Kate… I have to quit.”

“You’re shittin’ me! Why?” She continues checking DVDs for scratches.

“School is crazy busy. I don’t have time for work and school.” I sit on the counter and hand Kate DVD cases after making sure the discs are in them.

She sets a case down and sighs. Looking at me, she says, “Is this about what happened last night?”

“No. The police handled that situation. My grades are just really bad.” I sort of tell the truth. I haven’t been to classes, and Sage and I are going to be hunting for the Hunters. We don’t need any distractions.

She snickers. “Yeah, because you stay out at the club when you should be home studying. Can you afford not to work?”

“Yes.” Sage and I ran figures last night, and we have plenty to get us by for a long time. Plus, we are downsizing to one apartment under the new circumstances.

Kate looks at me skeptically. “Are you giving a two weeks’ notice, or is this your last night?”

I shrug my shoulders and jump down from the counter. “Whatever you want me to do.”

“You do what is best for you. Damn, girl. This sucks! I like working with you.” She grabs a pile of movies and places them in the to-be-shelved box.

I hear the door chime as I grab the pile of moves to shelve. Kate jumps.  Last night made her jumpy, as she should be. 

I almost drop the movies when I see the guy who tried to kill me twice already. I almost don’t recognize him; he cleaned up his rough appearance. Kate doesn’t either, or she would have already dialed 911.

I keep my composure and say, “Can I help you?”

He smiles. “I’m looking for a movie. I know where it is though.” He gives me a knowing look, and I know he wants me to follow him.

I let him walk to the back of the store and act as if I’m going to put up movies. Once I’m out of Kate’s sight, I place the basket of movies on a nearby shelf and feel for my gun as I walk to the back.

I pull the gun from my pocket and shove it into his side. “Did you come in here hoping I would behave since we are in public? If so, you have the wrong girl. Now explain.”

He looks up at the ceiling and smiles. I feel a knife threatening my thigh, where my main artery is. “You explain why you left the Sphere.” His face is so close to mine that our noses are touching.

“Ana?” I hear Kate say, followed by her footsteps. The Hunter and I quickly pull away from each other. I place my gun back in my pocket, and he places his knife back in his jacket.

“Sir, can I help you?” She asks, looking at him. He picks up a DVD and smiles.

“I was helping him find the movie he was looking for,” I say with a fake smile.

He holds the movie up. “Thanks for the help.” He places his free hand on my name tag to look at it and says, “Ana, eh?” I want to slap his hand away. Jack ass.

Kate rolls her eyes and starts walking towards the front. Over her shoulder she says, “I can check you out if you are ready.”

Once she is out of sight, he slams me against the wall. I don’t even see him get his knife out, but it’s now dangerously close to my neck.

“What the hell?” I whisper.

He laughs and pulls the blade away from my neck. “I just wanted to remind you that I’m quicker than you.”

I roll my eyes. “What are you really doing in here?”

“I came to give you answers.”

“At my work?” I push past him and start walking to the front so Kate doesn’t get suspicious. The hunter follows.

He hands Kate the movie, and she laughs. “You do realize you have the movie Lion King, right?” I start laughing as well.

“It's for my nephew,” he states quickly and smiles. After he pays, he says, “He is a curious little guy. He has all of these questions about this movie in particular. He is coming over tonight after I take him out for dinner at the restaurant down the block.” I laugh at his pitiful attempt to speak in code. After I make sure Kate isn’t looking, I nod my head, and he nods his, making a silent agreement to meet after I get off work.

Kate laughs and says, “I didn’t need an explanation. I was only making sure you knew. Enjoy your movie.”