"I know," I agree in defeat. I'm not looking forward to going out with Henri tonight, much less to my cousin, Etienne's, birthday party. He's part of the Dark Leopard MC and any party, family-oriented or not, isn't the best place for a first date - a blind one at that.
"I'll always be here if you need me,” she promises.
I have a terrible time dealing with large groups of people. My head begins to ache and I feel awful. I have a hard time controlling my emotions around others and have more than once thrown things for no reason and also felt so depressed I couldn’t stop crying. I hate it. Secluding myself as a young girl was the only way I could find to make myself normal like everyone else. If only there was a way to live in peace, I’d take it in a heartbeat.
"Don’t think that’s the best idea,” I tell her when I’m finished.
Maybe not, but it would sure scare Dupree away, she snickers. She dislikes him more than I do, and we haven't really gotten to know him yet.
"Damn," I swear when the doorbell rings. "That must be Mr. Perfect," I grumble, making her hiss in my mind. "Guess I'd better get that before I make a bad impression and Mother finds out."
I’m sure she’s already waiting for it.
“Of course she is,” I sigh and turn off the bathroom light as I leave to answer the door.
"Larken.” Henri’s standing at my door, all proper in a suit and tie. I have to admit, he’s quite handsome standing there holding a bouquet of flowers, but it doesn’t sway my feelings toward him. I only feel anxiety swirling in my gut without any indication of it stopping soon.
“Henri.” Lame, but I can’t find it in me to care.
“These are for you,” he holds out the perfectly arranged blossoms, vase and all, so I have no choice but to invite him in while I take care of them. Don’t people usually buy flowers wrapped in paper to give to others? I suppose that’s too ordinary for him. So much for leaving quickly.
“Thank you,” I take the flowers from him and step back into the entryway. “Come in while I put these up.” Henri moves to enter, leaning forward to kiss me on the cheek as he passes by. What makes him think he can do that? We don’t even know each other.
My apartment is small and minimal, and even though I love every part of it, I’m nervous for Henri to see it. His family travels in circles I do not, so I know his expectations are naturally high. I’ve heard stories here and there about the relationships he’s had. They aren’t exactly encouraging.
“Are you ready?” he asks when I place the vase on a small table next to my reading chair. I don’t normally place things here, just my books and magazines, but I feel this strong need to put them there anyway.
“Yes,” I nod, following behind as he moves toward the front door. Taking my hand, he leads me out of my apartment and to his car. Without a word, he helps me inside and buckles me in like I’m a child before getting in himself.
I can already tell this is going to be a long, grueling night.
340
Hacker
“‘Sup, brother?” I lean back in my chair and stare at the computer monitors in front of me. I’m tapped into the bank’s surveillance cameras and have been watching them since before they opened this morning.
“A helluva lot more than what you’ve got going on, no doubt. You’re still looking at those cameras, aren’t you?” X knows me too well.
“I have to figure it out,” I argue in response.
“Not by yourself. We’re a club, man.”
“I know, but I have to figure out what he’s up to by messing with our accounts.”
“Again, not solely your responsibility. Don’t know for sure it’s him, anyway. Could be just a simple bank error.”
“That’s bullshit and you know it,” I spit, only getting more and more agitated.
“No, I don’t. Not for sure.”
“What do your instincts tell you? Your training?” He always was one of the best soldiers in our unit, having an uncanny ability to know when things were about to go to shit. Something like that doesn’t just go away.
Silence precedes a rough sigh before he speaks. “Something’s off. Don’t know what or how, but it just is. That doesn’t mean you’re the only one who can solve it.”
“I know that,” I grumble, my leopard not fond of saying that aloud.
“Good. Meet me at the deli across from the bank. Fifteen minutes.”
“Why?”
“Later.”
X hangs up on me, irritating me further. He’s lucky our animals get along so well or I’d kick his ass for that vague shit. Standing up for the first time in hours, I take one last glance at the monitors then walk to the nearly empty parking lot. Anxious to get to the bank, I haul ass out of the compound, breaking many speed limits along the way.
“That was quick,” X laughs when I come to a stop at the curb in front of the outside table he’s claimed.
“Whatever,” I mutter while parking my bike. Dismounting, I walk over and take the seat across from him. It has a perfect view of the bank’s entrance and I can easily watch everyone coming and going.
“Food should be here in a few minutes,” he tells me. “I know you haven’t eaten because you never do when you’re like this, so I figured this was a good way to ensure you do.”
“How thoughtful,” I huff. Keeping me from saying more, the waitress delivers our food and drinks. “Thanks,” I tell her after she checks we have everything and leaves.
“You gonna thank me, too,” he smirks, then takes a bite of his custom made sandwich. He orders it so much, the owners finally put it on the menu.
“Nope,” I answer, following suit and take a large bite of my own