Page 65 of Deadfall

“Well, describe them—did they have any patches on their clothes—anything on the bird?”

My jaw clenched in irritation. I didn’t want to think about anything associated with that day.

“Well?” He pressed.

“No—I don’t know—he said it was his past catching up to him—Sacha wasn’t–he wasn’t really forthcoming with information,” I said.

The man grunted in reply, but it seemed to appease him because he didn’t ask anything else.

The minutes stretched to hours and despite my best efforts, the gentle rocking of the truck and the warm interior made my eyes grow heavy, and I couldn’t fight off sleep any longer.

There was a touch on my arm. I lunged forward, grabbed his wrist and dragged it down while I shoved my gun under his chin. We were stopped and it was dark out. He’d ditched his aviators and cold brown eyes hardened further as he went still. He looked on in annoyance but didn’t fight, more so just watched calmly while I got my bearings.

“We’re here,” he grumbled.

I let him go and he slid back across the seat and exited the driver's side door. I hopped out and slung my pack over my shoulder, then helped Fang out of the bed. He pressed against my leg, hackles raised as he looked around. He could obviously tell I was uncomfortable, and a low growl rumbled in his throat as he watched the man walk around the truck towards us. We were in a warehouse district and for a moment my nerves surged again. It was dark and isolated out here. I still had the gun in hand down by my side. He frowned at it.

“Lev isn’t going to like that, best put it away for now,” he said.

When I didn’t move fast enough he folded his arms and glared. “I’ll wait.”

“Fine, fine,” I grumbled.

I shoved it in a holster in the back of my jeans and held up my hands to show him. The man moved toward a door and knocked three times. He stepped back and looked up at a video camera and saluted it casually. There was a click and the man pulled open the door. I followed after him into the dim hallway. We walked into an empty industrial apartment. I was confused until the man moved toward the far wall and pushed in a brick. A false wall appeared and slid aside to reveal another set of brightly-lit stairs. I couldn’t help but gasp as we emerged into a large warehouse. I knew we were underground, but it didn’t feel like it with the vaulted ceilings.

“Riggs! My man!” A lithe, young guy in his twenties appeared from behind a bank of monitors. He rolled his chair out and stood up. Despite the chill, he wore cargo pants, flip flops and a Hawaiian shirt unbuttoned with a white tank underneath. His blond hair was worn shaggy around his ears and he looked like he should be out surfing instead of behind a computer. He came over, a blinding megawatt smile on his face.

“It’s good to see your ugly mug of course, but who is this beautiful creature? And I don’t mean the dog—” He made an elaborate bow, and before I could evade him, he grabbed my hand and brought it up to hover inches from his lips. A low rumble from Fang made him drop it quickly, but the twinkle of amusement didn’t leave his eyes.

“It’s a pleasure, my lady. My name is Lev. What are you doing keeping company with this degenerate, hm?”

My driver, whose name was apparently Riggs, scoffed. “Careful, she might shoot you, she’s one of Sacha’s.”

Understanding crossed Lev’s face, along with something darker I didn’t understand.

“Ah, well, I come in peace,” he chuckled. “What can I help you two with?”

“Not me,” Riggs grumbled. “I did my job. She’s your problem now.”

Lev stopped his perusal and looked over at Riggs. “Ah, come on, man, I haven’t seen you in years—”

“It’s been six months,” Riggs interrupted.

“Yeah, that’s a long time to not see your best friend!” Lev insisted indignantly.

Riggs ran a hand down his face in exasperation. “I’m not—”

“Have a beer, a nap maybe, you look like you haven’t slept in weeks,” Lev peered at Riggs with a frown. “You having issues again—”

“Stop,” Riggs snapped. “Fine. I’ll stay until morning.”

He stalked off to a living area that glowed cozily in a corner, complete with a kitchen and comfy looking couches.

Lev put his hands on his hips. “Now, what can I help you with, my dear?”

“Well, I—”

Lev held up his hand. “Name first. I don’t work with strangers.”