Page 15 of Jackal

Cindy grabbed the bags I dropped while I fished bills from my wallet. They both stopped in front of a Chinese restaurant, so I stood behind them, perusing the menu.

“You good with this?” Shivana asked.

“Yep, whatever you want.”

Cindy cleared her throat.

“You catching a cold or something? We can get you some lozenges,” I said with a knowing look.Now I’m getting shit from her, too.

She shook her head with a smirk. “I’m perfectly fine.”

I looked out the large windows overlooking the parking lot as we shuffled in the line. I saw a couple of bikes leaving the lane we were parked in. Squinting to get a better look, they definitely had cuts on but I didn’t recognize the logo and it was too far away to read them. It was probably someone we knew but it was too far to see. Still, for some reason my hackles were up.

“Hey, our turn,” Shivana said as she tugged on my cut.

“Oh, ladies first.”

She rolled her eyes but Cindy gave her order, and when Shivana realized I was waiting for her, she gave hers.

“Why don’t you ladies take the bags and your drinks and find us a seat? I’ll wait for this.”

Shivana stared up, blinking slowly. “You didn’t order yet.”

“I will as soon as you go find us a table.”

“You’re holding up the line, Jackal.”

Damn. Why did she have to say my name? Trying to maintain my control, I said, “Well I guess you better hustle.”

Cindy tapped her shoulder and tilted her head toward the tables. Shivana murmured something which I couldn’t understand.

“Sir? Your order?” the lady behind the counter said so I turned, apologizing and placing my order. After I paid, I took my drink and walked to the window to wait for them to call my number.

I didn’t see any other bikers cruising through but glanced around the parking lot. There were plenty of surveillance cameras. Pulling my phone out, I texted Keys to see if he couldtap into them and get a good view of those guys, just in case.

“Number seventy-six!” the lady from the restaurant yelled.

After putting my drink on the tray, I walked to the table the ladies were at, and Cindy had put all the bags in the seat next to her. I set the tray down but shot a grimace at her. We had to chat later. She needed to stay out of this.

I was busy wolfing down my food, waiting on my phone to vibrate, when the ladies started chatting.

“Do you have any idea where you plan to stay once you find work?” Cindy asked.

A piece of orange chicken nearly lodged in my throat and Shivana turned to me. “Can you breathe? Do you know the universal sign for choking? Go like this,” she said as she mock grabbed her throat, “if you’re choking.”

I coughed a few times and the chicken finally moved down. Washing it down with my soda, I wiped my face then said, “Stay? Work? What is she talking about?”

She patted my arm then picked up her fork, stabbing at some chicken. “I’ve been trying to get interviews and figuring out how to move my license. I may just do some online therapy until I can land what I really want.”

My eyes shot to Cindy. “You’re encouraging this?”

Cindy’s eyes went wide. “I didn’t do shit. She makes her own decisions. But no, I’m not in a hurry to run her off if that’s what you mean.”

Shivana jumped in. “There’s so many great research facilities here. Hell, the CDC is here! I think things happen for a reason, and me visiting Lacy after all that time was a sign.”

Trying not to roll my eyes, I glared over. “You were kidnapped. I think that’s a sign.”

Shivana shrugged. “I grew up outside of Chicago. Very high crime rate. Plus, you saved me, so I’m fine.”

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