Page 64 of Eternal
She really had tried, I knew she’d hit dead ends, but she wouldn’t get it, nothing about me was real. I was a ghost. No past to dig up, no trackable info to follow, every file, every record, was buried, erased, or false. They taught us how to disappear, how to make sure there was nothing left behind except shadows. She could dig all she wanted, but all she’d ever find were the parts I allowed her to find.
“Maybe they don’t want you finding out too much,” I said, my voice casual, letting it sound like a joke. It wasn’t.
She shot me a knowing look, her lips curling into a teasing smile. “I know when someone’s hiding their identity, Damir. I’ve been there before. And I’m better at it than you.”
I let out a low laugh, my lips twitching. “Is that so?” I glanced over at her, my voice turning playful. “Find one thing about me, and I’ll tell you everything else. You’ve got one shot.”
Her smile widened, a flicker of challenge in her eyes. “You really think I can’t find anything?”
I leaned back in the seat, keeping my gaze on the road but feeling the smile appearing on my lips. “Try me.”
She gave a soft laugh, and replied, “You’re on.”
She won’t find anything, but it’ll be amusing to see her try.
We pulled into the hotel parking lot just as the sun dipped below the horizon. Katarina had done well picking this place, it’s quiet, unassuming, the kind of hotel you’d forget the moment you checked out.Perfect.
I stepped out first and rounded the car to open her door, she hesitated for half a second, her gaze curious as it flicked to me. “Why are you acting like a gentleman?”
A laugh slipped out before I could stop it. “Told you. I take care of my partners,” I said, reaching for her bag.
She didn’t let go immediately, her grip firm, our fingers brushed for a moment, her haunting eyes locking onto mine, close enough now to catch the flicker of suspicion beneath the vivid colors.
“Only a man of words,” she muttered, releasing the bag.
“Man of action.”
“Isn’t that what they all say?”
“Actions take time, Voron. Something you don’t seem inclined to give me.”
She tilted her head slightly. “And you always deliver results if you have the time?”
“Always,” I said, smiling back at her insolence.
She didn’t respond, she turned toward the lobby, and I followed a step behind, watching the subtle tension in her shoulders, the way her hands hovered near her sides.
“You might have to learn to trust me,” I said, low and calm, more to myself than her.
Trust me to ruin you.
Her pace didn’t falter, but I caught the faintest twitch at the corner of her mouth, as if she was suppressing a smile.
“I’ll never trust a man. All you do is lie and pretend.” Her words were cold, but not without a trace of something softer, bitterness, maybe. “So, thanks. But no thanks.”
How sad is it that she’s right about everything? Mostly about me.
All I do is lie and pretend.
Two fake IDs, no questions asked; and a few minutes later, we had the key to our room, two beds, big enough for the both of us.
Inside, I dropped her duffel bag by the door, mine on the bed nearest the window. As I started unpacking, I glanced at her, she’s always so focused, like she had a map of everything in her mind.
She pulled out two knives from her bag, black matte handles, sleek and deadly, one of them had a white letter etched into it:A.
Her name? Or something else entirely?
I leaned against the wall, watching her work, the way she checked the weapons was hypnotic.
