Page 8 of Mine to Keep
“California,” I answer honestly, surprising myself. I’ve never told anyone the truth about anything in my past. Even something as innocuous as where I was born.
He nods, leaning forward. “I’ve never been that far west. How is it? Good weather?”
I shrug, putting my book in my bag. I won’t get any more reading done with these two around, it seems. “It’s dry. Hot. You should visit. You might want to settle down there.”
“Maybe. I like where we live now, and I love Puerto Rico. That’s where I want to settle down, you know?” I nod, though I don’t really know. I’ve never thought about where I would retire when the time comes. I figured I’d know when I saw it. “Besides, Cali sounds expensive.”
“It is. Expensive and congested.”
He makes a pssh noise. “Hard pass. San Juan is congested too, but at least I know that city like the back of my hand. I would hate to be trapped in a city I’m not familiar with that has shitty traffic.”
Talon rolls his eyes. “Traffic in San Juan is not that bad.”
His eyebrow ticked up, Javier says, “You visited for a month. I lived there for eighteen years. I’m telling you, it’s bad.”
They stop engaging me in more conversation, instead talking about different aspects of the island.
After a few minutes, they slip into Spanish as if it’s second nature. I sip my cold coffee, smiling against the lid as I catch what they’re saying. He and Javier comment on how handsome I am, and Javier almost shyly comments on my freckles. It’sanother ego boost for the day, since I think I look like shit from how exhausted I am.
Talon tries to get him to talk to meget my number, but Javier says no, that it would be weird. Good call. I was already offered a number I wouldn’t use. I’d rather not have to turn him down too. He seems…fragile.
Hell, they both do.
I listen to their entire conversation, and they say nothing about working together to kill me or anyone else. They mainly talk about me, then about what Talon plans to do when he gets Cole alone. Javier snorts when Talon tells him he’s been doing yoga so he can be more bendy for when Cole fucks him. Javier tells him that it’s too much information.
I’ve never been into men, and I’m sure it’s my exhaustion speaking, but thinking about Talon and how bendy he is from all his yoga has my mind drifting to places it shouldn’t. I haven’t gotten laid in close to six months, not since before the Adelane job. Exhaustion coupled with a dry spell has to be the explanation.
I won’t front, though, both men are gorgeous. Even objectively, I can see how good-looking they are. Something low in my gut swirls as I discreetly glance between the two men, and it’s like they’ve woken something inside of me. It’s like I can’t take my eyes off them. Their relaxed and open faces draw me in, as well as…something else? Is it their vulnerability?
Fuck, I hope not. If it is, I know what part of me they’ve woken up and it would be pointless to even entertain it. I’ll never see these men again.
Even though they say nothing about hits or contract murders in their ramblings in Spanish, I have to be sure. And maybe I can push away the unexpected attraction I feel for not one, but two men for the first time in my life.
Discreetly, I slip my hand into Talon’s bag and find his wallet without him noticing. Five minutes later, I stand and stretch as a normal person would without arousing suspicions, and tell them I’m heading to the restroom.
Talon smiles and puts his bag into my seat. “I’ll save your spot. There aren’t many empty seats left.”
I dip my head and shoulder my backpack. I don’t trust them not to rifle through my shit to try to figure out who I am.
Once I’m in a restroom stall, I call Peggy.
“What’s up?” she answers in place of a hello.
Pulling the wallet from my jacket pocket, I recite the information on the front. “Tell me who he is. And anything you can find on his friend named Javier. I don’t have his last name.”
“Don’t need it,” Peggy says, and I hear rapid typing on the other end of the line. “Give me three minutes and I’ll have everything you need.”
Exactly three minutes later, Peggy says a lowa-ha. “Talon Smith. Well, isn’t he the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen?” I roll my eyes, though she ain’t wrong. Both of them are gorgeous. “Age twenty-two. From Charlotte, North Carolina. Two sisters. Both parents still alive and still married. They’re retired and own a home on the outskirts of Charlotte. He was a student but graduated from Cape Maddox University last week. No priors, no arrests, no ties to any company. Not affiliated with The Void or anyone that resembles them. His social media is legit, not a cover profile. Not a con by the CIA or some shit. His friend, Javier Lopez, age twenty-three, is also a recent graduate. From San Juan, Puerto Rico. They’re flying into Toronto. They have a return flight in ten days. Nothing crazy there either. They’re clean.”
I blow out a breath of relief. So Talon is just a normal, annoying college student, not someone planted to get me dead, and Javier is along for the ride.
“Thanks, Pegs.”
“Welcome. Everything is set up for you at the safe house. I even got you a Desert Eagle. Not sure why you like that loud ass gun, but that ain’t my business.”
I chuckle, tiredly rubbing my eyes. “Sends a message.”
“Got that right. Send me confirmation pics when you’re done.”
