Page 29 of Ends of Being

For all I know, I’m sitting here watching the clock wind down on my entire existence. I showed up alone and unarmed in an attempt to make a show of good faith. This was either an excellent tactic or a deadly mistake. I’m relatively certain, though, if I vanish on this night, Matt and Tony will light fire to the underground in retribution. And they’d just say that’s what you get for fucking around and finding out.

I also hate mid-morning meetings. The so-called acceptable alcoholic beverage choices for the morning are terrible. It’s not that I’m opposed to drinking a bourbon at 10 a.m. in public, but I know I need to keep my wits about me.

Not that my wits will save me if this is a trap because if it is, I’m as good as dead, anyway. All I can do is hope they’re keen on using the opportunity to drag some information out of me first, but that isn’t typically their style. If they’re coming to kill me, it’s because I don’t have any info they need, and they won’t waste time on questions or give me the opportunity to escape. It’s unlikely I’d even see them before I dropped dead. Another reason why I will consume no food or drink while in this establishment. I can’t even trust sealed bottles.

And now, I sound crazy.I don’t think I’m meant to lead a life of paranoia, so I’m hoping I’m just being overly dramatic.

I seat myself against the far wall, close to an exit. I don’t want to take the chance of someone coming up behind me, but I also don’t want to corner myself.

I’m genuinely surprised when a blonde woman enters the bar, walking directly to my table, where she stops and stares at me blankly.

I raise an eyebrow questioningly and ask, “May I help you?”

The smile she gives me is almost blinding. Her blank expression blooms into one of excitement, and I’m sure the look of bafflement on my face is fairly obvious.

She pulls the chair out, yanking it back abruptly, then flopping down onto it as she says, “Well, Darius Hughes, I have come all this way, so I certainly hope so.”

I frown at her, leaning forward and squinting as I shake my head and ask, “And you are…”

To say this is not the person I was expecting is a gross understatement. I don’t know a lot about The Dead’s underground network, but I don’t recall any chatter about a petite blonde woman being a contact. Though, if I think about it, it is a brilliant idea because no one in their right fucking mind is going to take a look at this woman and think “ghost-like assassin.” Not that she necessarily kills people for a living or anything. I suppose she could just be The Dead’s secretary, odd as that sounds, though also a little genius in theory.

I recline in my chair, sighing deeply as I look her over. She doesn’t say anything, just smiles even wider as she says, “I’m so excited to finally meet you. I honestly wasn’t sure if you would even show up for fear you could be walking into a trap.”

This time, I raise both brows at her and respond, “I’m still not convinced this isn’t a trap.”

She throws her head back and laughs a full belly laugh, and I’m starting to wonder if this is a prank. I can’t decide if this woman is certifiably insane or just playing the character so well that it’s impossible to differentiate between fiction and reality.

As someone who’s not typically thrown off in any situation, I’m beyond flummoxed. I guess that’s what happens when you attempt to deal with a mythical entity. Without any concrete information to go on about The Dead, it will all be news to me, and it’s an incredibly uncomfortable feeling floating out here in an ocean of possible misinformation.

Who’s to say if this crazy woman is even a part of The Dead’s organization. For all I know, she’s just a decoy to throw me off in the hope I’ll give something away. I also have to consider that they likely know the whole truth already, and this entire meeting it’s just a ruse in order to get to their actual target.

I pull my phone out of my pocket, glancing at the blonde woman apologetically. “Excuse me one moment. I have a scheduled check-in I can’t miss.”

I quickly type out a message to Tony and Matt, letting them know it’s time to make a move, and they acknowledge immediately, pinging me the code stating where they won’t be going. When we first started using the code system, we all laughed, thinking it was overkill, but as the years have gone by, it has saved our asses more times than we can count, so we kept up with it.

I turn my attention back to the woman across from me, leaning back in my chair in what I can only hope is a relaxed position considering I’m feeling anything other than relaxed at this point.

I incline my head towards her and state, “Well, you obviously have me at a disadvantage here, Miss…” I leave the question hanging, hoping she’ll give me the information rather than making me ask outright who the fuck she is.

She smiles at me again, reaching her small hand out to me in greeting as she replies, “Lilith, but you can call me Lils. It’s a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance, Mister Dare.”

I have to laugh. Regardless of her true intentions here, she’s a character, and I do enjoy a character.

I take her hand, giving it a solid shake, “Likewise, Lils. Even if I’m not exactly accustomed to being confused, I guess that’s certainly better than being bored.”

Her eyes widen in excitement, and she nods. “Oh, yes. Boredom is certainly like a long death.”

“So, what is it you’ve come to tell me? I can’t believe you’ve come all this way just to shake my hand and give me compliments.” I put my hands up in surrender. I’m enjoying her enthusiasm, twisted as it may be.

And just like that, all humor vanishes from her face.

It’s as if an invisible switch has been flipped, and all inklings of her sparkling eyes and magnetic smile melt from her features in an instant.

A slight shiver runs down my spine, the hair on the back of my neck prickling, and I’m even more intrigued than I was before. I lean closer to her, examining her features, as I whisper, “How intriguing. Are you all right, Lilith?”

Her features don’t change at all, her once animated face now that of stone as she gives me a curt nod and says in a cool tone, “Quite all right, Dare. Business is business, correct?”

I straighten in my chair, mirroring her serious expression as I nod. “You’re correct. Business will always be business.”

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