Page 41 of Vipers & Roses

Blake: Corolla girl, check that the gun is unloaded before you put it away. I wouldn’t want the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen to have an accident.

My body tingles as I read his words, but a part of me scoffs at his praise. “The most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.”

Me: You don’t get out much.

Blake: Yes, I do. That’s how I know beauty when I see it. Empty the magazine in the Glock.

Z: Did u have a good weekend on the coast?

Gavin’s smug face enters my mind, laden with guilt for how I treated my family. Breathing through my anguish, I reply honestly: It was ok. How are you?

Z: Had a Smiler job.

Me: Cleaning?

Z: Yep. I did the whole lot on my own. It took me twice as long, and 906 was waiting outside in his SUV.

Me: Oh, Z, I’m so sorry I couldn’t help you.

Z: That’s ok. I don’t mind being paid the full $1500. (:

Me: What did 906 look like?

I’ve been dying to see the faces of Smiler, 906, and his other cronies. Every time the mysterious black SUV cruises by, I try to peer inside to catch a hint of a facial feature.

Z: I couldn’t see him. I recognized the license plate no.

Me: Was it in the basement of that old house?

Z: Yeah. I hope 906 wasn’t pissed off that I took so long, tho.

Me: Me too. They’re the last people in the world we want to piss off.

Z: Anyway, catch up for drinks and greenery later tonight?

Me: Definitely. See u at mine at about 6 pm.

Z: I’ll bring the booze and drugs.

Me: Thanks. See u soon.

It’s so random when we’re needed to clean up a bloody mess left by Smiler, and it’s on short notice. But I feel disappointed that I couldn’t help her, not just because of the work but also for emotional support. An iron stomach is needed to shove fear and disgust into a crevice of your mind until the job is done. It would’ve been hard to be there in that cold, dank room covered in blood on her own while the killers lingered outside. Z is incredibly brave.

I reread Blake's message about my Glock and carefully took the gun out of my bag to check the magazine. Two bullets are left in the magazine, and I empty them into the bullet box.

Me: The safety lock was on, and two bullets were in it that I emptied out.

Blake: Good. See u soon xx

Me: No. Not soon.

Blake: yes, soon.

In frustration, I toss my phone back into my bag and gather my things to climb out when another message comes through. Assuming it’s Blake again, I snatch my phone back, ready to give him a piece of my mind. I hate him having the last say, only to find that it’s Z.

Z: BTW, another red rose was left on the table.

Me: The plot thickens. Did you take it home?

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