Page 47 of Five

“Said the red haze monster,” I cough the words inside my fist. Can’t believe he wanted to make my bestie wait outside when he’s a great fighter.

“Rague is much better now!” Ollie comes to his hubby’s defense, but then turns to him with a scowl, “Don’t you ever try to keep me out again!”

“Let’s get back to the stalker.” Rague looks eager to change topic.

“Let’s ask Serena. Rami has already too much on his plate.” I shake my head at Ollie’s suggestion and dial Dare’s number instead.

“I have a better idea.”

“Lori,” he answers the phone straight away.

“Hey, Offspring Three. How is it, working for Reacher?” Dare started working for Rami at his video game design company and has sort of learned the hacker part as well to help as a cyber techie at Hunter and Opal’s P.I. agency.

“Great.” Dare isn’t the talkative type, but between his two bros yakking on and on all day I do understand his inclination to silence.

“Hey, Lori.”

“Clover-bell?”

“Yep.”

Clover is a very skilled thief who works for the bros at times. His peculiar behavior, lack of filter, and at times, tactless and logical thinking call to me. He’s a straight-up weirdo, not the best at reading facial cues. We have shot the shit a few times and bond over rock music and gory movies.

“Didn’t know you were back, mate. How was Japan?”

“Rainy and sweet,” is his odd reply. “Letting the darkness into your soul is bad chakra, by the way.”

“Uh, wise words. Where do they come from?” I ask.

“Dunno. I think I heard it in a movie once, and after Rami told me what happened to you, I thought it was fitting.” See what I mean? Impossible not to get sucked in by his nonsense.

“Okay. I’m calling because I need Dare to find out who my stalker is.” I see Ollie opening his arms toward the sky in what looks like a strength-seeking prayer.

“Your yoga marble ass strikes again,” Clover cheers.

“Indeed.” I smile proudly.

“Like having a stalker is a goal everybody should aspire to.” Ash’s irritated statement hits my ear.

“Offspring One! How’s your horrible day going?” Ash is rude, boorish, and always annoyed by something. Classic teenaged boy.

“Fucking late for my shift at the tattoo parlor,” he grumbles. He started working at a shop not so far from my apartment. Uri put in a good word with the owners. But Ash has talent, so much that I’m thinking to let him ink me next.

“Ash’s car broke down,” Clover explains.

“And I’m fucking waiting for someone to tell me where his car keys are,” Ash hisses.

“On the table behind you,” Dare replies, unbothered by his brother’s mood. “Lori, do you have a place for me? For the stalker.”

“The Loop District, State Street. He’s standing near a post office, on a side street in front of Hot&Cold Café.”

“Hold,” Dare says through the phone. “Getting inside the security cameras of the establishments nearby. Can you give me a description of the stalker?”

“Tall, long black hair, gray skinny jeans, brown pointed-toe cowboy boots, horrid, red sunglasses on his head. Need I go on?”

“Got him. Having Serena run facial recognition.”

“Going out next week?” Clover asks.