Chapter Eleven: Evangeline

3640 Words
Everett and I didn’t kiss on our date. It’s been two days after and I still feel giddy every time I remembered what went on that day. The casual talks and cute comments, swimming with him again, the pictures we took and to wrap the day at the beach, watching the sunset and the sky turning into hues of pink, orange, purple and blue, meshing to create the most beautiful artwork. Honestly, it was the perfect first date and Everett had set the standard. And speaking of Everett, I haven’t seen him since Friday. Yesterday morning, I made both of us breakfast and was ready to walk in his unit only to be stopped by a note on his door telling me that Curtis had called him late last night and that his grandfather wanted to see him for the weekend. Since yesterday, we’ve been texting nonstop on what either of us was doing. He was pretty vague on why his grandfather had asked his presence, he just simply said that it was about the business. The fact that it was about the business sent me into an overdrive. If Nimri was right, then Everett was going on that ‘trial’ thing that his grandfather had proposed and that meant he had been introduced to the brothel business. Which meant if he got in too deep, he might be my next target. The knock on my door snapped me out of my train of thought. I furrowed my eyebrows and prepared myself for the ‘visitor’. No one knew me around the city and the only ones who did were the FBI. Other than Nimri’s unannounced visit, I didn’t expect any more visitors. I peeked at the peephole and sighed in relief when it was just Justin. I opened the door for him and he flashed me a grin. “Hey, pretty lady.” I rolled my eyes. “You need to think of a better compliment.” “You think I should hit Everett up to tutor me on how to get a girl?” Justin teased, plopping on the couch and making himself at home. I rolled my eyes and opened the fridge and got the two of us wine coolers to drink. I tossed one to him. “First Nimri, now you. Don’t you guys think I’m doing a really good job so you might as well leave me alone to handle it?” I asked, popping open the lid of the cooler. Justin was mid-sip when I said that and he stopped and looked at me. “So Nimri actually came to see you?” “You didn’t know? Didn’t you guys bug me with this?” I asked, pointing at the bracelet that was a secret bugging device to record all conversation I had. Justin nodded. “Well, yes, you’re bugged. But at that time that we saw Nimri come in the building, you weren’t wearing the bracelet. Which also explains why we crashed that lunch date of yours with Everett. Do you have anything to eat around here?” I rolled my eyes and headed back to the kitchen, Justin following close. He sat on the stools at the counter and waited as I prepared a snack for him to eat. He was aware that I was a wiz in the kitchen and I knew he was taking full advantage of that. I began to prepare him something to eat as we carried on with our conversation. “So you guys don’t know that Everett’s in the business?” Justin paused, his eyes suddenly intent and serious. “Nimri didn’t specifically mention it but we got the idea that he is. You’ve been asking him questions about the meeting when you had that date and from what we gather, then he must be.” “But Nimri knew.” I slid the snack I prepared for Justin and he stared at it for a moment, eyebrows furrowed and face contorted into confusion, before looking up to me. “He didn’t. He never mentioned it, like I said.” I bit my lip, my eyes narrowing. “Hmm. Maybe you weren’t in any position to know. You know, that classified seniority knowledge.” Justin nodded, but I could see the gears in his head turning. “So was there anything else that he told you?” “Victor’s my target,” I said nonchalantly, snatching one burrito from his plate and taking a bite, looking at him levelly, waiting for his reaction. Justin chewed on his bottom lip. “So when do you think you’ll get the task done?” I shrugged. “When the opportunity presents itself or maybe Nimri will tell me. I’ll wait on his orders.” Justin could only nod as he quietly ate. I knew he was thinking why Nimri didn’t divulge the information to them. I was thinking that same thing. But both Justin and I knew not question Nimri directly or else trouble will brew and we could risk this mission. I’ve already gotten far. I didn’t want the tables to suddenly flip. My phone pinged and both Justin and I looked at it. I grabbed the phone and opened the message. It was from Everett. I’m coming back in an hour. What do you say about having a dinner out? I quickly replied. What about we just eat in? I can whip us up a good dinner within an hour plus we could Netflix and chill. Okay. But I would rather prefer the different meaning of Netflix and chill. I tried my best to hide the smile on my face but Justin caught it. “You’re not very good at hiding how giddy you get with Saunders.” I set the phone on the counter and shrugged. “He’s not a hard person to like.” Justin looked at me pointedly. “You’re bound to break his heart, Lin, there’s no getting around it.” I turned away. “Don’t remind me. I know how to keep myself in check. Look, did you just really come here to have me prepare a snack for you?” Justin simply shrugged. “Yup. Actually, I did. I wanted you to feed me.” But while he was saying that, he slid an envelope on the table and pushed it to me. My eyebrows furrowed as I took the envelope and my heart leaped when I saw the writing and I looked at Justin but he remained quiet and subtly tapped on his wrist. It was then that I remembered the bracelet. It was also then that I realized that the kitchen was the least inconspicuous area in the house, one of the places that the FBI couldn’t reach to see, even with their telescopes and if they did install hidden cameras, Justin had subtly slid the envelope to me in a way that the camera wouldn’t catch, because there was a part of the counter that would block it from view. Smart. I didn’t pick up the envelope knowing that it would cost all of his efforts. Instead, I tried to play on with his topic. Whatever my uncle wrote me would have to wait later. “Oh what a scumbag. So now that you’re fed, are you leaving?” Justin chuckled and stood up. “Why, is your boy toy coming home and you don’t want the two of us to meet?” I rolled my eyes but it was a good excuse. Plus, I didn’t want Everett getting the wrong idea and I didn’t think it’d be a good idea to introduce him as a relative. “Actually, yes. And I have to make dinner so shoo, Agent Calhoun.” He pouted but then opened his arms and I gave in to giving him a hug. It was then that he whispered softly in my ear. “Your uncle’s on to something. Read the letter in your bathroom.” I didn’t respond to what he told me, just smiled at him and bid him goodbye as he made his way out of my unit. I went back to get the envelope and made sure that I took it in the most discreet way I could and headed straight to my bathroom. I tore open the letter and read what my uncle wrote for me. Evangeline, I’m impressed that Calhoun managed to deliver this letter to you. I would’ve done this personally but I’m being followed, my every move being watched. Now, you think it might be stupid for someone to follow an assassin, trust me I thought that same thing, but this could be dangerous if he finds out that I’m figuring things out. For the time being that things seem to be in my control, I will do my very best to keep on delivering messages to Calhoun to give to you to inform you about my own investigation. About your boss. He’s shady, if I haven’t mentioned it to you before. He truly is. There’s something about him that doesn’t sit well with me. What made me sure of that was a few nights ago, I found him in the same bar as me. He kept on turning a blind eye but I know when someone’s watching. I know you’re working for him right now. But keep your guard up. I’m trying to get more information about that mission you’re doing. But if orders come to kill someone, ignore my first rule. Don’t kill. Not unless I say so. Burn this. Henry My eyebrows furrowed. What was Henry on about? He never mentioned anything other than it was about Nimri. I’ve known that he was shady from the beginning and Henry had concluded that before too, with just a picture shown of the guy. I was also curious to why Nimri has him followed and why he, himself, had followed Henry. I knew that my uncle was the most notorious assassin. He was the real John Wick, in the flesh. He’s killed more people than he’s even talked to and I knew that if there was a prize for his head, everyone would jump at the chance to eliminate him. Assassins and agents alike. And I’m pretty sure Nimri had that intention. With someone like Henry around, if he was truly planning something else, then Henry will be the first one to figure it out. He had to eliminate the enemy. The loud knocking on my door brought me back to my reality. Maybe it was just Justin coming back to get something he forgot. I didn’t look at the peephole this time and just opened the door to reveal a grinning Everett standing outside. “Surprise!” he greeted, grinning like a little schoolboy. The sight of him made my heart leap and made my mind forget about the letter I just got from my uncle. “I thought you wouldn’t be for an hour?” He shrugged and kissed my cheek. “I wanted to surprise you. Have you cooked?” I shook my head. “I was about to.” His grin widened as he let himself into my unit, closing the door behind him. “Great, I was hoping I could help.” My eyebrows rose. The past days that I’ve made dinner for the two of us, he was simply casually lounging at the counter seat and watching me cook, spouting out random topics to talk about. “Help?” He chuckled and walked closer to me. “Supervise, then.” When I looked up to meet his eyes, I noticed that they resembled back to the stormy grey that I had actually gotten a bit used to seeing when Everett wanted me. He took another step closer and his arms reached out and pulled me by the waist. “I really missed you,” he whispered and I wondered if he could feel the erratic pounding of my heart because I was sure it was audible, “I’d really want to kiss you right now.” I thought of our date last Friday, of how many times he told me he wanted to kiss me but didn’t because he thought I didn’t want him to, respecting my wishes. I thought of how he asked me if it was okay to kiss me the first time we met at the beach, asking for my permission. Completely dropping the whole ‘hard to get’ act, I was the one who leaned closer and kissed him. He tasted like mint chocolates and I felt him pull me closer, his hands cradling my face as our lips meshed with each other. I felt him back up, bringing me along and evidently, we crashed on my sofa with our lips still against each other. I straddled him as my hands played with his hair while his roamed my body. Eventually, we pulled away and he rested his head against my shoulder, breathing as heavy as me. I closed my eyes, knowing full well that the others saw what and heard what just happened. “That…that was the kind of welcome I imagined.” I giggled and then stood up as I watched him pout. I held out my hand for him to take and pulled him up. He stole a quick kiss before wrapping an arm around my shoulder and pulling me close. “So what are you gonna make for me?” I squirmed from his hold and headed to the fridge and took out the salmon I bought yesterday. “Just sit there and supervise.” He rolled his eyes but sat on the counter as I began to prepare everything. “So how was your weekend with your family?” I began to mince the garlic and prepare the rest of the ingredients as I waited for the salmon to de-frost. Everett was quiet for a moment but I could feel him watching me. I could feel his gaze on me and when I looked up, his eyes immediately met mine and I could see that he was contemplating on whether or not he wanted to tell me. I thought he wouldn’t but he did. He cleared his throat and replied, “I don’t like the business.” “You don’t like real estate?” I asked, making sure I sounded confused. He sighed and shook his head. “It’s not real estate. That’s just the cover-up business.” I paused. Was he seriously going to confess to me everything about the business now after that god damn kiss? “What do you mean?” “There’s this other business that they want me to join in and I don’t think, I don’t think I’m up for it,” he responded, sliding off of the stool and then grabbing some plates to set from my cabinet. “What kind of business?” I asked, hoping I didn’t too privy. Everett paused for a moment and then shook his head. “I’m not sure how I could explain it. It’s just not something I’m up for. I mean, real estate, that’s okay. I’ve seen how Papa and Curtis do things and I have an idea of what goes around there. But the other one…” He trailed off and I waited for him to finish but he didn’t. He grabbed a wine from the fridge and popped it open with the corkscrew. He poured a glass and handed it to me. “Are you planning on getting me drunk?” “If you were drunk would there be a continuation of that kiss?” he asked playfully, winking. I laughed and sipped the wine, shaking my head. “I’m not entirely sure why I even kissed you.” He gasped playfully, placing a hand on his chest, where his heart was. “Are you meaning to tell me that you didn’t want to? That you were just caught up in the moment?” I giggled and then tried my best to concentrate on spreading the mixture I made on the salmon but Everett stepped closer to me, settled his glass on the table and wrapped his arms around my waist. I could feel his breath on the nape of my neck and I closed my eyes, the sudden intimacy turning me on. “Everett…” “You have no idea how much I want you, badly,” he whispered, his breath a kiss on my skin, “Go on another date with me?” I turned around to face him, snaking my arms onto his neck, making sure my hands didn’t touch his skin or else I’ll stain him with the mixture I just made. “Did you have to be that seductive to ask me on a date?” He broke out into a grin and kissed the top of my head. “I just thought it’d be funny.” He let go of me and allowed me to continue preparing our meal as he carried on with the conversation we had about the ‘business’. I wasn’t even sure how he managed to carry on with that topic but I sure was listening. “…I don’t know. I just feel like it’s a bad business to have.” “Is it legal?” I knew the answer to the question but Everett remained quiet. Suddenly, I was anxious if he was going to answer my question and what he was going to say. I wanted him to be honest with me though because it would say a lot about his character. I still refuse to believe that he would be a part of the operation. I knew he was on a trial run, I knew the money and girls could potentially blind him, but I believed he had a good heart and that he was a good man. If there was anyone tainted between us, it would be because I killed to live. “I don’t know,” he whispered, bowing his head and then sighing, “I, uhh, I’ll have a quick shower. I’ll be back. Don’t lock the door.” “Everett,” I called him before he could even leave. He stopped in the middle of the room and I quickly washed my hands before heading to where he stood. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was doing but I got on my tiptoes and planted a gentle kiss on his lips, nothing like the fast-paced one we had earlier but quite the opposite. “What was that for?” I smiled. “I just wanted to. Now go shower. Dinner will be done in 30.” The moment he left the unit, my phone rang and I quickly answered it. “I think I have a better gameplay for you.” I closed my eyes the moment I recognized Nimri’s voice. Of course, he was watching and he saw everything. “What are you talking about, Nimri.” “Didn’t they say that a way to a man’s heart is to his pants?” He chuckled, his laugh without humor, “He told you more than he should after that kiss, don’t you think he’ll tell you everything when you get in the sheets with him?” “I’m not like the girls in that brothel they have,” I growled. But Nimri seemed unfazed by my statement. “Oh, we both know that’s a lie, Evangeline. And we both know that he’s not the only one itching to get under the covers. Don’t you think it’s a win-win situation? Because I definitely do.” I wanted to cuss him out and told him to go f**k himself but I knew that would land me in deeper trouble if I said that to my boss. I bit my tongue, but when I was about to reply, he spoke again. “Just think about it, Sterell.” And then the son of a b***h hung up on me. I headed back to the kitchen, with every intention of throwing my phone against the wall in a fit but knew I had to explain it to Everett so I refrained from doing so. I buried my face in my hands, seething. Nimri wanted me to use my body to get more information. But we both knew that using my body, and with the amount of emotional investment happening, would mean a broken heart on Everett’s end. And quite probably, mine too.
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