I could pass a lie detector test and combat the effects of most versions of truth serums out there. The facility was incredibly thorough in its training. I allow Harper to see my true feelings for most things. She’s the only person I don’t have to be the highly trained assassin around, and I find it pleases me to respond more naturally with her.

“I’m sure it will be fine. I get to pick the restaurant, though.”

“Deal!” Harper says with glee.

Harper connects her phone to the car sound system and puts on her favorite playlist. It’s a weird mix of pop from every decade. It’s eclectic for sure and only mildly awful. I prefer rock and heavy metal. Alternative is also acceptable. Her music has grown on me, but I would never select it myself. I secretly think she picks it to torture me because she also likes rock and alternative. I give in to the madness because it’s part of the girls’ night experience that Harper insists is a thing.

I find a parking spot half a block from Casa Verde, a miracle considering it’s Saturday, and this is a go-to area for good food and entertainment.

“Tacos and margaritas. Best pregaming food and drink ever. Good call!”

Harper links arms with me as we walk towards the restaurant. She chats nonstop, barely allowing me to replybefore she moves on to the next bit of gossip. Which is fine because it lets me stay focused on our surroundings. We get to the restaurant, and it’s packed. It’s one of the few places that limit how many reservations they take each night. The owner wants to keep the restaurant accessible to everyone. First come, first served is the best way to do that.

“Yikes, it looks like we will be waiting a while,” Harper says, frowning.

I roll my eyes. Another typical reaction that makes me less deadly assassin, more normal twenty-five-year-old girl that I adopted after spending time with Harper. “We have a reservation.”

“How? You didn’t even know you would get to pick!”

I laugh. “It was a calculated decision. It’s been a while since you’ve dragged me to a club or bar. I figured tonight would be the night, and picking the restaurant is my requirement to agreeing every time.”

She looks at me like I’m nuts, but I can see when she realizes I’m correct. “Huh. Smart. Tad bit manipulative, but your forethought means we get tacos faster, and that means we can go to Pink Diamond sooner.”

She’s not wrong. The risk of eating faster is that we have more time to spend at the hellish club, but Harper knows that one o’clock is my limit. She likes to joke about how I turn into a pumpkin at one. It’s more that if I don’t have an end goal to get to while in one of those places, I turn into a murderous assassin who would gladly go on a rampage if it meant the noise and crushing crowd would disappear.

The people waiting give us dirty looks as the hostess leads us to our table tucked in the back of the restaurant. It’s the same table I always select because it gives me a clear view of the entire place, plus it’s close to the back exit in case we need a quick getaway. Is it beyond over the top? Probably, but like I’vesaid before, paranoia and vigilance keep me breathing, and I like breathing. Plus, I won’t risk the one human being I care about in this entire god-forsaken world.

“Your server will be with you momentarily,” the hostess says with a smile.

“Thank you,” Harper says, returning the smile.

I simply nod at her. I’m unsure what she sees on my face, but her smile falls and she skitters away.

“You really need to work on your face. I swear that resting bitch face is deadly. Poor girl probably needs to change her knickers,” Harper says fondly.

I force the same smile I give to the people that I enjoy killing most. Harper shakes her head and laughs. “Now you just look unhinged.”

I let my smile morph into the warm, open one reserved strictly for her and Potato. After all these years, it’s much easier to smile like this. When I first met Harper, I wasn’t even sure if I was capable of a genuine smile. It took time, but Harper is determined, and it’s nearly impossible to hide behind my mask of indifference with her around. I no longer feel the need to hide behind the mask with her.

I recognize our waitress as the owner’s daughter Martina. She’s bubbly and beautiful, with tanned skin and dark hair that show her Mexican heritage.

“Grace!Papáwill be so pleased that you’re here. Let me get your drink order, and I’ll let him know.”

“You don’t have to. He’s got to be swamped in the kitchen,” I reply.

She scoffs. “He would take his favorite wooden spoon to my butt if I didn’t tell him his favorite person to feed is here.”

Harper giggles. “You know she’s right. Emmanuel might even spank you with his wooden spoon if he knew you came in and didn’t let him feed us.”

“Just being here is letting him feed us,” I say, exasperated.

Both Martina and Harper laugh at my obviously fake annoyance. I like Emmanuel. He worked for me at Shield Security. He’s brilliant at strategy and skilled behind a computer. We worked closely on a project, and he took it upon himself to ensure I ate proper meals. He was appalled by my usual protein bar or microwave noodle lunch choices. He started bringing in delicious home-cooked meals, unlike anything I’d ever tasted. Even the best Mexican restaurants couldn’t hold a candle to the food he brought me.

He insisted I join him every day for lunch, and he told me stories about growing up in Mexico and how his mother and grandmother taught him how to cook when he was a young boy. His cooking skills are what won him the love of his late wife. He told me his dream was to open a restaurant that served Michelin star-worthy food that was obtainable to people who could never afford that type of restaurant.

That’s how I became a silent partner in Casa Verde. It didn’t take much convincing to get him to accept my proposal. He still makes a big production out of feeding me. He always makes me try his newest creations before they go on the menu. He’s a talented man, and this place is one of my favorite investments.

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