Page 61 of Shockproof

Accelerate the movements and motions giving the impression I’m distracted.

That my defenses are down.

Like I expected, a hand lands on my bicep, leaving me with the perfect opportunity to twist the same appendage backward, grab their shoulder, and swing them into the push door to trap them inside a better area of attack. With their frame now forced up against the blockade, I’m now exposed to the identity of the individual as well as in the optimal interrogation position.

Shockingly enough, the scantily dressed female, meekly whimpers, “Ohmygod, I’m sorry! I’m so, so sorry!”

Despite most people’s natural instinct to assume an unknown female isn’t armed or dangerous, I don’t.

Can’t.

That’s a dumb and deadly mistake.

“Name.”

“Claudia!”

“Who do you work for?”

“Costco!”

Confusion crunches my face convincing me to lighten my grip. “What?”

“In the makeup department!”

Between her word choice and inability to stop trembling, it’s easy to assess she’s not a threat.

Or if she is, then she’s a very good one who I’ll push down the stairs if necessary.

Relinquishing my hold is followed by gently turning her around to face me. “Why have you been followin’ me?”

“Y-Y-Y-You’re WonderWahl’s brother, right?” She gives her leather jacket covered shoulder a soothing rub. “His older brother. The military one. The one he gets lunch or dinner or goes for a run with. Listens to Willie Nelson but would never smoke with him.”

Suspicion has me folding my arms firmly across my chest. “The latter isawfullyspecific.”

“He did a Tok on it,” Claudia girlishly gushes, twirling a strand of her dark locks. “It wassofunny.”

Doesn’t sound funny.

Sounds like something worth beating his ass over the next time I see him.

“Anyway, I recognized you earlier from the pictures and kinda…followed you up here…to…see if maybe you would…” her fidgeting behavior tells me everything I need to know.

She’s not an operative.

At least not in the sense I’m well acquainted with.

Claudia’s simply a puck bunny who saw an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

“Give him my number?”

“I do that, and you forget about this little hand to hand combat hiccup that occurred here. Understood?”

“Totally!” She pulls a business card out of her black corset top and extends it in my direction. “He can text me or DM me or Snap me. Whatever he wants.” Claudia leans slightly forward inspiring me to lean slightly away. “Whenever he wants.” Her expression transposes to one that’s almost deadly. “Got it?”

“Yup.”

“Eeek!” squeaks the petite female. “Thank you! Thank you!” Traipsing down the steps is done during a new verbal tangent to herself. “IgottatextCrystal. Ohmygodshesnevergonnabelieveme! I shouldSnapthis!No!GoLive! Idefffffinnitteellyyyyneeeedtogolive!”

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