Vegas Moon

29.

“Creed, it’s Darwin.”

“What’s up?”

“I got a job for you.”

I jump to my feet.

“When?”

“Now.”

“Is it—”

“Important? Very.”

Here’s the thing about Darwin. He lets me do whatever I want, ninety-nine percent of the time. Even helps me by providing resources like body doubles, cleanup crews for people I kill, government airstrips, highest government clearance…you name it, I get it. But when he says something’s important, it means one thing: the country’s in danger.

“What do you need?”

By the time he tells me, Gwen is not only boiling mad, but completely dressed. I’m standing here naked, with the same handsome face she adored a few minutes ago, but I’m getting a vibe that our time here is done.

When I hang up she says, “Maybe I should be fucking him.”

If what I suspect is true, that Gwen gets off on fucking men she perceives as powerful, then Darwin probably is the man for her. Then again, I’ve never laid eyes on him, so he could be totally wrong for her. He could be anyone I run into on the street. Could be a woman, for all I know, since he uses voice altering equipment on the phone. In fact, Gwen is the only person I know who can’t be Darwin, since I was with her just now while talking to him. Then again, you never know with Darwin.

“I need to take you home,” I say, getting dressed.

“No. I’m going to buy an outfit. For tonight. I’ve decided I’ll be in the mood when Maddie comes. And no, you can’t watch. You’ll have to listen from outside the locked door.”

“I won’t be there.”

“What? Why not?”

“I have to leave town. It’s urgent.”

“You’re supposed to be guarding me. I mean, us. What about Connor Payne?”

“That’s what the phone call was about,” I say, lying through my teeth.

“Connor Payne is your boss?”

“No, of course not. But my boss tracked him down. He’s in San Francisco. I’m going there tonight. To kill him.”

Her eyes widen. “No shit?”

I look into those wide, mud brown eyes, and say, “I’m doing it for you, Gwen. I’m going to murder one of the most powerful men on earth. But first I’m going to punish him.”

“Why?”

“Because he frightened you.”

“Oh, Oh, wow!”

“I’m going to reduce him to tears.”

“Oh, Oh, Oh, my God!”

“I’m going to make him shit his pants like a frightened child!”

“Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh my God! Oh, Oh my GOD!”

“And when he’s on his knees, begging for his life, the last words he’s going to hear before I snap his neck like a dead twig is, ‘This is for Gwen.’”

“Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh my God!” she screams. “Oh! Oh! Oh my God! I’m getting wet!”

It’s true. She’s as worked up as anyone I’ve ever seen.

“Fuck me, Donovan! Fuck me! Fuck me right now!”

“There’s no time.”

From somewhere deep in Gwen’s throat a moaning sound is born. By the time it escapes her lips, it is unlike any sound I’ve ever heard. Her eyes are half-closed, her head is lolling back and forth. Her hands are shaking.

“Donovan. Please!” Oh God, I’m not kidding!”

She slaps my face as hard as I’ve ever been slapped.

“Fuck me!”

“I can’t.”

She slaps me again.

“Fuck me!

“Sorry.”

“Fuck me! Now!”

She slaps me again.

“Right Now!”

And again.

I look at my watch. “I don’t know…”

“Please!” She starts tearing her clothes off.

I’m bluffing about the time. I’ve got hours before I have to go save the world. This is all about coming at her the way I finally decided she wants to be fucked. And this time I guarantee I’m going to get every last ounce she has to give.