Does Faith know?”

“Of course not.”

Brody shakes his head. “You son of a bitch! Okay, so who else knows?”

“No one.”

“What? I can’t be trusted with this information!”

“Sorry, dude. You’re my best friend. If I can’t trust you, who can I trust?”

“I need details. How long has this been going on?”

“Six months.”

“Six months? And you’re just now telling me? Why now?”

“I couldn’t hold it in any longer.”

“What, this bombshell revelation? Or your dick?”

“Both.”

“She’s—wait. How old is she?”

“Thirty-two. Today.”

Brody sighs. “I am so fucking jealous. I hate you. You know that, right?”

“Your envy’s a huge part of the fun. Why else would I tell you?”

“Because you’re an asshole?”

Jake smiles.

Brody thinks a minute. Then says, “Lemon’s birthday dinner.”

“What about it?”

“Are you kidding? I can’t wait to see the two of you in the same room!”

“I may not go.”

“What? You have to go! We’re all going.”

“I might show up late.”

“Jake. Look at me. It’s a surprise party. You need to get there before Lemon shows up.”

Alice arrives with the drinks.

Brody grins. “I love you, Alice.”

She grins back. “I love you, too, Benny.”

Jake laughs.

Brody’s face falls. “It’s Brody.”

Alice says, “Aw, shit. I’m sorry.”

When she turns he doesn’t bother checking her ass. Instead, he looks at Jake and says, “You’re fucking Lemon.”

“I am.”

“You lucky bastard.”

“I know. She’s amazing.”

“Where’d you do it that first time?”

“At a hotel, during her lunch break.”

Brody closes his eyes, tries to conjure it in his mind.

He sighs. “You lucky bastard!”

“So you said.”

2.

Milo and Faith.

MILO NEVER KILLED anyone before.

Nor has he killed anything bigger than a bug in his entire life. As for guns, he’s done exactly ten minutes at a rifle range. Twenty years ago, as a teenager.

But for this job, experience won’t be a factor.

He tries the back door, finds it unlocked, enters the hall.

Milo’s been here a dozen times, knows the layout.