Page 22 of Sleeper

“Call them,” Spider sternly instructed McFaye while she shook her head in response. “So help me, McFaye, I don’t want to kill your kid, but I will!” he yelled and spit flew out of his mouth behind each word. It’d been years since I had gotten to witness Spider in action, and I had forgotten just how mean of a son of bitch he was.

“I’m calling. Okay. I’m fucking calling!” She frantically grabbed her earpiece, and her fingers shook as she popped it into her ear. “Call it off.” She listened for a brief time and shook her head. “I said fucking call it off, Johnson! Give them their guns! You heard me!” she wailed.

“It’s done, Spider! Let my daughter go!”

“All in good time, Agent McFaye. You get your girl when Sleeper gets his. That was the deal.” Spider’s hold tightened around the grip of his weapon.

“Where are our guns, McFuck?” Wiley roared, as he slipped behind her and pressed a hunting knife against her throat.

“Wiley, they were confiscated. My hands are tied.”

“So,fuckin’untie them.”

“That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“This is the only deal we’re offering. I know you can do it. I have faith in you.” He playfully smacked her cheek. Fucker finally got to put a knife to her throat, and it made his whole fucking day.

“Fine, but—”

“No fucking buts, McFuck. They’re ours. If you hadn’t hired amateurs at the border, this wouldn’t have been a problem. They’re the fucksticks who tipped off Willie.”

“Okay. Just let us go. Please,” she begged.

“Tut. Tut. Tut. You get yours when we get ours.”

“How long have we done business together, Wiley? I’ve never done you wrong.”

“That’s fucking horse shit and you know it, McFaye! You were gonna pin those murders on me just to have someone to give to the fucking bureau. I don’t hate you for it, though. I get it. Self-preservation is natural. The reason I hate you is you’re a fucking cunt waffle who I would love to stick in the toaster and watch you fucking burn.” He bit the air next to her face. Wiley was going to lose his shit if someone didn’t make a move and fast.

“You have eyes on your girl?” Ghoul asked.

She’s walking in the library now,” I reported to Ghoul.

19

VERA

My fingertip mindlessly roamed over spine after spine of the row of books. I didn’t really have a particular book in mind when I came here. I just needed to get some fresh air, to see something outside of Sleeper’s house. The library was a safe choice and if I found a good book, it would help me escape reality for a while. I tried to remember some of the titles of the dark romance books I had on my TBR list but couldn’t figure out the name of the one I wanted to read the most. No big deal. I didn’t have a problem strolling the isles as I browsed. I plucked a random one from the shelf, blindly trusting fate to make the selection for me. My fingers slowly rubbed over the edges in appreciation, the cover was gorgeous. I hoped that one day in the not-so-far future, the book in my hands would be one I had published instead.

“Could I interest you in some coffee?” A girl close to me in age offered, adjusting her green apron while I walked past the counter she stood behind.

“Sure.” I mindlessly set the book down in front of me and stuck my hand in the front of my jeans to get some cash. Shit! I left it back at the house. “No, never mind. I forgot my money,” I told her.

“It’s on the house, I understand. I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached to my body.” She offered a warm smile.

“Thank you. I’ll bring the money back to you.”

“No need. I got it this time. Next time you can buy me one.”

“Thank you so much,” I responded.

“How do you take it?”

“Some cream, and a little bit of sugar.” She poured the coffee into a large cup and handed it to me.

“Me too. Enjoy.”

“I really appreciate it,” I said as I gestured the cup of coffee in her direction.

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