Page 36 of Himbo Hitman
“Him?” Lars demands.
“Perry’s the one who tried to kill me.”
Before Perry can react, Lars storms toward him, wraps his hand around Perry’s throat, and lifts him partially out of the chair. “Who are you working for?” He squeezes so tight that Perry lets out a gargle. “Where’s Colin?”
“He doesn’t know where Colin is.”
Lars glances over at me. “How do you know?”
“He told me last night.”
“Last …” Anger flares behind Lars’s eyes. This probably shouldn’t be the first he’s hearing about it, but if I’d told him, there’s no way he would have let me out of his sight this morning. And I needed to see Perry to confirm that I saw what I thought I saw.
Lars releases him, and Perry drops back into the chair with a gasp.
“How about we all just …” Perry starts. “Take a second. It’s been a big morning, we’re tired?—”
“Shut up,” Lars demands before turning his attention on me. “You want to fill me in?”
It’s inconvenient to go back over everything when we’repotentially still being hunted, so I try to condense it as much as I can. “The masked man paid me a warning visit last night. I spotted him wearing Perry’s bracelet, so I went to the cafe this morning to make sure, and then Perry ran off, was shot at in the alley behind the cafe, and we bolted for here. You’re all caught up.”
His shoulders stiffen. “Were you followed?”
“No clue.”
Lars takes a determined step toward the door before pausing. Then, changing his mind, he walks back over to Perry and pulls a set of handcuffs from his belt. “Hands behind you.”
“That isn’t a smart choice for me.”
“It’s not a choice. Hands. Behind your back. Now.”
“What if whoever’s coming for us gets through you and finds us here, and then I’m handcuffed to a chair like sitting prey?”
“If they get through me, I’m dead, so I don’t think I’ll really care what happens to you.”
Perry puffs out a huge exhale. “Fair point.” Then he wraps both hands behind him.
Lars handcuffs him, checks the tightness, and leaves.
It’s so quiet between me and Perry that it’s clear neither of us knows what to say.
He stretches his long legs out in front of himself with a groan. “Fuck, this hurts.”
“Imagine losing your ear.”
“Almost did.” He tries to shrug, but it doesn’t really work with his arms pulled tight. “At least if they come for you, you can get away.”
“They were aiming foryou.”
“Debatable. See, I don’t have anyone who wants me killed, but we have proof you do.”
That’s the faultiest logic I’ve ever heard. “We also didn’t have proof anyone wanted me dead until you shot at me. Welcome to the world of being wanted.”
My tone is as dry as fucking possible, but when Perry turns those big brown eyes on me, I’m not prepared to feel … sorry for him. Jesus. This whole thing is a headfuck of epic proportions.
His big white sneaker taps nervously against the floor.
“So, uh, how about those alien sightings?”
