Page 19 of Kilo's Edge

“He’s going to lose his mind when he sees you in that,” she added. “He won’t even notice the sneakers. Boys never do.”

I eyed her in the mirror. “What do you know about boys losing their minds?” I questioned.

“Nothing,” she replied primly. “Just that they do when they see a pretty girl.” She gave me a wide smile. “And you're a very pretty girl.”

“Thank you, Sweetie,” I told her, turning so I could draw her into a hug. “You’re also a very pretty girl.”

“Thanks. But boys are dumb,” she declared before she pulled out of my embrace and skipped out of my room, disappearing as quickly as she’d arrived.

I looked down at my dress again, then my bare feet, and shrugged my shoulders. I was going to take my sister’s advice because the idea of Kilo losing his mind over me was very appealing. Sighing, I went to my closet and slipped my bare feet into a pair of white sneakers. Normally I’d wear socks, but sockswith a dress wasn’t a level I was willing to stoop to. Grabbing my gun case from the closet and the paper bag with the bullets in it, I looked around, then draped a coat over my arm to hide them.

“Mama!” I called out as I came down the stairs. She appeared in the doorway that sectioned off the kitchen and dining room from the living room. “I’m going.”

She frowned at my coat. “Why are you bringing that?”

It was one hundred and fourteen degrees outside today. She was right to be suspicious. “In case I get chilly,” I told her. “Some places crank their air conditioning too high,” I added.

Then her narrowed eyes moved up to the top of my dress. “That’s too low cut,” she declared.

“It’s not, Mama,” I said with a roll of my eyes.

“You can see your boobs.”

“I’m twenty-four years old. If I want to show my boobs, I’m allowed to,” I told her.

She frowned, her eyes still lingering on my cleavage, then she finally met my gaze. “Have fun. Not too much fun, though,” she warned me with a stern look.

I laughed. “It's just dinner, Mama.”

“Uh huh. I remember whatjust dinnerwas from when I was younger.”

I widened my eyes at her in mock horror. “What kind of dinner were youhaving?”

“Never mind that,” she replied, deflecting my question. “Drive carefully. And be safe.”

Waving at her, I made my way to the door. If she came over and hugged me right now, she’d feel the case I was carrying in my hand. “I will! Bye!” I hurried out the door before she could grab me.

The drive only took a couple of minutes, and I let out a whoosh of breath as I parked in front of Kilo’s store. I wasnervous.Hemade me nervous. Though in a good way. I grabbed my case and the paper bag and got out of my car, locking it.

“Hello.”

Startled, I turned and stared at the man leaning against a BMW nearby. He was in a polo and tan slacks and had a smile on his face. My stomach plummeted as my instincts clamored at me that he was dangerous. I’d learned over the last couple of years that I had very good instincts and I listened to them closely now. I nodded at him, then skirted around my car to head inside the building.

“Wait, what’s your name?”

He loped over and cut off my path to Kilo’s door. There weren’t many windows on the building, so I knew he wasn’t going to know I was out here.

“Please let me pass.” My tone was sharp. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with this guy. I didn’t get the impression that he was withthem, but he wasn’t up to any good. I could just tell.

“Just tell me your name, Beautiful,” he cajoled. His voice held a whine to it that grated at me. “I’m Shawn.”

I looked around the parking lot, but no one was around. “I’m Camila,” I relented, hoping that he’d just leave me alone if I gave him my name. He reached out toward me and I took a step backward. I didn’t want his hands on me.

“Oh don't be like that, Baby.”

We’d gone from beautiful to baby and I really didn’t like either one. “I’m not your baby. Leave me alone.”

“You don't have to be rude,” he snapped. “I just want to get your phone number.”

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