Page 41 of Himbo Hitman
“So we let him kill you instead?”
“I didn’t say that either.”
“I said I have an idea,” I remind them.
They both ignore me.
While St. Clare and Lars bicker between themselves, I shift position, trying to reduce the pain I’m in. My thighs still have that raw burn, and my shoulders are sending an ache up my neck. The least they could do while they debate my fate is help me get a little more comfortable. I wouldn’t be opposed to having my hands cuffed in front of me. Or having my ankles zip-tied to the chair legs. They need to get a little creative, is all.
That cup of ice-cold water is taunting me too, and if this is torture, they’re doing it right.
“Could have led someone here—” Lars is saying.
St. Clare talks over him. “I’m the one who brought him here, and like you said, we weren’t followed. So what’s the issue?”
Lars reaches up to tug on St. Clare’s good earlobe. “Have you really already forgotten?”
“Of course I fucking haven’t.” He bats Lars’s hand away. “All I’m saying is that he’s not a threat.”
“I’m really not,” I back him up.
Again, with the glares. Sheesh, a man can’t even protest his own innocence around here.
“Look, Lars,” I try again. “I know why you don’t trust me, but if you try to get to know me, it’ll change all that. I’m a good friend, if I say so myself. Besides, as much as I love this cute little meeting, I can’t stay long. A few hours, tops. Sir Squeakerton gets mad if I miss bonding time, and I’m meeting my sister and her girlfriend for dinner. It’s my turn to buy.” At least the glares are gone,but they’re both staring at me now. “It might help if I give you my idea and we go from there?”
“We don’t want to hear your idea.”
St. Clare clears his throat. “I’dlike to hear his idea.”
“Hey, there we go! Now, that’s working together.”
Lars tips his head back, pinching his nose, and waves the other hand my way. “Whatever. Go.”
“You’re apparently highly wanted. And I’m now allegedly highly wanted?—”
“Actuallyhighly wanted.”
“Semantics.” It’s a situation of he said, I said at this point, and who can tell which of us is right? “My point is that the same people areapparentlyafter us both, and what’s better than one? Two.”
“Debatable,” Lars mutters.
“So why don’t I hide out here with you guys until I can get hold of Luther and find out who hired me? I can even be your bodyguard—today was our trial run. We’ll team up to take down the bad guys!”
“Youarethe bad guy,” Lars points out.
I let out a long sigh. “Not you too.”
“Me too, what?”
“Hung up on the whole …” I drop my voice out of respect for St. Clare’s ear. “Attempted murder thing.”
His eyes go round.
“I’ve already apologized though. What more does a guy have to do?”
“This isn’t really the kind of situation where a quick sorry will clear things up.”
I try to work through that one myself, but I’m not getting anywhere fast. “Why not?”
