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This guy is as high and tight as they come. A real stick up his ass.
Probably knows how to kill as well as I do. I know ‘street’ when I see it. Even if it’s dressed up and clean-cut and scrubbed. Certain ‘tells’ never go away. This guy’s killed before.
He planned our entry.
He plans everything.
He’s hyperaware of everything around him. Just like me.
“That’s fine. Let me know if the leopards are available for the sixteenth. Thanks.” DeSante turns, pocketing his phone. “Hellena.”
“Ev-uh, Mr. DeSante,” she fumbles, clearly on purpose, giving him a look I’ve seen before. It was just aimed at me. Through my camera. She loves poking tigers, seeing if they’ll bite.
More like a panther in this case.
Well, then…
After a few seconds of glaring at each other, DeSante flicks his dark eyes toward me, assessing my threat level. Instantly, his demeanor shifts, from annoyed and aloof to pleasant and smooth. It’s a mask.
“Evan DeSante. You must be Mr. Rorshak.” He gives Hellena a look when he says his name, like he’s one-upping her.
“Gavin. Nice to meet you.” I offer my hand, refusing to show any shock at his knowing my name.
“Likewise. I take it you’ll be watching Hellena’s back tonight?”
“I’ve always got her back.”
“A sentiment we share.”
Hmm. Maybe I read him wrong. He clearly has feelings for Hellena. Not my business. And it doesn’t change the fact that he could use her and throw her away, no matter what he feels.
“Didn’t take you for the sentimental type.” I can’t resist the jab, and he raises his eyebrows, a little smirk twitching his lips. I don’t miss the way he checks me out head-to-toe, either.
“Everyone needs a little feeling every now and again…”
“Oh, for Pete’s sake. Will you stop flirting with him and give me the money, please?” Hellena steps between us, flipping her hair back over her shoulder toward me. It means “stop measuring dicks.” It just makes me want to be bigger one.
“Don’t be jealous, Hellena,” Evan croons.
“You wish. Should change your name to Ego DeSante.” She takes the bag he passes her and turns back toward the door. Just shy of storming out, she stops, her expression falling slightly. “All jokes aside… Thanks, Evan. I don’t know what I’d do if?—”
“Yes. Yes. I know. Don’t get all sappy on me.” Evan waves her on, but I can see the softness in the gesture, the gentleness behind his eyes. Those dark gray eyes find mine a second later, checking to see whether I saw.
Oh, yeah, buddy. I got you pegged.
Good thing, too.
His behavior just put him a lot lower on my list of threats to Hellena. He gives me another handshake, holding it just long enough to make the room heat up a few degrees.
“Take care.” Fuck. This guy knows how to play the game.
Back in the truck, Hellena is quiet the entire drive, only speaking to let me know where to go. I let her have the time to gather her resolve.
We pull up to some dock off Quince Street just as it’s getting dark.
Extra-shitty part of the shitty part of town. I've been here before to do business with very similar people. Hopefully, this will be the last she has to see of this life.
How brutal things really are in my world.
