Page 75 of Prince Charming

If something went wrong, no one would know.

Stupid. She was making one stupid mistake after another.

The coat collar brushed her cold ears, and she stuffed her hands down into the pockets as she watched the car pull into the parking bay.

Who went to a clandestine meeting without a weapon?Ugh. Had the last year taught her nothing? Some would say she was too stupid to live. She could kickbox like a fifth grader, but her new confidence was withering as fast as the falling snow.

The beat of her pulse was loud through her ears as she observed a tall, reedy man unfold himself from the car. Wearing black jeans, boots, and a worn denim jacket. His hair was longer than most men and he swept it back as he depressed a button, and his car beeped the alarm.

“Marianna?” He asked, eyes unreadable.

Feeling unsafe, she really went in with both feet without thinking this through to the end. Though she was doing something else extremely law breaking, it wasn’t like she could have this conversation at the local diner.

“Yes, that’s me. Are you Mister G?”

It was a foolish action movie name. She didn’t think for a second they called him that.

“How does this work?”

“First, you tell me what you want, then if you have the cash to pay for it.”

She wasn’t dumb to tell him she had eight hundred dollars in her inside pocket.

“I need four passports and a social security ID.”

Snow fell on his dark hair as he rocked on his heels. He fished in his pocket and brought out a toothpick; it went between his teeth. “Do you have photos like I asked you to bring?”

“Yes.”

“Seven fifty.”

Marianna blinked. “Seven thousand?” Her heart sank down to her feet.

“No, babe. $750. Cash up front and you get them when they’re ready.”

“How do I know you won’t run off with my money?”

He smirked then. A slimy twitch of his thin lips as he looked her up and down. “You don’t. Do you want them or not?”

Ugh. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. With little choice but to trust this man. Swallowing her sigh, she fished out the envelope of money and the photos needed. He flipped through it all. “Cute kids. Yours?”

Marianna rolled her lips together, “when will they be ready?”

“Shit like this takes time. I’ll call you when it’s done.”

That was it? That was the only assurance?

She might as well kiss her money and any hope goodbye.

It was cold and she wanted to go home.

God, please let this work.

Hanging on by a thread for months, she didn’t know how much more strength she had left in her emotional bank.

Turning to leave, she heard, “you came here alone?”

A shiver crept down her spine, and it had nothing to do with the weather. She carried on walking.

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