Page 30 of Right Number, Wrong Man

COLT

Mithridatism.

The word spins in my head as I watch Hailey across the Retro Reel’s empty lobby, her eyes glued to her phone, doing anything to avoid me.

Legend has it, the ancient king Mithridates was so obsessed with his fear of getting poisoned, he thought he could protect himself by taking small amounts of poison every day. In time, he hoped he would become immune to the effects.

But Mithridatism doesn’t work with all substances and nothing can make me immune to Hailey’s charms. I thought I could control myself and keep a handle on being the masked Dom of her dreams, but I’m an idiot.

A heart-broken, yearning idiot. Pretending to keep things casual is killing me inside.

The echo of Hailey’s moans is all I hear, her smile is all I see when I close my eyes. The scent of her sweat and her sweet perfume lingers in my nose. My fingertips buzz with the memory of her soft skin.

I hate myself for leaving last night. She doesn’ t deserve to be used and cast aside like a toy, even if she didn’t give a damn about me walking out. That’s not the kinda relationship I want for us.

I want to fuck her like I’ll kill her and then care for her. I’d run a bath and wash her hair, kiss her bruises and soothe her pain. We’d order takeout and watch her favorite movies until she falls asleep in my arms on the sofa and I carry her to bed.

“Colt?” Hailey’s voice rings out.

“What?” I snap.

Me and my stupid, big mouth. Why the hell did I react like that? I ain’t even mad at her… I’m mad at myself for not getting my act together.

“Sorry, what’s up?” I ask, softening my tone.

Her head tilts, brown hair falling into her eyes. I must be completely out of my mind, cause I think I notice a hint of worry crossing her face as she points to the entrance. “Did you forget to unlock the doors?”

Dazed, I turn. My brain bounces back into action when I see the crowd gathered outside.

Shit! How could I forget the doors?

I sprint around the counter and open up, apologizing to the customers filtering into the lobby. Nobody seems mad, but I’ve never made a mistake like that before.

People keep pouring in for the evening rush. Hailey sells snacks and drinks while I ring up the tickets and the usher—some part-timer college kid—funnels folks toward the screening room.

There are chain theaters in every bigger town.

What makes the Retro Reel stand out is a focus on old movies and indie titles from around the world on real film, not digital.

It’s a small niche, but its fans are dedicated and often make the drive from further away.

Our current special feature—a collection of international horror shorts—is especially popular.

When the bustle dies down and the movie starts, Hailey disappears into the ladies’ room. I lean against the ticket counter, ready to sink back into my sullen thoughts, but my pessimistic pondering is interrupted.

The door flies open and Cody saunters in, arms spread like a superhero. His long salt-and-pepper hair is tied into a low ponytail and aviator sunglasses perch on his aquiline nose. He’s a little shorter than me, but no less imposing with his broad build.

Cody stops in the middle of the lobby, pointing at himself. “Have you already forgotten about your favorite spotter? Wait, is it the suit? You don’t recognize me when I ain’t dressed in camo.”

Lips pressed into a line, I put a hand on my gun. “Yeah, I got no idea who you are. Fuck off before I call the cops or I’ll take care of you myself!”

Cody laughs and strolls over to me, clapping a heavy palm on my back. “Cool place you got here! I dig it. Feels like steppin’ into a bygone era with the old school interior and the lit-up marquee. Do you arrange it by hand for every movie?”

I raise my brows. “Sure do.”

“Neat!”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Why are you here?”

“For a tour?”

“Why are you really here?”

“To visit my best bud Colton?”

“Cut the bullshit.”

He grumbles. “Not to sound like your dad, cause that makes me feel like a fuckin’ dinosaur, but I was worried about you. You seemed off in your texts lately. Then the suspicious business with the voice changer?—”

I elbow him in the side. “Not so loud! She could hear you,” I whisper.

Cody takes off his sunglasses, brown eyes widening. “You mean she’s?—”

The bathroom door opens and Hailey steps outside. Her face lights up as she sees us standing together. She marches toward us and holds her hand out to Cody, the other clutching her phone with that sparkly pink Hey Kitty case.

“Hi, I’m Hailey!”

Cody shoots me a look that can only be described as smug as fuck. I scowl. He better not blow my cover.

He shakes her hand, grinning. “The name’s Cody. Also known as the best spotter in the US military and —more importantly—Colt’s best friend.”

Hailey giggles like chiming bells and my heart flip-flops. “Are you sure Colt isn’t paying you to say this? Here I thought he was such an insufferable asshole that he didn’t have any friends.”

Cody roars with laughter and winks at me. “I like her already! You need somebody with a backbone to keep you on your toes when I ain’t around.”

Warmth suffuses my chest. I should’ve known these two troublemakers would get along famously.

“Are you from Texas, too?” Hailey asks. “Because of the accent, I mean.”

“Tennessee—and thank God for that! We both know nobody likes a stuck-up Texan,” he says and she snickers.

A smile tugs on my lips, but I hide it in a groan. “Lord, have mercy! Now I got y’all teaming up on me.”

“You bet!” Cody cuts in and Hailey whoops as they high-five.

I bark a laugh. “Should I make a group chat for you guys to bully me? ”

He taps his temple. “Way ahead of you. I’m already brainstormin’ names.”

“While you do the thinking, how about some free popcorn to solidify our new friendship based on annoying Colt?” Hailey suggests, brows waggling.

He puts his sunglasses in his jacket pocket and rubs his hands. “Hell yeah! Sweet and salty, please.”

“Coming right up! You’ll get a soda on the house, too,” she says and skips over to the popcorn machine.

As soon as she’s out of earshot, Cody grabs me by the shoulder and whispers, “ This is Hey Kitty girl? You’re stalking the lady who gave you that old charm on your rifle?”

Heat bursts across my cheeks. “She—” I choke on air. My brain is emotionally short-circuiting. “She didn’t give it to me, per se. When we were kids, I stole?—”

“Wait, you’ve been in love with Hey Kitty girl since you were kids ?” he interrupts and his jaw gapes. I’ve never seen the man look this surprised, not even when we got ambushed by enemy snipers.

I scratch my beard and cough. “L-like sixteen yea?—”

The door opens again and a guy rushes in. I’m thankful for the interruption, but I know Cody won’t let this go. Curiosity is written all over his face like a very intrusive, very smug highway billboard staring at me.

The man’s been divorced thrice but he’s the biggest romantic I know. He just loves love and my messed up, hopeless yearning for Hailey is exactly his thing.

“How ‘bout I tell you the full story over a few beers tonight? You’ll get the director’s cut with all the details,” I suggest.

“Sounds good,” Cody says, but his attention is drawn to the man standing in the lobby.

The guy is of average height and build, a bit on the skinny side.

He wears glasses and a short-sleeved button-down shirt with suspenders like he stumbled out of the nineteenth century.

And why are his pants so short, did he buy ‘em on sale in the kid’s section?

It’s ridiculous, especially with that leather-bound book under his arm.

Is he trying to look like an overgrown schoolboy? What’s next, calling for his damn mommy?

“Am I too late for the movie?” the man bursts out between irregular breaths, bracing himself on his knees.

“Justin, is that you?” Hailey cuts in, tension in her tone.

I bristle as he smiles at her, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Every guy called Justin I’ve ever met is an ass, so I’m not surprised.

How does she know this freak? It’s pretty clear his biscuit ain’t done in the middle, and I didn’t figure her for the kinda girl who goes for the basket cases. Something more about him doesn’t sit right with me, I just can’t put my finger on it.

Though I hide my emotions well, Cody notices the subtle shift in my mood. He gives me a glance and it speaks volumes. During our time working together, we’ve perfected communicating without words and I can tell he’s picking up something weird about the new arrival, too.

Justin shuffles toward Hailey. “What a surprise! I didn’t know you worked here.”

I scowl. No way he came here by chance.

“Ha, coincidence!” she squeaks, letting out a thin laugh as she does awkward jazz hands. I’ve never seen her do that before. “What are you doing here?”

“I was in town and the mood for a movie struck, so I spontaneously—” When Justin reaches the concession stand, the volume of his voice drops.

Fuck this, I gotta get closer .

I pluck my apartment keys from my pocket and toss them to Cody, who catches them with ease.

“I got some work to do. Wait upstairs and we’ll have drinks when I’m done, alright?” I ask.

“Sure. Text me if you need backup.” Cody discreetly takes out his phone, snapping a pic of Justin while the guy is busy staring at Hailey.

Any moment now, I expect suspenders boy to start drooling. It’s disgusting.

“In the meantime, I’ll do a lil research on our new friend,” Cody says quietly. “Got a few contacts I can hit up. If he’s registered anywhere in the US of A, I’ll find him.”

“Thanks.”

I’ve long stopped asking how he got those contacts or how he maintains them. He wouldn’t tell me anyway. CIA shit.

Cody nods. “That’s what friends are for. Tell Hailey I’m takin’ a rain check for the popcorn and soda, but I’ll be back for my friendship snacks another day. I’m sticking around the area for a while. Spending my time with y’all seems more fun than gettin’ drunk somewhere by my lonesome.”

He puts on his sunglasses and strolls outside.

I make my way toward the popcorn machine and pretend to check the settings so I can listen in. Wonder if I could suffocate Justin if I stuck his head inside? I’d have to get a new machine, though, cause nobody’s gonna want Justin-flavored popcorn.

“Sorry I didn’t call,” Hailey says, picking at the edge of the counter. “I’ve just been so busy with work…”

Didn’t call him?

That must mean this scumbag gave her his number, but she wasn’t interested. Is that why she seems so uncomfortable? Maybe she feels guilty—not that she has any reason to. She owes him nothing and he should’ve gotten the hint.

“That’s alright, Hailey,” he says softly.

“Y-you know my name?” she asks, stiffening.

Justin chuckles as he pushes up his glasses, but they slide down his nose again instantly. “Sorry. Back at the bar, I heard your friend call you Hailey.”

Nope. That harmless nerd act ain’t fooling me.

He can smile and stutter and fumble all he wants, but he made the biggest mistake of his cursed existence by coming here. The rest of the world might buy his lies, but I see right through him and the longer I watch, the more certain I am what he is.

Only another predator would notice that cold hunger in his dead eyes and the malicious twist in the tug of his lips.

Without a doubt, this man is dangerous.

Silence stretches and Hailey gets more nervous with every passing second. She tucks hair behind her ear and shifts her weight, chewing on her lip while Justin stares like a psycho.

He’s using basic manipulation tactics, saying her name more often than you’d usually do to make the conversation seem more intimate. And by staying silent now, he’s essentially forcing her to speak.

I grit my teeth. How mad would she be if I stepped in? She hates it when I act overbearing and we still haven’t smoothed over the spider prank conversation, but I can’t stand by any longer.

I open my mouth, but Hailey speaks first.

“W-well, since you’re already here I wanted to know if you got plans for Saturday in two weeks?” she asks him.

Fuck. I shouldn’t’ve waited to interrupt. Getting her angry would’ve been better than letting her ask him on a date she doesn’t want.

Justin’s grin turns wolfish. “I’m free as a bird!”

Hailey gives an uncertain nod. “My best friend is getting married and I need a plus one for the party if you?—”

“I’d love to go!” he interrupts.

I hold back a growl. He ain’t just a psycho, but a rude one, too. That won’t do. I need to get him away from her. Temporarily, for now. Forever, later on.

“Awesome. I’ll text you the details,” she says, that nervous smile plastered on her face like she’s in a goddamn hostage situation.

My nostrils flare and the muscles in my neck strain. It takes considerable effort to suppress the urge to grab this fucker by the collar, throw him out right now, and make him closely acquainted with my 9mm.

I just reckon murder on Main Street wouldn’t go over well with the neighbors.

This ain’t even about him asking her out, though that alone is enough to make me wanna kill him. But Hailey wasn’t interested, and he manipulated his way into a date with her. That’s the lowest of the low. I can’t stand men who don’t know how to handle rejection.

I step in front of her, using my body as a barrier. “Sir, would you still like to buy a ticket? I could offer you a discount cause you’re a little late. It’s a collection of standalone short films and you only missed the first one or two. There’s plenty more.”

For a second, Justin’s mask slips. His eyes flash with rage and he bares his teeth in a snarl.

I smirk. That’s right, buddy. She’s under my protection .

He composes himself fast, turning that grimace into the mockery of a smile again. “That would be great, thanks,” he says to me, but when I walk him to the ticket counter he looks over his shoulder. “Text me, sweetheart!”

I narrowly resist the temptation to slug him in the mouth. Could he be any sleazier?

I know one thing for certain:

Cody and I will find out who he is and then I’ll show Justin a real monster . When I disposed of Mike, I didn’t get to take my time, but I’ll have some fun with this one.