Chapter 3

Back outside the mall storage room, I stood face-to-face with Evan.

He drew a gun from his coat pocket and aimed at my heart.

“Someone paid me to end your life.”

“Say goodbye.”

Every hair on my body stood on end.

In a panic, I blurted, “Evan!”

He paused.

“How do you know my name?”

I squeezed my voice into a high, sugary register.

“Because your client set you up! He wants you dead. He sent me your information anonymously before you got here. Whatever he's paying, I'll triple it. Go kill him tonight instead. Deal?”

His face didn't change. His finger tightened on the trigger.

“I've heard that before. Every target says it.”

“I'm serious!”

I pulled the cash out of my purse. Bills scattered across the floor.

I'd brought that money to persuade Evan to come home with me after our date.

Wonderful. My boyfriend fund had become my please-don't-murder-me fund.

“You don't believe me?”

“I'll transfer it right now!”

I opened my phone. My fingers were so sweaty that I accidentally tapped a screenshot from one of our sessions.

Bare skin.

Gold chains.

I wanted the floor to swallow me.

Please don't let him see that. Please, please.

I hurried into my banking app and tried to sound composed.

“How much?”

“Name your price.”

The gun barrel pressed against my head.

He lowered his voice. The quiet menace made me tremble.

“Wait. Go back to that screen.”

With a shaking hand, I reopened my photos.

“What? Hit men police people's private tastes now?”

During his moment of surprise, I tapped a different man's picture. Same composition. Not Evan.

He studied it, then put his gun away.

“Triple the fee? I'll take the job.”

[Triple! Hehehe. I can buy her a big house today!]

[With a house thrown in, maybe Nora will give me a chance even if I'm not her type.]

[Confetti! Happy puppy dance!]

My hand jerked over the payment screen.

Nora Blake would not be meeting him.

Even after I got to my car, my heart wouldn't slow down.

Fine. He could consider that $450,000 compensation for the very abrupt breakup he was about to get.

My phone buzzed.

[Baby, I'm at the café. Where are you?]

I ignored it.

Five minutes later, it buzzed again.

[Are you mad at me? I'm sorry. I went to pick up some money. I just wanted to surprise you.]

A surprise? He'd nearly scared me to death!

Then he called.

I answered furiously. “I saw you. You've been catfishing me! I like pretty, slender guys with sweet faces, not muscle-bound men. We're done!”

A second of silence.

Then his voice drifted down the line.

“But, baby... I haven't gone inside yet. How did you see me?”

I slammed on the brakes, narrowly stopping before a red light.

Oh, I was screwed.