Page 12 of Twist of Fate

“Business,” Luke replied automatically.

“Huh. You don’t have that look about you.”

Luke laughed, thinking of Gomez’s loathing of his preferred travel outfit. “That bad, huh?”

“Not bad. Just not the normal suit-and-tie type.”

Even though there was a ton of traffic, the driver managed to keep them moving at a steady pace. He wove in and out of the multiple-laned highway with an expertise Luke would need years of practice to achieve.

His phone buzzed, and Luke pulled it out of his pocket.

Gomez: Did you survive the flight, or should I start planning your funeral?

Luke smiled despite himself.

Luke: Barely. Tell Karlotta I’d like something very dramatic. Think Day of the Dead, but with arepas and empanadas.

They were only a couple of exits away from his destination when a chill went down Luke’s spine. He was being watched.

Again.

He ran a few quiet checks, using the cab’s side mirror as his starting point. A random sedan with dark-tinted windows caught his eye. It kept a steady three cars between them. It took only a few lane changes by the driver for Luke to identify it as the first vehicle tracking him.

They were good. He’d give them that.

Gomez: RUDE. I was going to wear black and everything. Very tasteful. Very tragic.

Luke: You being a good boy and staying in the hospital bed of shame, or did you try to escape again?

Gomez: Excuse you, I am in my nest. Which is not shameful. It is strategic. Also, I dropped the remote and almost died, so if you could hurry back, that’d be great.

Traffic was thick but moving. Nothing else unusual. So why did Luke feel he should add “yet” to the end of that sentence?

Gomez: Also also, if you meet someone hot, I expect details. I am living vicariously through you.

Luke hesitated for half a second before replying.

Luke: Define hot.

Gomez: Tall. Broody. Looks like he could ruin your life.

Gomez: But in a fun way.

A dark blue SUV sped up the on-ramp. Luke was pretty sure the same SUV had passed them not long after they first got on the highway and now it was suddenly behind them again.

Then the sedan changed lanes, backing away and allowing the SUV to take its position.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Luke grumbled under his breath.

“What’s that?” the driver asked.

Luke glanced up at him. “Friend of mine,” Luke replied. “Thinks breaking both legs is a personality trait.”

The driver barked out a laugh. “That’s one way to get out of work, I guess.”

“Yeah,” Luke said. “He’s really committed to the bit.”

Gomez: Why do I feel like you just met someone?