Page 16 of About the Green

One of those bitches, finally threw me a bone.

It didn’t take me too much time to look for something that could get me an edge over the head of security.

Researching was a part of my attack plan. Throughout whatever business Racquelle was working on, I found exactly what I was looking for.

Getting into the sleek sedan that I remember from my apartment the other day, I can’t help but be excited. “Lovely evening, isn’t it?” I ask, clicking my seatbelt into place and placing my pink fur bag on top of the cupholder in between us.

He picks up my purse, with disdain mind you, and sets it into my lap before shifting into drive and pulling away from Blue’s estate. “Nothin’ lovely about it,” he grunts.

“Oh come on, Vertiz,” I emphasize his government name, too proud of myself for my discovery. “There has to be something lovely about it.” I bat my lashes while looking over at him.

His head swivels, dark eyes boring into me as we pull up to a stoplight. “What did you say?”

“Since we’re partners, I think we should lay everything on the table? Don’t you?”

“No.” He turns back to the road when the light changes and I can breathe a little easier. “Don’t call me by my name again.”

“Are you embarrassed?” I smile, the corners of my lips spreading high as I taunt, “Vertiz Marten is a sexy name. I must admit—”

The breath that I thought I caught, disappears when his large hand grips my thigh. It’s a firm hold. One meant to get my attention but in a different way than it has. On my thighs, his hand is huge. I can’t see where the fingers disappear around the back but it does something to me. My thighs press together which only makes him grip me tighter.

“Nina,” he growls, the vibrations on my name on his tongue, only doing more nonsense to my lower belly. “Doxxin’ me is not your smartest work. For Dupont, that’s a life or death circumstance. You prepared to die for it?”

“I would never. It’s our little secret. A closeness between partners,” I wink, holding my smile in place despite how my blood is rushing through my veins.

He finally removes his hand from my thigh after realizing that I won’t be backing down and the chill from the separation is immediate. “Don’t play a game you can’t win. You bluffin’, but I don’t.”

I ignore his threat, changing the subject and crossing my legs to replace the warmth I once felt. “Do vampires eat bar food?”

“Why would I know?”

“I think we both know why…” I mimic biting dramatically, trying to show that it’s him sinking his teeth into someone’s neck.

He scoffs and it’s the last sound he makes for the rest of the drive. As I sit in the passenger seat, waiting to go to the bar that I consequently had picked for tonight, the silence is not unwelcome. It gives me an opportunity to catch up on one of the games on my phone in the meantime.

I already had plans for tonight, and though Vert didn't want to play with me earlier, I got exactly what I needed to have a clear mind for what I'm doing. I'm happy that he's ignoring what went down because it means he's complicit, and I think I like a complicit, Vert.

He was in my way, but tonight he's going to be… my alibi of sorts. Not that I really need one, because no one's going to find this motherfucker when I’m done with him.

I said I'd be at the bar tonight. He doesn't know that I'll be there with Vert, but I don't think it will be difficult to get done what I need to get done. Pulling up to one of the nicer sports bars in this town, I feel assured that I will accomplish exactly what I set out to do today.

Plus, I'll have the benefit of Vert on my side.

At least I'm pretty sure I will.

He might be Dupont–and doing all types of shit that he very well could be locked up for—he's gonna help a woman in need.

He's gonna help me in need.

Vert might suspect that I'm doing something and strongly have a desire to tattle on me, but look at me—I'm so small and helpless.

Especially if I've been attacked, right?

It’s nice to have a backup when I usually don't.

So, we sit in a booth that keeps me hidden from sight, but I still have a great view of the people coming in and out of the space.

"You buy your ticket?" Vert asks after the bartender rounds the smaller opening to the bar top to make the drinks we’ve requested. He asked for a pale beer while I asked for a Shirley Temple with extra cherries.