Chapter 5 #2
I grinned. Well, if the boss ordered it, then it was definitely what I needed to do.
After showering and shaving, I took off downstairs. I wore plain clothes, not my normal tactical style hitman stuff.
This was meant for me to blend in. I wanted to make it through the crowds easily without others stopping and pointing, their whispers about who I could possibly be or what I was there for.
Or worse, they would try to stop me with security in tow to complain that I was there to cause havoc.
Little did they know, I was requested here by the man who owned the place. It was his decision to have me around for his safety as much as theirs. I wouldn't let anything happen.
As much as possible anyway.
I hunted for Henny, looking in every place I thought he might be. First the offices. Then security room. I tried to peek in on the screens, but those guys were being assholes.
It was mostly because I didn't bring them food. Too many sweet treats dropped off to them had set an expectation. What the hell kind of life was I living?
I promised the idiots I would come with treats next time before explaining I needed to find Henny on the boss’s order. The mention of Rel had them sitting up.
Finally, they stopped fucking around to give me intel.
Turned out that my sweet Henny was having lunch in one of the restaurants. They had seen him go in, but he hadn't come out. I thanked him for the information and then went to find him myself.
I needed to lay eyes on him.
Henri was easy to spot amongst the other patrons.
Tucked away in a corner, his back against the wall, eyes scanning the room as he slowly ate whatever was on his plate. I couldn't see exactly what it was from my position at the hostess stand.
The damn woman didn't want to let me in. She said my attire wasn't appropriate.
I flashed her a smile and told her I would only be a moment because I needed to check on someone. I pointed to Henny.
“We have the same boss, and he told me to make sure he was okay.”
Her eyes widened. “You work for Pharrell? Mr. Lyon, I mean.”
Bingo.
She was getting it now. I made my smile as relaxed as I could even though I wanted to hurt her for blocking me from Henny. No one could do it for long and stay safe.
“Yes, I do. I can show you the text from him if you'd like.”
I reached for my pocket, and she quickly put her hand out.
“Oh no, that's fine. Totally fine. Thank you for explaining. Go right ahead, sir.”
She waved her hand, then quickly focused on whoever was behind me. It was easier to move on than to keep putting her foot in her mouth.
It was fun to see how everyday people reacted to Rel's power.
In the mafia world, they respected him for what he'd done. They saw him and his wife as a power couple controlling the entire western part of the country with connections reaching to the east.
But here, he was their high-powered boss. They knew he had money. They knew he owned several properties and businesses, but they had no clue how much deeper it went. Had no understanding that this man could end your life if you wronged him.
Sure, he wouldn't do that to most normal people, but no one was ever truly in the clear.
As I approached this table, Henny's eyes found mine. Rather than shock, I saw what I would have guessed to be relief.
It wasn't pity, but it was damn close, and my skin itched with the desire to flee.
I pulled the chair out across from him and sat down. Steepling my fingers, I placed my elbows on the table and regarded him as he did the same with me.
"Good morning, Pip," he said.
"Morning, Henny," I said, though it was clearly afternoon by the fact that he was eating lunch and I had slept in. "You didn't wake me.”
He shrugged.
"I figured you needed the sleep. Besides, Pharrell is indisposed at the moment. There was nothing for you to wake up for."
"But what about you?" I replied.
His brow dipped. "What about me?"
"Who’s watching over you?"
He shook his head, those lips of his tipping up again as he looked down at his plate. The move was shy. I could see his cheeks turn that pink I loved, but this time it wasn't from agitation.
"You don't need to worry. I'm safe and covered, and I can handle my own," he eventually said once he regained his composure.
Reaching across the table, I laid my hand palm up.
I waited for him to touch it in some way. I didn't care what it was—a single finger or laying his palm on it all the way.
It took him a moment before he laid his fingers across mine. His palm stayed on the white fabric of the tablecloth, like the slight difference would make this any less close.
We might as well have been fucking.
"Henny," I said, drawing his eyes to mine. "I’m going to worry about you. I want to make sure that you’re safe and taken care of as much as I want to be sure Rel is. If he’s busy, then that means you’re the next person for me to keep an eye on.
Don’t worry. I’ll be your perfect shadow. You won’t even notice me.”
That got me an eye roll.
I huffed instead of laughing like I might have if we were alone. Didn’t need anyone thinking I was weak. I’d carve them up before they could tell anyone anyway.
Neither of us pulled back our hands. Just sat there like this was normal.
I didn't think it would last. A few days from now, he would probably be ripping his hair out from dealing with me.
For now we had found a truce, and I couldn’t wait to see how far I could push these boundaries.
In my heart, I knew Henny was meant to be mine.
He'd never given any indication that he would fold. Didn't stop me from admiring him. Never stopped me from wanting and wishing.
I would find a way to make him mine.
Pip and Henny sitting with a bunch of dead bodies.
K-I-S-S-I-N-G.
The tune made me smile. I couldn't help it.
Murder and my Henny were the perfect combo.