Page 58 of Fixate
Sure, I needed the release for my dark side. At the same time, I wished I didn't need it at all.
Or at least that there was someone who could take over the majority of the control and leave me with just the larger decisions. I wanted to supervise rather than run the ship.
Maybe even just consult if someone was qualified enough. My drink was set behind me, so I turned to grab it. When I went to move back, a figure was standing in front of me.
Had I been anyone else, I would have jolted and spilled my glass. But I was used to Pip’s amusement. The man loved to pop out of nowhere and scare people. He was really damn good at it too.
Most of his kills were done in an instant because of his methods of surprise.
But I knew he wasn't there to kill me. More likely he was there to check in on me. For someone who didn't experience emotion the way others did, he sure was adept at reading it.
"Bourbon, Boss? Is that really the level that we're at?"
I shrugged and sipped my drink. It burned going down, giving me the best feeling. I wanted to bask in it instead of answering whatever probing questions were headed my way.
"What do you need?" I asked him. “I thought you were more the ‘not seen and not heard’ type.”
He smirked at my description. "I am. However, you appear to need a friend tonight."
I raised a brow. "You're that friend?"
"I'm as close to the thing as you got right now, unless you want me to go hunt down Ricardo and bring him back here."
I winced. "No, leave him to work. He doesn't need to be burdened with my problems."
Pip tucked his arm in mine and led me over to an empty booth. It wasn't customary for me to let others take control likethat, especially with my body. But Pip clearly needed to talk to me about something.
Whatever it was, it was best to listen to him, otherwise, I could be forced to deal with a cleanup of epic proportions.
When we sat, he looked around the space to make sure no one was listening to us. Then he leaned over to speak. "Boss, I think that you should really embrace whatever you have going on with Ricardo."
Of all the things to get my attention and shock me, that was not what I was expecting.
"This thing?" I asked him.
He nodded softly. "Yes, this thing that you two have. He gives you balance. He helps you. Since he’s been here, I've noticed you actually get sleep and look better each day. You smile more and there's a glow about you."
I barked out a laugh. "You sound like we're about to go pick my fucking wedding dress. What are you talking about?"
He picks up my glass and sips at the bourbon, winking as it hits his lips. Then he sets it down, scraping his hand over his mouth like he wants to pull the taste out.
“I don't know how you can stand that garbage.”
I rolled my eyes. “Not all of us love tequila the way you do, Pip. Besides, aren't you supposed to be sober right now? The last time you got drunk, there was a massacre.”
Pip's face transformed. Gone was the super machine killer, and in its place was a child-like expression of joy. I'd only ever seen this expression one other time, and it came in the aftermath of multiple dead bodies.
He sighed. "That was a great night. I hate that those are so few and far between."
I hummed as if to agree with him, though I didn't know all the details. I only knew what the news reported, which was that several bodies had been found, and they were unrecognizable.
According to reports, they were some really bad guys, so no one was too upset about it. No one else had a family, of course.
But that was the name of the game. When you did bad things, you experience consequences. And if they were bad enough, then other bad people would come after you too.
I still firmly believed that that was not a contract kill for Pip.
Sometimes I wonder just how personal his work was.
