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She shoved me to the side. “No, you were shooting daggers and picking a fight with your face. There’s a huge difference. Trust me, I grew up with cousins ready to rip heads from bodies and use those same heads to play dodgeball. Why do you all have such anger issues?”

"It’s not anger, it’s pent up rage against the world and the way they see us and want us dead,” I said under my breath. “They look up to us, but we’re never good enough. They use us because they aren’t powerful enough, then wait for us to crack so they can take over. Who wouldn’t feel rage?”

“Tamp it.” She looked ready to flick me in the nose. Sighing, she dropped her hand. “Let me grab his number, and then we can eat.”

“Whatever you say.” I followed her out of the room.

Raven marched up to the guy and tapped him on the shoulder. “Sorry about that, he has the personality of drywall and watches crime shows because he thinks they’re comedy.”

The guy stared me down then met her gaze. “Comedy?”

"Because they’re so stupid it’s funny,” she whispered under her breath. “Anyway, give me your number and we’ll connect later this week.”

"Yeah, yeah.” He licked his lips. “It’s?—”

I drowned it out, I’d get his entire background in the next five minutes anyway, no need to memorize it. I was more concerned about his social security number.

I held up my hand. “I’m going to interrupt you right there.” I snatched his phone out of his hand and typed in my number, then my name,Ace, the Matchstick, De Lange. “That’s my number, sunshine, with hers right underneath it in the information section. Think of me as a personal secretary.” I slammed the phone back onto his chest.

He sucked in a sharp breath. I hoped for a small bruise later right where I tapped him.

“This is how it’s going to work, you need her, you’re going to need me. If you need to meet up, you find the quickest and shortest way to say so with your words and meet in a crowded place preferably with cameras and/or a priest nearby.”

His eyes darted from mine to hers then back again. “Alright.”

“Blinking twice to alert the authorities doesn’t get you out of this situation, sweetheart.” I winked. “I am the authority, so get used to it. Now, if you touch her, I remove the part of your body that did the touching—regardless if you need it to survive. Doesn’t matter if it’s a handshake or a very deep breath. Everything counts in my playbook. If you so much as flirt with her without my permission, I’ll find a way to give you a sexually transmitted disease via paper clip, a pencil sharpener, and basic high school chemistry—you’ll be itching your dick before you can ask how.”

He stumbled back, phone in hand. “Got it.”

I stared at his shaking legs. “Huh, you held the piss in, stronger than most, good for you, Casanova.” I smacked him on the shoulder. “And in case none of that landed between your ears where your brain should be, she’s off limits, think of me as the limit. I’m your gateway drug into the holy land—and your only prayer of finishing this assignment alive. I’m your savior, you’re my servant. There will never be a scenario where you sweep in with your money, good looks, talent, or fast car and impress her—trust me she’s seen better. Any questions? No?”

"No sir,” he whispered and looked past me to Raven. “He always a dick?”

“Always.” She yawned. “But he’s not wrong. I’m not easily impressed, though I would have liked to see you try, I like being entertained.”

I shook my head. “Shit for brains would have led with his last name. You can go now, Stuart.”

“Steven,” he corrected.

“Sounds good Sven.” I saluted him with my middle finger.

He muttered “bastard” under his breath, stumbled away from us and tripped just enough to hit the elevator’s down button on the way.

I tilted my head. “He’s too tall for you anyway.”

"Wow, saving me from tall guys and murderers? My hero.” Raven tugged at her ear again, then ran her fingers over her earring. Her tell. Her nervous tic. The crack in her façade.

“Ears hurt?” I asked, knowing the tic by now and wondering if she was aware she even did it when she was uncomfortable or thinking.

She dropped her hand. “No, just hungry, tired, and annoyed that you scared him off. Besides, he seemed nice.”

I pulled out my phone and tapped the screen then tapped it again and sent her the background check I’d already run on him. I wondered if she’d still use the word nice in reference to him once she did a quick scan. I looked forward to the trauma, actually. Did that make me evil or just bored? Either way, she needed the reminder about what nice got you sometimes. She read the text and shot me a glare.

I could have gone my entire life without seeing that.”

“It’s good to know who your partner is.”

She turned and started walking away from me. It’s probably AI.”