Page 11 of Forever Midnight

“Thanks,” I say, opening the door.

“Uh, you sure you know what you’re doing, man?” the driver asks.

“Oh yeah. I’m meeting a friend here. It’s all good.”

He nods but still looks worried. Extra tip for concern on the way. I slip out of his car and plaster myself against the crumbling brick building. Nineties hip-hop blares from inside every time the door is opened, so at least they have good music taste, but this isn’t my last stop for the night.

As soon as the driver is good and gone, I dart down the alleyway, stripping off my sport jacket. I’m hoping Vinni is at his usual post, but I have a quick stop to make before I get there.

I locate the building where I stashed my weapon, kneeling down and looking both ways before I remove the loose brick. Reaching inside, I smile when my fingers brush over the cool metal of the gun. My body still shivers as I tuck it into the waistband of my jeans, shoving my jacket in the hole for safekeeping. I never thought there’d be a day when I carried a weapon.

Shaking my shoulders out, I take a nervous breath and head in the direction Vinni can usually be found. I wish I could just blow his head off, execution style, but it’s not that simple. I need to know where the incriminating evidence is kept. Only then will I know my family is safe.

I walk through the dark streets, dodging people offering their wares, from drugs to pleasure. I’ve practiced keeping my head high and a confident gait to keep the facade going that I belong here and I’m not someone to be fucked with. Sure, I’ve never shot anything but cans in the woods, but at least I know Icanshoot it if I have to.

When I turn the corner, I come to a sudden stop at the sound of muffled voices and what sounds a lot like stirring mushy spaghetti. It doesn’t make sense in this setting, so I creep forward carefully, not sure what I’m about to confront.

The noise intensifies as I get closer, but my physical reaction to it is what takes me aback. A shiver runs down my back, and there’s a distinct feeling of having been in this situation before, but that’s impossible. Instead of fear, curiosity spurs me forward, until I peer around the corner of a building.

Two men are on their knees, their backs to me as they hover over what appears to be the bloodied body of another man. It’s a murder. Shit.

I swing around to get the fuck out of there, but I barely take a step before there’s a hand on my arm stopping me. Instinctively, I pull my gun, holding it up with a shaky hand, but the face gazing back at me takes my breath away.

Midnight.

“Hello, Gideon,” he says, his voice rich and textured like an intricate composition.

“I didn’t see anything,” I blurt. “I mean, nothing I would say anything about.”

Midnight nods, his gaze focused on me. A tiny part of me yells to look away, but it’s overpowered by the desire to fall into his eyes and drown. Even in the dark, they’re vibrant, sexy, knowing, as if I’ve stared into them a thousand times before.

“Are you okay?” Midnight asks, pushing my hand with the gun down, and I nod.

“Totally. On my way somewhere.”

“Do you need backup?”

“No.” My eyes flicker to the body on the ground and the man with the interested expression watching me.

It’s not the man Midnight was with before, and a niggle of something I haven’t felt before tugs at my chest. Jealousy? That doesn’t make sense. I don’t even know him, and clearly he’s a dangerous man.

“What are you doing, Midnight?”

His fingers move under my chin, gently stroking my skin. “Are you afraid of me?”

I shake my head. “No.”

“Good. I’m taking care of business, Gideon.”

“Tru. Um, I go by Tru. It’s my middle name but I only let friends call me Tru.”

His full lips tug into a slight smile. “Am I your friend?”

“You saved my life.”

Midnight nods, his brow crinkling as he studies my face. “Will I have to again?”

Shaking my head, I answer, “No. I fucked up last time, but I won’t again.”

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