by S. Poirier
She throws her hands up. “Okay, you’re right. Just be careful please,” she replies as she wrings her hands together. I roll my eyes at her and shake my head as I head over to the jeep.
I press the button to unlock the doors, and the moment I pull it open Sage’s scent hits me. It’s like a punch to the center of my chest, and I have to remind myself to breath. Maybe driving the jeep wasn’t such a good idea. I grip the door handle tightly and close my eyes. I don’t want to be without a vehicle while June is out job hunting, and I need to prove to her that I’m okay.
I hoist myself up into the driver’s seat and take a moment to look around the dark interior. It’s clean without a single trace of us ever using it to run from Timer and his goons. When I start the engine I look down at the dashboard and see a yellow sticky note.
Reach under the seat.
“Christ, what now?” I mumble.
That’s all it says, so I reach under the seat and start feeling around. My heart stutters when my fingertips graze cool metal. I reach a little further and wrap my fingers around the handle of a gun that I’m very familiar with. Tears sting my eyes before I even look at my .22 Smith and Wesson.
James took it off of me when we were in the warehouse. He patted me down and found it tucked in the back of my pants. Thankfully while he was busy feeling me up I was able to slip my cellphone inside my bra and he missed that it was on me. If he would have destroyed that, I’m sure I would be dead.
Snitch must have swiped the gun before we left the warehouse.
June’s apartment is much nicer than mine. It has two bedrooms as opposed to my one, the square footage is greater, and all the appliances are updated. Since she wasn’t captain douchebag’s assistant and she was working the job she went to college for, she could afford more.
The guest room is done in light lavender with a flowered duvet and matching decorative pillows piled high on a white sleigh bed. I drop my bags on the floor and sink to my knees. I start digging around in my bags that Sage left for me first. I need to wash some of them, so I start making a pile of what’s dirty and what needs to be put away. About halfway through the bag I pull out one of Sage’s black T-shirts.
My heart stalls as I bring the soft fabric up to my nose. My chest aches with how much I miss him. I think about him every day. Hell, I think about him every few minutes. I still can’t believe he just left me.
“What’s that?” June asks. I look up to see her leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed over her chest. I shake my head as I toss the shirt onto the bed. I have no intention of washing it. In fact I’m going to be completely pathetic and sleep with it. “Max, I think that maybe you should…”
I put my hand up. “No,” is all I say. Hell will freeze over before I throw out that shirt.
“Max,” I can hear the edge in her tone.
I come up off the floor so quickly that it sends pain shooting through my healing abdomen. I take a moment and let it pass before looking at her. “No. I’ll deal with this the way that works for me.” I have yet to talk about Sage’s disappearing act. I’ve only panicked and then cried.
She came off the doorframe and pointed at me. “No, you listen to me. I was there the whole time. You would cry in your sleep and say his name. Sage. I’m assuming he is also Catch?” I flinch at the sound of his name, and then turn my head so I don’t have to look at her while I nod giving her conformation. “You would scream his name in your sleep. I would try to comfort you, but you pushed me away. You didn’t want anyone but him.” She sniffles and I turn my head just in time to see her wipe away a few tears.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I ask.
June licks her lips and rubs the back of her neck. “I don’t know. I just didn’t think it would be good for you to know how desperate you were for him.” I give her a pained looked. “Honey, I just want you to be able to heal. Not just from your wounds, but in here.” She reaches out and touches the area over my heart.
I slap her hand away and she flinches. “You should have told me,” I say angrily. Then I start to think about how long I was out of it. I don’t remember Sage and Snitch coming to the warehouse. I don’t remember the ride to the hospital. I only vaguely remember hearing the soft murmurs of Sage’s voice. “What else haven’t you told me?”
June sighs and her shoulders slump forward. “Max, how about we just get some rest tonight and we can talk about it…”
“No. Now,” I yell.
She throws her hands up. “Okay fine! You want to hear how after he carried you out of that building he sat in that front seat begging you not to leave him? You want to hear that the man held you so tightly that I thought he might further break you? Oh or how about when they wheeled you back he was almost in tears because they wouldn’t let him go with you and he had to watch as they started chest compressions.” June was yelling so loud I’m sure the neighbors could hear.
I didn’t notice that my shoulders were trembling until June reaches out and digs her fingers into them. “He was ready to kill someone when they wouldn’t let him go back there. When he was finally able to see you he kicked everyone out of the room. He wouldn’t let anyone near you. He was so scared that something else was going to happen to you that he even had a hard time letting the medical staff near you.” I try to look away from her because it’s all too much, but she grabs my face and forces me to look into her eyes. “He loves you. I’ve never seen a man love someone as much as he loves you.”
I feel a few stray tears roll down my cheeks. “Then why the hell did he leave me?” I can feel my chest cracking in half. I take a deep hard breath and pinch my eyes shut. I just want it to go away.
“I don’t know, honey. All I can think is that he just wants to protect you. And maybe he thinks that this is the way to do it,” she whispers. I feel my chest heavy with a sob trying to claw its way free.
I cry while June lies with me in the bed. I allow myself to feel ever single bit of pain and raw emotions that my heart and soul is bleeding into me. I don’t know if he’ll come back, and I don’t know how to find him. All I know right now in this moment is that I just want it to be over.
The next morning I wake to the smell of coffee and bacon. I stumble into the kitchen wearing only the T-shirt and a pair of panties that I left the hospital in the day before. June must have removed my shoes and pants after I fell asleep.
I sit at the bar and lay my head on top of my crossed arms. My eyes hurt like someone bashed them in again. I’m never crying like that again, ever. The sound of something sliding across the counter gets my attention and I peek through the hair that has created a curtain around my face.
Coffee. I sit upright and greedily snatch the mug away from June. She gives me a weak smile before turning back to the stove. I choke on the first sip.
“Dammit, June, what the hell?” Coffee burns because it’s hot, but not like this.
“Whiskey. You need it,” she replies while flipping the bacon.
“I think you may have overdone it with the whiskey,” I reply as I take a tentative sip.
“Nope. You need it overdone. Now, drink up. And here, eat up too.” She puts a plate down in front of me with eggs, bacon, and toast on it. I take one look at the food and my stomach turns, so I push the plate away and shake my head. June pushes it back. “Max, eat. You’re stronger than what I witnessed last night. I won’t have you quitting. Now eat the damn food.”
Dammit she’s right. I’m not the kind of girl who is full of angst. Yeah, I love Sage, but I can’t let him leaving change who I am. I had my good cry last night, and now it was time to get back to doing what I do best. Kicking ass and taking names.
So, no matter how much my stomach turned I ate the whole plate of food she put in front of me. I also drank the entire mug of spiked coffee.
“Now go get dressed. We’re going shopping. Retail therapy is the best,” June said with a smile. And even though I really didn’t feel like doing the whole retail therapy thing I had a
slight buzz going from the whiskey and before I knew it I was nodding my head.
****
“Here try this on,” June says as she shoves yet another maxi dress in my arms. I had already purchased three sundresses, two maxi dresses, and two pairs of wedge sandals.
I push it back into her arms. We’ve been at it for almost three hours and I was in desperate need of a bathroom. “I have to pee. You try it on and I’ll meet you back here in five.”
Rolling her eyes she turns and heads towards the dressing room. The boutique we’re in is small and only carries women’s clothing. It’s decorated in a chic Victorian style with pretty pink couches and gold accents.
The restroom is located at the back of the boutique at the end of a hallway. I open the door and flip the light on, but before I can shut the door a large hand clamps down over my mouth. I’m ushered into the bathroom and I hear the door lock.
In one quick motion I kick the pedestal skin and throw the both of us back into the door. But it’s not enough for him to let go. His other arm comes around my waist and pins me to him.
“I heard you were feisty,” he growls in my ear. “I’m only here to talk, Max. I needed to see the girl who fucked with my best assassins’ head.” I wiggle to try and free myself. “I’m not going to hurt you pretty girl. Now, I’ll let you go if you agree to keep quiet.” Feeling as if I had no other choice because his beefy arms were too strong to break free from I nod. “Good girl.”
Slowly he lets my waist go, and then he removes his hand from my mouth. I spin around and take three large steps back putting as much distance I as I can between the two of us. My heart is pounding and I can feel beads of sweat forming on my upper lip.
I’m shocked and a little scared to see Timer standing in front of me. I knew it’s him, not only because of what he said, but because my instincts have never felt more accurate.
He’s almost a foot taller than me with a shaved head, deep brown eyes, and chiseled jaw with a hint of stubble. The deep blue button up he’s wearing hugs his broad shoulders and bulging chest. Intimidating doesn’t even come close to the mark. I have no doubt this man can overpower me and snap my neck without even breaking a sweat.
My hands want to shake, but I refuse to show this man fear. “Timer,” I say casually.
“Max Nora Brady,” he replies with a tip of his head. “I can see now why Catch was so taken by you.”
“Well, you’ve seen me. Can I go now?” I take a daring step towards him, and he puts his hand up.
“Where is he, Catch?” there’s a dangerous edge to his tone.
“I don’t know,” I whisper as I drop my gaze to the floor. “Did he pay you?” It’s the only reason I can think of as to why Timer is looking for him, or would seek me out.
“He did, but that’s not why I’m looking for him. You see I lost my best assassin. He quit. And plan A was to take you with me today. I wanted to use you as bait, but I’ve recently been informed that Catch is very much in love with you. And the last thing I need is a love crazed assassin gunning for me. Even if I leave you unharmed I don’t doubt for one second that he will stop at nothing to end me for simply touching you.”
“Well, if you changed your mind then why are you here?”
“I want you to get a message to Catch for me.” A smile forms on his lips, and my god, it’s scary.
“Why…” I pause and try to swallow the lump in my throat. “Can’t Snitch pass on the message?”
He shakes his head. “Catch won’t take me seriously if I pass on a message through Snitch. And besides, that is one sneaky little fucker. I don’t trust him. Now if you get the message to him, and he knows I showed my face to you, he’ll know I mean business. So, I need you to tell him that I want to talk to him in person. I’ll give him seventy-two hours, and if he doesn’t show I will come back for you.”
“But you just said….”
“I know what I said. Taking you is a last resort. At that point I’ll take my chances to get his ass out of hiding.”
“What makes you think that I’ll do this? How do I know you’re not trying to get to him just so you can kill him?” I almost couldn’t speak the words, and he probably wasn’t going to tell me the truth anyway. But I had to throw that out there.
“I don’t want to kill Catch. He’s too valuable to me. If you get him to come to me without me having to track you down and take you to use as bait you have my word that I won’t kill him, unless he gives me reason to,” Timer replies as he sticks his hand out to mine.
He wants to shake on it.
Taking a deep breath I close my eyes for a moment and mentally prepare for what I’m about to say. “Your ‘word’ means nothing to me, but I don’t see that I have a choice in the matter. Either I get a message to him or you take me and he goes to you anyway. Since in both instances you still get what you want I can only hope that you’re being honest.”
I take his hand in mine and shake. My gut feels like I just made a deal with the devil himself.
“How will he know where to meet you?” My hands are now trembling and there isn’t anything I can do to get them to stop.
“You, pretty girl, have two hours to find a way to Snitch. He’ll contact me and I’ll give him the information.” Timer reaches out with his big hand and runs his finger over my cheekbone. It takes every muscle I have not to flinch away. “You’re in love with him. I can see it in your eyes.”
His hand snakes around the nape of my neck and grips tightly. He spins me around and presses my face to the wall. A frightened whimper escapes my lips.
“Keep your face right here and count to twenty. Understand?” He’s so close I can feel his breath on my ear. I nod. “Nice to meet you, Max.” He releases my neck and I listen as he exits the bathroom.
22
Max
In my hurry to get out of the bathroom I run into June as she rounds the corner. “Whoa, where’s the fire?” She reaches out and grabs my shoulders to steady me. “Jesus, Max, you’re trembling. What the hell happened?”
“We have to leave. Now. I only have a couple of hours,” I start dragging her towards the exit.
“Max, seriously, you’re pale. I need you to tell me what the hell is going on.” She’s pulling on my hand trying to get me to stop, but I’m stronger so I manage to get her out the door and to the car before I begin to explain what happened.
“Snitch. We need to find Snitch. I have to find Catch,” I say.
“Max, I don’t know what happened in that bathroom, but I don’t think it’s a good idea if you…”
“June, shut up and listen to me. Timer cornered me in the bathroom and he’s looking for Catch. I have to get a message to Snitch.” I’m looking over my shoulder trying to see if anyone is following us. My paranoia is starting to reach new heights.
“Wait, slow down, who’s Timer?” I take a deep breath and quickly tell her all the details as to who Timer is. I spill the beans, all of them.
“Holy shit. So Snitch and Catch are assassins?” Her eyes are wide which would normally mean that she’s shocked, but her wide smile says something else. “Wow, Snitch’s hotness just went through the roof.” Her eyes are twinkling and I know now that there is no way I’m going to be able to keep her away from him, but I can’t worry about that right now.
“Okay, June, focus. I know you’re in touch with Snitch. We need to call him.”
She shakes her head making her curls bounce down around her face. It’s something she does when she’s trying to hide something. “I don’t know how to get in touch with Snitch. I haven’t seen him since the night that he and Catch bailed.”
“June Engel, stop lying to me. I know you’ve been talking to him. This is serious. Now is not the time to try and hide things from me.” A few nights through my foggy haze I heard her talking on the phone with Snitch. “At first I thought I was dreaming when I heard you talking to him on the phone those nights in the hospital. But I was just in denial. And now I’m seeing that I woul
d just be wasting my breath to tell you that you need to stay away from him.”
“Max, I’m a big girl. You don’t need to tell…” I cut her off as we pull into the parking lot of her apartment building.
“We’ll talk about this later. Right now getting him on the phone is what’s important.”
When we get inside I follow June back to her room where she retrieves another cell phone from her nightstand drawer. “Snitch gave it to me before he left the hospital.” She looks up at me, her cheeks are pink. “He said…Well, he said a lot of things. One of them being that he wants to see me again. Then he gave me this phone with the promise that I would only use it to call him.”
And how the heck did that not send off red flags for her? I pinch the bridge of my nose as I remember that night at Jack’s. She’s such a trouble magnet.
“Okay, just give me the phone, so I can call him.” I stick my hand out and she slaps the phone into my palm.
I slide my finger across the screen and find that there is only one number programed. I hit the call button. It only rings twice before he picks up.
“Angel,” he says, and my god, I can hear the smile in his voice.
“You already have a pet name for her, great. That’s just great,” I reply.
“Max? What’s wrong? Where’s June?” To my surprise he actually sounds panicked, genuinely concerned. But I’ll think about that later. I don’t have time to worry about what June and Snitch are up to.
“June is fine.” I look out the corner of my eye to see a bright smile stretched across her face. Dammit. “Listen, Snitch, you have to get a message to Catch. Timer cornered me today, and he is gunning for him. If Catch doesn’t meet up with him in the next seventy-two hours he is going to come after me to use as bait. He also promised not to touch him if he went to him willingly. Snitch, I felt like I made a deal…”
“Shit. If Timer lays a finger on you Catch might get himself killed trying to get to him. Timer rarely goes back on his word. If you shook on it then it’s very likely he’s being honest with you. I can’t give you a one hundred percent, but the odds are good.” He takes a moment, and I can hear him tapping away on a keyboard. “Okay, I’ll contact him, and I’ll be in touch.” There’s finality in his voice and I panic.