Page 65 of Beautiful Things Obey
Some people might call me paranoid. But for someone with my past, being over precautious is the reason I’m still breathing.
On the monitor, a man stands at the entrance, his face lit up by the glow of the security light.
Cian.
He buzzes again to let me know he’s growing impatient, and I consider ignoring him just to piss him off. But the body on my table belongs to his family which means I have no choice but to deal with him.
I strip off my gloves and toss them into the bin. Passing the stainless steel counter, I pick up the scalpel and hold it carefully concealed at my side.
Cian’s annoying. Like a mosquito at a picnic. But it pays to be safe.
I unlock the door and push it open. Cian’s eyes immediately sweep over me from head to toe, and the look of approval that follows makes my skin crawl.
“Finally,” he says, stepping forward. “I was starting to think you didn’t want to talk to me and since we were so rudely interrupted the other night. I thought I’d come personally.”
I step in front of him to block his path. “You can’t come in; you know the rules. No one inside when I’m working.”
“Relax, Doc. I’m not here to see Alberto. I’m here to see you.”
“Then you should’ve called during business hours.”
“You don’t keep usual business hours. You keep dead of night hours. Which is kind of hot if you ask me.”
“I didn’t,” I’m quick to bite back. The scalpel feels comfortable in my hand. It wasn’t the alcohol that had me telling him I’m fucking Silas the other night. It was a calculated move to make him back off. I can handle myself, but sometimes it’s easier to use a man, and it’s the least Silas can do for me, considering he’s always hanging around. I thought it’d act as a deterrent, but maybe it’s changed into a pissing competition.
“Come on, Doc. Don’t be like that.”
“Why are you here, Cian?”
He casually shrugs. “The family wants to know how long you need with Alberto.”
“Three hours. Maybe four. The neck wound is messy, and your father was very insistent that this man has an open casket.”
“See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Cian leans against the doorframe, and I catch the waft of his cologne. It’s expensive and overdone, like he bathed in a vat of it.
“He also mentioned I’d be receiving a bonus, seeing that it’s a rush job,” I remind him.
Cian pats his jacket pocket. “Right here, sweetheart. So, are you going to invite me in or are we going to keep flirting in the doorway?”
“We’re not flirting.”
“Sure, we are. Come on, baby. Lighten up.”
“Don’t call me baby.”
He opens his jacket so I see the thick envelope stuffed with cash. “I’m not going to hand over the money standing out hereon the doorstep. If you want to get paid then you’re going to let me inside.”
“You don’t pay, you don’t get the body.”
He tries to sway me with a wink and a charming smile which only revolts me.
“Let me in and I’ll pay you, then I’ll leave you be. You know I can’t do it out here. It’s the rules.”
Unfortunately, he’s right. There is a mutual agreement in place between me and the families I work for. The exchange of money is never to take place in public. Thanks to modern technology true privacy is almost extinct, and anyone could be watching.
Feeling a headache forming at my temple, I sigh. I’ve dealt with Cian for months. He’s a giant pain in the ass, but he’s pretty harmless. So I let him into the corridor and close the door behind him. But the corridor is narrow and suddenly feels very cramped with him in it.
He hands me the cash, and I shove the envelope into my scrubs pocket.
