Page 11 of Forever

“Who the hell shot puts?” Rob asked.

“Olympic athletes. Check yourself. And I feel like I’m really close.” He looked a little dazed. “Like…really close.”

“Well, you did say she was on the top floor,” Rob said.

“No. I’m talking about Magnus King’s match. I have the oddest sensation that it could happen tonight.”

Rob laughed. “Why are you even thinking about this right now?”

“Because it’s a full time job. You’d be terrible at it.”

“Running Odegaard?”

“I have many jobs, Robert!”

Jesus.“Stop it. Seriously. We need to focus…” my voice trailed off as a guard walked out the door talking into his radio.

“There’s no sign of any intruders yet…” his voice trailed off when he saw us. “What are you all doing out of the kitchen?”

Rob karate chopped him in the throat. And…nothing happened. “Fuck,” Rob said. “Why did it work when Tanner did it?” He looked down at his hand in confusion.

The guard grunted and stepped toward him.

But Tanner spun around and kicked the back of the guard’s knees, making his legs buckle. Tanner did a weird back flip over his head and then slammed the base of his palm into the center of the guard’s chest. The guard gasped for air and then fell backward, his body sprawled out in the middle of the stairwell. Completely lifeless.

“What the fuck, Tanner?!” I yelled.

“Sorry.” He winced. “Like I said…I’m a little rusty.”

“Stop killing people!”

“I haven’t killed anyone. He’s asleep. Just like the last one.”

“I don’t think he’s breathing,” Rob said.

“He is. It’s just shallow. You’re acting like I’m an evil assassin.”

“I have no idea what you are!” Rob yelled. “That’s the whole problem. Oh my God, we’re all going to jail.” He groaned. “I’m not meant for prison. I like tits too much. Fuck my life. Now I need to talk to Magnus King about how to properly protect my back door.”

“We’re not going to prison,” I said calmly, even though I wasn’t entirely sure. “They kidnapped Brooklyn. And we were just…defending ourselves.”

“Neither of them ever touched us,” Rob said.

“It’s fine,” Tanner said. “He’ll wake up.” He kicked the guard’s lifeless leg.

“Are you part of the mafia too?” Rob looked totally freaked out.

Tanner laughed. “They wish. They’d never be able to afford me. Plus I’m too busy running all my companies and hanging out with you guys. All your dramas are practically a full time gig, you know. And look.” He snapped his fingers in front of the guy’s face and whispered something to him.

The security guard groaned but didn’t open his eyes.

At least he was conscious. I was relieved that Tanner hadn’t killed him.

“See,” Tanner said and put his hand on Rob’s shoulder. “No need to take it in the butt after all. But seriously do you feel that in the air?”

“What, a dick?”

Tanner laughed. “No. Love, man. There’s love in the air. Seriously, I’m so close I can taste it!”

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