Page 65 of Emeric

The rest of lunch was uneventful. We’d decided to visit today because Vail was staying in the building, and Jordan had no plans to kill anyone or try not to kill anyone. Sheldon and I weren’t needed. I secretly thought Jordan loved that Sheldon and I had a good relationship with my mom. Her warnings had helped time and time again.

On the drive back, Sheldon kept running his finger along a new knife my mom had given him. He said he didn’t want to know what was special about it. We’d learned long ago to say thank you and look at the object as the gift it was. We didn’t always know when we’d use or need it, but when we did, it always helped.

“It’s sharp,” he said. “How should I test it?”

“Wait until we get home and use a tomato.”

“You’re so boring.”

“You want to explain to Forest why you’re bleeding from lunch with my parents?”

He carefully returned the knife to the box my mom had given him. “Fine. At some point, you’re going to have to stop pulling the Forest card to keep me from doing stupid shit.”

“Really? Like you’re not going to do the same thing with me?”

“You’re much more level-headed than I am.”

I scoffed. “This from the person who can calm situations down. You’re just looking for an excuse to test the knife. You’re like a damn kid with a new toy. You can’t wait to play with it.” This was purely him wanting to see how sharp it was, and he was barely able to contain himself. I knew him well. It paid off in times like these.

“I’m not denying it.”

We talked for a few more minutes when his phone alerted him to a text message.

“Jordan wants us in the conference room. He said to tell no one where we’re going.”

“Did you let him know we’re on our way back to the city?”

“Yeah, he said not to break too many laws getting there. It’s not that urgent.”

I nodded. “Okay, then it doesn’t sound like we’re going to draw blood.”

“It’s too bad. This knife will look so pretty with crimson running along it.”

“God, we’re so fucked up.”

“But we love it.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. There really was a lot wrong with us for doing the job we did. Then again, it was better than being in a boring career where it felt like we were just running our days down until we could retire, if we ever could. The world was a shitty place a lot of the time. By helping rid the streets of assholes, we were doing a public service. Okay, that sounded fucked up too, considering our boss was a big criminal.

We pulled into the garage under the building, and I parked the SUV like I always did. Without saying a word to each other, we got out and into the elevator. There was no need for anyone around us to ask where we were going. Once the guards reached a certain level here, they weren’t questioned unless it was by Jordan, Barry, or one of the top guards, which Sheldon and I already were.

Stopping outside the conference room, Sheldon and I exchanged a look, not sure what we were walking into. Vincent stood guard, which wasn’t out of the ordinary. When Jordan was somewhere in the building, like in a meeting, there was always a guard with him.

I gripped the handle and turned. Here went nothing.

The first person I saw when I entered was Barry, then Jordan. There was another man with them, one I’d never seen. Dark hair, neatly cut and swept back. His eyes were a piercing light blue. A bit of dark scruff coated his jaw and cheeks. His clothes fit him well: a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and light gray slacks. One leg was crossed over the other, his ankle resting at his knee where a polished black loafer sat. If I were being honest, he was model-worthy, like the kind on TV wearing expensive clothes in a cologne commercial.

When the door shut behind us, the man spoke.

“Hello, Oleander.” He nodded. “Sheldon.”

I stumbled backward, almost tripping over my feet, until I could grip the edge of the table. “Holy fuck.” That voice… I’d heard it countless times. It was one that helped us, guided us, and did things none of us could. He was someone Jordan trusted implicitly.

“Fuck me,” Sheldon whispered. “You’re a damn ghost.”

A chuckle came from the man. “Nah, but thanks for thinking so. I’m just better at moving around undetected than you are.”

“I don’t even try not to be followed. You… you slip in and out without anyone noticing.”