Page 6 of Web of Lies
We've been meeting regularly for about seven months, and I still can't wrap my head around the fact that Kyle owns a cat. When I first met him, he didn't strike me as a pet person. But people can surprise you, and when Kyle told me the story of how he found Dumpster as a kitten in a trash can while working, I could tell he had a soft spot for animals.
A sudden, thunderous vibration on the coffee table startles me. My eyes snap to Kyle's phone, which is ringing with an incoming call. A photo of a man in a suit, looking anything but happy as he tries to block the camera, lights up the screen, and the caller ID reads: "Little Brother."
At the sound of footsteps approaching from the hallway, I look up from the phone and find Kyle walking back into the living room with two pizza boxes in hand. He steals a glance at the screen when he steps around the table, sets the food down, and presses the volume button to silence it. Without saying a word, he sits down beside me, checks the boxes, and hands me mine.
"Aren't you going to answer?" I flip the box open, my stomach growling at the view of the simple cheese pizza.
"No, I'm with you right now. He probably just wants to know how my last job was like. I'll call him back later. And if it's an emergency, he'll text me right after."
"That's not a good look for a sidekick." A mocking smile twitches at the corners of my mouth, but I force a straight face as I bring a slice of pizza to my lips.
"When will you finally stop calling me that?" he scoffs.
"Prove to me you're more than just his sidekick, and I will." My resolve breaks, and a playful smile spreads across my face. He doesn't hate the nickname I gave him after finding out that he's the brother of one of New York's most notorious professional killers as much as he pretends to. I notice the amused smiles when I call him by it. If he really wanted me to stop, he would be more vocal than just the occasional remark.
"I will. Just you wait." He shoots me a glare.
My attention drifts back to the screen as the call ends and the phone returns to the lock screen, showing a photo of Dumpster and his brother's dog, Whiskey, lying side by side on Kyle's sofa. "Have you told Noah about us?"
No, you didn't want anyone to know, especially Evelyn. If I told him, he'd tell her. He has become a real snitch since he started dating her," he says with a hint of humor as he shoves nearly an entire slice of pizza into his mouth.
For a split second, I wonder what I find attractive about him. Whoever taught him manners must have given up halfway through. Though, to be fair, he only acts like a caveman in private. When we're out at a restaurant, he knows how to behave.
"They're getting married, and this is something lots of couples do. Especially when something exciting like their best friends hooking up is happening." I shrug and take a bite of my food.
"It's still annoying," he grumbles with an eye roll. "Remind me why you don't want them to know?"
"Because theydon'tneedto know. We're just hooking up. It adds nothing valuable to their lives except potential stress about their wedding," I sigh, setting my pizza on the coffee table. "Imagine this: what if we end things right before the wedding? You're Noah's best man, and I'm one of Evelyn's bridesmaids. They'd worry that it would be awkward between us, and I don't want that for her."
"Hm, understandable. But I do like stressing Noah," he says.
I roll my eyes so hard that they almost hit the back of my skull. "You like stressingeveryone."
"Not Evelyn. I cherish my life."
"Why are you so scared of her?" I cock a brow.
"I'm not scared. I just respect her," he snorts. "She's small and pretty, sure, but she's got a nasty side. She's fired a warning shot at me before, and if I ruin her wedding, I'm pretty sure the next bullet will be a hit."
"Good. Then, we'll stick to our agreement."
"Yes, we're just hooking up. No feelings, no strings attached."
A half-hearted smile tugs at my lips, feeling heavy around the edges. A faint pressure creeps into my chest, and for a heartbeat, the air seems too thick to breathe. I offer him a small nod and force my face to stay neutral, hoping he can't hear the faint crack in my voice when I add, "And no one needs to know."
Chapter 3
Riley
The blue lights of the six monitors in front of me illuminate the dim space of my private office. My gaze is locked on my laptop, where a small black window shows my message history with Jackson, including his latest one.
Jackson:Asset 64 has exceeded the operational window. You have one week to provide the requested information. Otherwise, you will be removed from the job without further notice.
Followed by the message I sent him once I returned to the safety of my office the following day of the incident.
Me:Request for extension. I'm close to figuring out who the killer you're lookingfor is. I just need more time.
A week has passed since I attempted to initiate contact, and while I have received no further response, I also have had no stranger follow me. Still, I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched. My gaze falls on the black tape covering my laptop's webcam. Covering the camera is a cliché. Of all people, I should be able to protect myself from such cyberattacks. Mr. Hunt, myboss, trusts me with a leadership role in the IT department after all.
