Page 145 of Taste of Blood

“Oh yeah?” I can hear the avarice in his voice. “Do tell.”

“How would you feel about buying out my company?”

He’s quiet for a moment, though I can hear his tongue clicking against his teeth. “Why?”

“What do you mean?”

“I watched you build that company from the ground up. I may never have told you this, but I’m as proud of you as if I’d done it myself. So why do you want to sell it?”

It’s my turn to hesitate. “I’m starting a new venture.”

“What kind of venture?”

“I don’t know yet. It’s just time for a change.”

“And what precipitated this need for a change? Or should I say, who?”

“What do you mean?”

“Come on, Asher. You’re not the type to pull wild hairs out of your ass. I’ve only known you to put one person ahead of your business. Is Cord behind this change of heart?”

Cord always thought I was selling out to Carlyle. That I thought more of his opinion than I did Cord’s, but that was never the case. Carlyle knew how I felt about Cord. How he was the most important part of my life, and he often warned me to find a fair work-life balance so I wouldn’t lose that part of myself. If anything, it was me who took Cord for granted.

Something I vow never to do again.

“We’re back together.”

He sighs. “It’s about time. So what are you two going to do, ride off into the sunset?”

“We haven’t really thought that far ahead. We just want to start with a clean slate.”

“So that means he’s leaving the Guild?”

“That’s the plan.”

“I see.”

“So are you interested?”

“Come by my office tomorrow, say around two, and we’ll talk details.”

“Thanks, Carlyle.”

“Don’t thank me yet. I intend to get a bargain.”

I feel a weight lift off me when I hang up. We’re really doing this. Cord is really back and we’re going to start our life together.

I’m almost whistling as I pack up my briefcase and make my way downstairs. Benjimen has the car waiting at the curb, and I’m in such a good mood I ask him what his plans are for the evening. He’s another one I’d miss if I had to let him go. He’s been with me since I left Carlyle’s company. In fact, Carlyle’s driver is the one who recommended him to me. I sometimes wonder why an ex-Special Forces officer would want to drive for someone like me. He claimed that he had seen enough actionfor a lifetime and was ready for a quieter life. The fact that I compensated him better than he would ever make at some private security firm didn’t hurt either.

“I’m taking my daughter to our annual Lion King viewing tonight,” he informs me.

I know his daughter Anna is almost grown. That he and his wife divorced amicably about eight years ago when she started seeing a lawyer from her firm. They share custody now, and he dotes on Anna. I have a feeling she’s the main reason he turned me down when I offered to recommend him for transition.

When we get close to my apartment building, I can see there’s a delivery truck with the ramp down blocking the street out front where Benjimen usually drops me off.

“Pull up ahead of him and I’ll get out,” I tell him.

“I know you hate going in that way, but would you rather use the garage exit to the lobby?”

“It’s just a few feet. I’ll be fine.”

He pulls the car over past the truck and waits while I get out. “I’ll see you in the morning. Have a nice time with Anna tonight.”

“Thank you, Asher.”

I’ll admit I’m in my head, thinking about the conversation with Carlyle and the possibility of seeing Cord tonight, so I’m not really paying attention to my surroundings. I hear a screeching of brakes, then feel a sting in my neck. When I turn around, a man I’ve never seen before grabs me from behind.

“What the hell? Who are you?”

I try to shake free of him but suddenly lose all control of my body. The last thing I hear before the world fades to black is Benjimen calling my name.