24. Charlotte

24

CHARLOTTE

I adjust the auburn wig just so, then pop the brown contacts in, apply a heap of mascara, and attach the fake nose. When I check my reflection in the mirror, I can’t help but smile. I hardly recognize myself.

My phone buzzes on the counter, wiping the smile off my face. Carlo . I leave it for later. For after. When the job is done.

Speaking of, I don’t know how to thank Carlo. All I can say is that I really owe him one. I’m not sure why it surprises me. I figured I’d have to singlehandedly clean up Sophie’s mess at that club, but then I realized the agency has people for that. Not that this means either of us, Sophie nor I, are going to make it out of this alive. That still remains to be seen. But, thanks to Carlo, at least Sophie’s not going to prison. Not tonight, anyway.

When I thanked him, he acted like it was nothing, and that made me think that maybe he’s right. Maybe it is nothing. Maybe I need to give a little more grace. Sophie wasn’t wrong in what she did; I’m even a little, dare I say…proud. But the way she went about it, well, that was not good. So she’s not exactly pu lling her weight? She’s young, she’s still figuring it out, and maybe I’ve been a little hard on her. I’ve decided tonight, it’s different. Tonight, I’m not babysitting her. I’m giving her a second chance. I’m training her.

We’re headed to Manhattan for a reason—there’s a job to do. A target to eliminate. Someone from the list. Not a friend, but a business associate. He’s been meddling in things that don’t concern him, and now it’s his turn to go. We’ve tracked him down, and I’ve been watching him for long enough. He’ll be dealt with before morning.

I step out of the bathroom. The heels of my boots echo against the floor, sharp and hollow. Sophie’s sitting at the window, staring out into the city, her body slumped like she’s waiting for some kind of answer that’ll never come. She doesn’t look at me when I walk in, but she doesn’t have to. I’m not surprised. She’s been avoiding me more and more lately. She’s been doing that for days now.

“Ready?” I ask, my voice cutting through the silence. It’s a loaded question, and she knows it. I don’t need to say more.

She nods, but it’s not enough. “Yeah.”

Her voice is too soft, too hesitant. I step closer, just enough so she has no choice but to turn around and look at me. “Don’t fuck this up, Sophie. Just for once, I’d really appreciate not being let down.”

She swallows hard, but doesn’t flinch. She’s learning. Slowly, but she’s getting there. I’ll give her that much. “I look stupid.”

“You look fine,” I say noting her long black wig, fake chin, and the fat suit that adds thirty pounds to her tiny frame.

“I can’t walk in this.”

“You’ll manage.”

“It’s hot, I’m burning up and I’m pretty sure my chin is going to fall off before we even hail a cab. ”

“You’re right,” I say pulling some adhesive from my bag. “That humidity is a killer.”

I slather it on and then turn on my heel and head for the door. “There. Now, let’s go.”

I don’t check to see if she’s following. I don’t need to. She doesn’t have a choice.