Touch And Go - Aiden Bates Page 0,20

my temple with the barrel of the gun and growled. “Tell me where the fuck it is or you’re dead.”

I didn’t question whether it was a real gun. When in doubt, I believed I would always assume it was real. Not that I planned to ever get entangled in another situation like this one. Although I didn’t know how I’d managed to get involved in this one either. “Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m serious, I don’t! Just tell me what you’re looking for and I’ll help you find it—”

“You have three seconds to tell me—” The menace in his voice was punctuated by the pounding of my heart in my ears.

“I would tell you, I swear—” He jabbed the barrel of the gun into my temple, and I winced. Saw pictures of my life pass through my mind.

“Three.”

Oh, God. “Please don’t do this.”

“Two.”

I did not want to die. “I promise, I’ll do anything you want, I’ll do anything, just please don't—”

“One.”

I braced myself and just about pissed my pants in fear, before I heard a thud and the man let out a guttural cry. The gun slipped away and an even heavier thud echoed through the dark. I spun around. My attacker was on the floor and a handsome Latino guy leaned casually over the body. He picked up the gun, emptied the chamber, and rifled through the pockets of the guy’s black suit while a beautiful, big black dog sat at his feet and cocked its head at me.

I took a shaky breath. Friend? Foe? I’d never seen him or the dog before in my life—the life almost been cut short again… But who the hell was this guy and what did he want with me? What the fuck did any of these thugs want with me?

He glanced up from the unconscious body and flashed me a grin that was, despite the circumstances, disarmingly charming. “Hey.”

“Uh, hi.”

“I’m Eli.” As if that meant anything to me.

“Seb.” I didn’t move. Ted Bundy had been described as charming in his day, too. And I had enough on my plate without ending up in the obits for some rando who made it inside my place and saved my life from some other yahoo who wanted to end me.

“Pleasure.” He nodded and reached a hand down to stroke the dog’s head.

I didn’t take my eyes off either of them as I stood plotting what to do if I heard the words “sic” or “him” pass between the lips still wearing that charming smile. “Yeah. Uh…how’s that summer humidity, huh?” He seemed happy enough with the small talk. No point in going rogue just yet.

“Well, the city was built on a swamp. You work in politics?” He looked me up and down.

Politics? Me? Probably a joke in there somewhere but I didn’t look too deep. Instead, I estimated how many feet between me and the door to the bedroom. Too many. The dog would probably get me before I made it that far. “Tech. You?”

He cocked his head as if he was measuring how quick he’d have to be to grab me or if I was as lithe as I looked—I wasn’t. “Parks, actually.”

“Cool. I’m just going to—” I motioned to the door he was standing in front of.

“Come with me.” And there was no question he believed it.

But he was wrong. “Hell, no.”

I backed up three steps, arms straight out at my sides like I was going to spin into a helicopter and propel my way out. He dropped the grin.

When I moved to my left, he moved to his right blocking me. “Seb, grab a bag and get moving. More could be coming.”

“More what?”

He motioned to the man snoozing on the floor, and I backed up further. Should I run? No. My legs were trembling. I wouldn’t make it two steps. Throw a lamp? Would’ve been okay had I owned a lamp, but my lights were overheads.

And who the hell died and made this guy the boss? Probably the same guy who gave him the big bad attack dog.

“You should know!”

“Me? Why would I know? I know shit about anything. My whole life has been turned upside down! But how did you know to come here? You tell me what the fuck is going on.” My voice cracked with fear, but it felt good to get out some of my frustration.

Eli ran a hand over his face and motioned to the door. “Come with me and we can talk