I ignored his jab.
“Then there’s the scheduling thing… which isanotherfirst,” Marcos continued. “Nobody gets a schedule; they get a call and show up. She gets exceptions now?”
I gaveherthat exception.
Not for business.
Not for the operation.
Just because I didn’t want her life collapsing around her before we even tested her.
“Let it go, Marcos. Handle it the way I told you,” I ordered. “She got responsibilities, and I’m not having her fall apart before she starts.”
Marcos paused. “You sure this is just business?”
I exhaled through my nose, slowly. “It’sstrictlybusiness,” I lied. “If it was personal, you’d know.”
Marcos hummed. “Uh-huh. If you say so. Hell, you barely tell me when you hungry. I ain’t got no problem following orders. I’m just saying… you’ve never done any of this for anyone.”
Marcos waited for an explanation… he didn’t get one.
“Call me if something changes,” I said, ending the call without waiting for his response.
I sat there for a long moment, jaw tight.
Ajori’s face wouldn’t leave my mind.
Those eyes… that voice… that damn walk.
I exhaled sharply and forced the thoughts away.
Business first… always business first.
Yeah, Ajori was fine, but beauty alone wasn’t enough for me to risk the operation. But that story about her brother? I needed to know if it was real, and not because I thought she was lying. If it was true, that meant she had a reason strong enough to survive in our world. Still, until I knew who she really was, she was a risk, a distraction, and maybe even aproblem. And I didn’t fuck problems, I solved them.
I finished my drink and stared at the dark screen.
One thing was already clear:
Bringing Ajori into this life is either going to break her or boss her up.
Change is good, though. Right?
Even if I end up being the one who changes her.