3 --- 2

  Destroying the bodies was harder than he thought. The bodies were spread out and blood stained the floors and walls but he made sure he took care of every tiny little detail. To make sure the police didn't get anything from the scene and tied it back to them. Not that they would care anyway. They were probably content with willers killing willers. When he was satisfied that there was nothing left but dust, he left the warehouse for the car.

Susan was there working on her laptop. For a second, he thought about the dangers of leaving her in the car. What if one of Charlie's men had hid lying in wait and attacked Susan when they left? He had hardly remembered her once he left  the car. Was Victor scanning back for her or was she expendable?

"What took you so long? And where is Victor?" she asked as soon as soon as she saw him.

He got behind the wheel. "We got a little sidetracked. Victor went back home."

"What happened? Is he hurt?"

"We were double crossed and no, Victor isn't hurt." He ignited the engine and drove the car away

"Wow." She said, reeling from information. She looked at him through the rearview mirror. "What of you? Are you hurt?"

"No." He lied. The throb in his chest had receded but it still hurts badly.

"You sure? You are breathing funny."

"Maybe a broken rib or two." He admitted.

"Don't you guys have superfast healing or something?"

    "We do. But it's not that fast, only a bit faster than humans. That is why we have healers."

"Oh." She said.

His chest constricted in pain as it slowly healed. *Well, would you look at that?* He was finally driving the dream car he wanted but he couldn't think past his pain.

"You are not like the rest of them, are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I noticed how uncomfortable get around Victor or when he talks about drugs, guns and other stuff."

"You don't like it either."

She sighed and relaxed in the seat. "Well. I don't really have a choice."

"You don't?"

"I am an expert in finance management; it is not really a qualification that can get you the kind of money Victor pays me."

"So you are okay with the kind of business he does?"

"Far from it, I am just bidding my time. In a few years, I will make enough money to start my own business, probably my own nightclub."

"Nate gave a little smile. "You are kind of intent on managing a nightclub."

She shrugged. "What can I say? It is a lifelong dream of mine."

Their eyes locked in the mirror. She smiled at him revealing rows of perfect small white teeth. "This is new territory for me; I hardly talk to any of Victor's henchmen."

Nate inwardly frowned at the word *henchmen* . It made him sound like a criminal. Well his boss does deal in drugs and guns. So maybe she was right.

"They always seem to be moody and reserved." She continued. "None of them say a word to me since I have known them, well except Minx but I try to stay away from her. I think she is demented."

"You think?"

She giggled and Nate thought it was a lovely sound.

They reached her house. Nate had been here twice with Victor to drop her when they went to meetings together and she didn't bring her car but still couldn't get over how beautiful it was.

It wasn't a big house but it was breathtaking with full glass windows upstairs and surrounded with lush vegetation.

She packed her laptop into her bag and exited the car. She came to his side at the driver's window with a seductive smile on her face. "You know you could come in for a cup of coffee."

Nate was heavily tempted. She was at least three or four years older than him but that did nothing to dampen her beauty and attraction but somehow he resisted. "Maybe next time, Victor would be expecting me by now."

Her smile dropped a little. "Oh ok. Bye."

She gave a little wave and slowly walked away.

Nate watched her walking away and immediately regretted his decision.