Page 53 of My Instant Karma

“Why are you pulling away?”

I deflate and say, “I’m not good with friendships… or any kind of relationships.”

Confession time. He has seen my brokenness, so why not tell him the truth?

Avoiding his eyes, I admit, “I was afraid of how I opened up to you. I don’t want to get hurt again.”

“Okay. I understand.” Dante sighs. “What if I’m honest with you?”

“Novel idea.” I manage a smile.

“Itis. People aren’t honest. They lie, mostly to themselves, and yes, I’m guilty of it as well. However, I’ve been asking myself whatIwant, because I know I don’t want to hurt you.”

I can’t believe he’s thinking that deeply about me. “And?”

“I want to get to know you. I want to be a better person. I think those two things can happen at the same time, and if or when you are ever interested in snuggling again, then I would like that.”

“You want to…snuggle?” I ask skeptically.

“Highly underrated by young men everywhere.”

“And that’s where we draw our line… just to be clear about our intentions.”

“I wouldn’t object to more than snuggles, clothing optional.”

I guffaw at that one. “Noted.”

Dante steps to the door. “And for the record, it was only ‘one and done’ with Chara. With you, I doubt I could ever stop.” He shuts the door behind him before I register what he said.

14

CLUBBING

We arrive at our secret warded circle, aka the club, and place small glow sticks around so we can see each other. It’s a particularly dark night without a moon, and even the city lights are muted.

Evan starts the meeting in his usual assumed leadership role. “I found out a few things from the other karma houses. The agents who hit the ten-year mark get transferred to one of three locations.”

Feeling a heaviness in his words, I ask, “Why do I feel like there is a but in there?”

“But… no one hears from them ever again. A couple of people told me they tried contacting their old teammates and couldn’t reach them.”

“Maybe they get new phones?” Dante offers.

“Maybe.” Evan’s face clearly expresses that he doesn’t believe that for one second. “However, I did some research, and there weren’t Karma-owned properties in the cities where they were allegedly sent.”

“How do you know all her properties?” I ask, impressed with his investigative skills.

“I’ve done some digging and discovered the names of Karma’s shell companies. She has properties all over the globe, mostly estates like this one, to house her agents, but none are registered in the cities where the ‘retired’ agents were scheduled to go.”

“What do you think happens to them?” Kurtis asks.

A strong impression floods my mind, just like the insights I often have during a reading. “Death,” I say without meaning to speak.

“Theydie?” Kurtis asks me. “You said that like you know something.”

“It was one of my psychic reader moments. I don’t know what it means, but it felt different from a regular death premonition.”

“Okay.” Kurtis rubs his arms to warm himself. “I’ll play devil’s advocate now. Let’s say that you’re wrong. If they don’t die, then what happens to them?”

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