Vegas Moon

30.

“After you kill Conner Payne,” she says.

“Yes?”

“Will I ever see you again?”

“Of course.”

We’re in my car, heading back to her place.

“When?”

“I’ll be back before sunup.”

“Swear to God?”

“Swear to God.”

“Because Lucky owes you money?”

“No. You already told me he can’t pay.”

“I lied. He’s got a million dollars in his safe.”

I pause. “Why tell me that now?”

“Because I’m yours now. If you want me. And if we take Lucky’s money, you won’t have to support me.”

“You’d leave him?”

“For you? Are you kidding me? Guy’s a loser.” She pauses a minute. “You do want me, right?” As if it never dawned on her I wouldn’t.

The correct response in this situation is, Of course I want you! You’re very important to me!—And I am going to say that.

In a minute.

But first I say, “You’re a bit moody.”

“I know, honey,” she says. “But I don’t have to be. I mean, I wouldn’t be moody if I were with you.”

“I’ll require a lot of sex.”

“Good thing I’m so young,” she says. “By the time I stop liking sex, you’ll be an old man.”

“In that case, of course I want to be with you! You’re very important to me.”

“Really?”

“I swear.”

I’m not lying. Gwen has become very important to me. Especially her titties. Because behind one of them, pressing against the edge of her rib cage, is the device. Phyllis implanted it during Gwen’s boob job. I didn’t see it, didn’t feel it while making love just now, but I know it’s there. Since its ceramic, she’s probably walked through a dozen airport scanners and no one ever knew. For Phyllis, it was the perfect place to hide the device, and the perfect way to get back at Lucky. Not to mention Gwen.

So yes, I want to be with Gwen. Want to protect her, keep her close at all times. At least till I recover the device. And maybe afterward, too, because Gwen has potential. She’s smart, wild, and, once you know the combination, she’s great in bed.