Page 27 of Behind the Scenes

“Then what is it?” I asked, tilting my head.

“I don’t take jobs when the outcome looks… unfavorable to me. Given how much you were willing to pay for this one, you must also know the risks. The only reason I’m even giving you this warning is because we’ve done business before. If you were anyone else, I’d let you face the consequences yourself.”

I wanted to scoff, but her tone made me pause.

Harley was crazy. A cold-blooded killer. But so was this one.

So why is a practiced, skilled assassin warning me about Harley?

“I don’t think she’ll hurt me,” I said. “Her goal is something else.”

She reached into her pocket and took out a piece of paper, placing it on the island separating us.

“I have some contacts who would be willing to take the job,” she said. “Don’t tell them I sent you, but if you decide to go forward with it, call this number, hang up, and wait for them to contact you.”

“How will they contact me?” I asked and reached forward to grab the paper.

Her hand reaching out to stop mine caused my heart to stop.

“People like her won’t be afraid of being hunted. She won’t even be angry, Laura,” she said. “She’ll be excited. Trust me. You’re better off running away.”

This time I did scoff and yanked my hand from hers.

“Thanks for the recommendation,” I said as I grabbed the paper. “But I got this.”

She merely shrugged and walked past me to the front entrance.

“Can I use your services in the future?” I called after her.

She didn’t even pause as she answered. “No.”

The sound of the door slamming caused a crazed laugh to bubble from my lips.

This is fucking insane.

harley

. . .

He’s been following me for some time.

He thought he was being slick, but I made him the moment I first saw his face in the crowd of set workers.

I didn’t remember everyone’s faces and names, but I could tell when someone was trying to stay hidden.

After all, that’s how my whole life had been. Hiding in plain sight. Making people believe what I wanted them to.

It was easy to see when others tried to do the same.And failed.

I was almost sure he was a present from Laura.

I hadn’t been able to pick up everything from her conversation with the contractor, but I heard enough, even though I wished I could have seen it happen.

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have texted her about her being flustered. Along with the mention ofsurveillancein the contract, it tipped her off. It was stupid, but I couldn’t help myself.

It led to her finding the cameras the flower delivery people had left in her office, which meant I couldn’t put up any in her house now. Still, she didn’t know about the microphones already there, so I still had audio.

And the woman’s warning to Laura rang clear throughmy head.