Page 59 of Clean Slade
“Well…”—Hwan raised his shoulders and smiled—“we do have a couples massage booked, so if you really don’t mind…”
“No. Really. Go ahead.”
I wasn’t sure if Parker even cared for it considering his expression hardly changed the whole time Hwan and I talked, but he did take his boyfriend away. Not before Hwan hugged me goodbye and made me promise to catch up soon.
It was better this way. It was better they didn’t stay. That I didn’t use them as an excuse. God knew what kind of trouble I’d be getting them in if they did.
Besides, the sooner all this is over, the better.
“Are you ready to order, sir?” a server asked me, and I shook my head as they topped up my water.
When they left, a tall man in a suit entered the restaurant and headed straight for me.
I could tell it was my man by the way he looked. He may have put on expensive clothes and trimmed his beard, but the grime and ruthlessness in his face could not be washed away or concealed.
“Mr. Rex, I presume,” he said.
I nodded, and he sat down.
“How can I be of help, Mr. Rex?”
I dipped my head, stared him right in the eyes, and swirled my finger around the rim of my water glass.
It was eerie how easily things were coming back to me.
“I…am interested in some product.”
The man sat back and undid his suit jacket.
“Product? I’m not sure what you mean.”
Cook in need of grease. That was what the letter had said. Surely I hadn’t made a mistake. The language couldn’t have changed.
“I was told you’re the best in town. If I was wrong, I’m sorry to waste your time.” I pushed my chair back, ready to leave, when he put his hand up, and I stopped.
“Who sent you?”
“It’s not important.”
He frowned.
“There are agents crawling all over the island. I think it’s very important.”
“I’m not a fed,” I told him. “But I also can’t give up my source. You understand how it is.”
He considered me for a few moments, watching me in silence, and I tried not to let my nerves show. Not that there were many in the first place.
It was scary how easily I could slip back into it and how it affected my body language and mindset.
“How much product are we talking about?”
I leaned forward, joined my hands on the table, and whispered.
“How about we start with two.”
“That’s a lot.”
“I’m sorry. Did I saysomeproduct? I meant a lot. Don’t worry. I can make it worth your time.”
