Page 17 of Bulletproof Love

“Yeah.” He rings me up and I grab my wallet, remembering how long it’s been since I actually took a paying job.

“Fifteen seventy-two,” he says. I hesitate and hand him the credit card I swiped from one of those pricks at Blake’s house. So far it hasn’t been flagged, but I’ve been waiting.

After I pay, I head outside, immediately stuffing my face. The sweetness hits my tongue, sending the pleasure signals I needed straight to my brain. I wonder what Falin’s doing right now. And what’s the deal with that party invitation?

We’ll have to go, even though I’m not in the mood to deal with a bunch of rich assholes. But it could lead us to my sister.

A girl passes by with the same long chestnut hair as Bailey, and I stare for an extra second. It’s become a habit, especially since moving here. I see her face everywhere. It’s maddening. There’s little reminders no matter where I go. Her favorite song playing at a gas station. Someone wearing a shirt I swear she had. A hint of the body spray she used to overload herself with when she was in middle school.

I can’t catch a break. Bailey’s gone and the ghost of her won’t let me forget it.

Leon swears she’s still alive. Says he’d bet his life on it. Damon agrees, but not as intensely as Leon. I think he’s just trying to keep me from losing my shit.

I don’t know what to believe. I’m lost, and finding answers is the only thing keeping me going. What else is there anymore?

The sound of a door shutting pulls my attention. It’s Falin leaving our place. She changed from her leggings into a black skirt and it looks like she straightened her hair out. “Where are you going, Trouble?” I say to myself.

I watch her cross the street, her eyes locked on her phone screen. Whatever messages she’s reading have stolen all her focus. I follow her, keeping just enough distance between us to remain unseen. My heart drums against my ribs. What can I say? I live for moments like this. Hunting my prey. Not that Falin is truly prey, but she’s giving me exactly the chase I crave.

She slows, her steps stopping once she reaches a shitty bar called Night Shift. Why the hell is she going there at two o’clock in the afternoon?

I hang back for a few minutes, giving her time to get settled, before heading inside. The place is narrow, but long with sticky floors and cracked stools crowded around a wooden bar. Falin’s perched on a stool at the very end of the bar, phone in hand, texting.

I have a few options here. There’s the Damon way—slinking back into the shadows to wait and watch. I’ve never been one for the shadows though. I make my way down the bar, past a few blue collar looking guys nursing their beers, and pull out the stool next to Falin.

She looks up from her phone and an instant frown lines her lips. “What are you doing here?”

“Thought I’d get myself a beer.” I signal to the bartender, a smoke show with long legs and glossy dark hair. If I were myself… or I guess my old self, I’d have her number before I left here. I flash her a smile and watch her cheeks blush. “How’s it going today?”

“Not too bad. What can I get you?” She fiddles with the rag in her hand.

“I’ll take a beer, whatever you have on tap.” I turn to Falin. “What would you like?”

She purses her lips. “I’m not here with him.”

The bartender darts her gaze between us. “Oh, okay. I’ll go get your beer.”

“That wasn’t very nice,” I say, purposely irritating her.

She sighs and picks her phone back up, ignoring my needling. “You should go, Jasper.”

“But our date just started.” The bartender picks that moment to slide a beer in front of me. I nod and thank her, taking a long sip. “Now that’s delicious. You should get one.”

Falin ignores me, tapping her heel against the barstool. She’s got her phone in her hands again and is furiously typing. I crane my neck slightly to get a peek at who she’s texting, but she catches me. “Can you take a hint? Wait, I forgot, you only have two brain cells left.”

I clutch my chest. “That was mean. Truly. I’m hurt.”

She finally turns and meets my eyes. “Come on, I’m serious. You need to leave.”

Her pleading tone has me concerned. Could she be in trouble? Is this part of the job? Maybe the guys sent her to meet with someone and didn’t want to tell me. That has to be it. They’re shutting me out again. Well, I’m not moving a fucking muscle. If Falin’s getting herself into some kind of trouble, she needs me here.

“What did they ask you to do?” I scan her face for any changes.That’s right, I’m onto you guys.

She scrunches her brows. “What?”

I shake my head. Leon must have told her to keep it from me. I squeeze my fist around my glass. I don’t know if I should be hurt or pissed. They all know I’m a mess right now. There’s no doubt in my mind.

I’ll prove that I can handle our shit.

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