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Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter XIII

“Are you guys ready yet?” Dylan groaned as he waited for the Horsemen to emerge.

Merritt, Jack, and Lula all emerged within five minutes of Dylan’s complaint. That left Sutton and Danny alone. Everyone held their breath, hoping this was the time they made up. It would be the perfect time- right before a big heist.

“Oh!” Sutton called out as she bumped into Danny. “I-I’m sorry, Danny.” She went to move away, but Danny grabbed her hand. Sutton felt her neck heat up.

Danny pulled Sutton close to him, their faces just inches apart. He brushed a brunette hair out of her face. “Even with this wig covering your red hair, you’re still as beautiful as ever.” He gave her his signature smirk, the one Sutton fell for over and over again.

Sutton bit her lip as she looked up at Danny through her lashes. “You’re pretty handsome yourself.” She handed him the glasses he would need for later. Danny slipped them on to see how they looked. Again, Sutton bit her lip.

“What?” Danny asked with a smile.

Sutton smiled, not meeting the Illusionist’s eyes. “I never thought you could look more attractive. I was completely wrong.”

Danny let out a laugh. Then, he pulled Sutton even closer. He bent his neck, bringing his lips closer to Sutton’s.

Sutton sighed, pushing herself off Danny’s chest. “We can’t, Danny.”

Danny grimaced. “But I thought we-”

“We were, yeah,” Sutton confirmed for him. “But I’m not ready. I don’t think you are either.”

Danny sighed, nodding. “Yeah, okay.” Sutton went to move away, but Danny kept holding her. “I’m not going to give up, Sutton. I’ll never give up on us.”

Sutton smiled. “I don’t expect you to.” Danny smiled as he pulled Sutton’s hand to his lips, them grazing her knuckles.

“I’m dying out here!” Merritt yelled. “Let’s go!”

Dylan took to the crowd, making sure everything was set in place. Jack took his place outside of the main stage area dressed in his security guard uniform. Lula took her place with the food service staff. Merritt and Sutton took their place together, as usual, the two blending into the crowd of guests. Danny took his place backstage.

“We’re all good,” Jack’s voice came over the earpieces. “I’m heading to the control room.”

“Alright, thanks, Jack,” Dylan returned. “Atlas, go.”

“No, Dylan, I can’t,” Danny responded.

“Why? What’s the problem?”

“No, there’s too many people, I can’t.”

“Atlas, I got Owen landing now,” Dylan reminded him. “Sutton?”

Sutton sighed, Merritt giving her a look as she adjusted her short wig, the length bothering her. She put her clothed wrist to her lips. “Danny, don’t worry about all the people there. You will be fine. You’re an amazing illusionist.” Merritt raised an eyebrow at her. She spun away from Merritt. “No one is as confident enough as you to do this. I would know.”

There was a pause. Everyone held their breath. Some also held a snicker in. “Thanks, Sutton,” Danny responded. Sutton smiled. She could hear Danny’s smile in this voice. “Okay, I’m going now.”

“Nicely done,” Merritt said, patting her on the shoulder as she returned to his side.

Sutton shrugged. “I did it for the team.”

Merritt gave her a knowing look. “Yeah, the team,” he winked.

Merritt and Sutton stood at one of the tables, staking out the area and waiting for Owen Case to arrive. A few minutes later, Lula was arguing with a chef nearby. Suddenly, blood was squirting from her arm. Sutton resisted the urge to roll her eyes as people screamed.

“Showtime, Sut,” Merritt told her, grabbing her hand and heading toward Owen Case. “Get your flirt on.”

Sutton cleared her throat, stepping in front of Owen Case. “Hi, Mr. Case,” Sutton smiled, trying her best to reach her inner Henley. Owen looked her up and down and smiled. Sutton placed a hand on his chest. “I heard tonight is going to be a huge unveiling for you.” Her hand slid downwards with her words.

“It most certainly will,” Owen smiled, stepping closer to Sutton. He placed his hands on Sutton’s waist, giving Merritt the perfect opportunity to start his hypnosis.

Sutton removed Case’s hands from her waist as Merritt walked him to the storage closet Sutton had set up earlier. Merritt placed an earbud in Case’s ear and stood him in front of the camera.

“Look at the light,” Merritt finished. “Listen to your own voice.”

“Not bad, old man,” Sutton chuckled as the two headed for the backstage.

“Oh, cocky now, aren’t we?” Merritt laughed. “Watch out. You’re starting to sound like At-” He stopped himself.

Sutton rolled her eyes. “You can say his name, Merritt.”

“Right,” Merritt nodded.

Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter XI

“Hi,” Danny replied sarcastically. Jack and Merritt gaped. Sutton stared at the woman, biting her lip. Danny glanced at Sutton as she leaned against the railing beside him.

“You met Lulu?” Dylan asked knowingly.

“I’ve met her,” Danny replied, fiddling with his gloves. “What is she doing here?”

“I’m the new Horseman!” Lulu told the group. Sutton’s breath caught in her throat as panic surged throughout her body. Danny placed a hand on her lower back in comfort, just as he always did, as Lulu cheered for herself. “Nobody? No excitement? Jack?” Jack glared at her.

“Dylan,” Merritt started as he turned toward the stairs, “tell me what’s going on here.” The group followed, Sutton brushing off Danny’s touch.

“Well, Lulu’s been on the underground scene for the last decade, and I think she has some real talent. I’d like to try her on stage to balance out the duo,” Dylan explained.

“What?” Jack gasped. “No, are you serious, man? After Henley left, you said I could get back on stage again, not someone who just showed up.” Sutton didn’t say a word about his comment.

“And I told you,” Dylan responded, slapping a hand to Jack’s shoulder, “I’d think about it, and I have, and I really need you behind the scenes with me for just a little while longer.”

“Dylan, come on,” Jack groaned. “I’ve been behind the scenes my whole life.”

“Which is a crime, might I add,” Lula piped up. “Have you seen that man’s face?” Jack gave her a look.

“As much as I appreciate the addition of some femininity to the group, over and above what Sutton and Ass-las provide,” Merritt insulted as each gave him a look, “I think the real issue is, we’ve been in this-”

“Yeah, the issue is that we have been rehearsing for months for something we don’t even know what it is,” Danny interjected.

“And you’re going to keep working until-”

“Until we work as a single organism. I know, I’ve heard you say that,” Danny responded cockily. Sutton smirked, biting her lip. She had missed Danny’s cocky remarks. “The thing is, when you say that, I think what you’re referring to is us.” He gestured toward his fellow Horsemen. “You know, not you.”

“Listen,” Dylan responded, obviously annoyed. “I’m getting my orders directly from The Eye. Okay? Then I give them to you. Now if you don’t like that, you’re welcome to go.”

“No, I’m not going anywhere,” Danny reassured everyone. “But I’m-I’m taking care of myself.” Sutton put a hand to her chest, feeling her heart ache. She knew Danny’s words were only said out of anger and annoyance. However, they still hurt.

“Guys, can I just weigh in here, really quickly?” Lula asked. Sutton rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Cause I think I see what’s going on here. You guys are this amazing, tight-knit family unit and I’m a new person-”

“No, no, no,” Merritt told her. “We are anything but a family.”

At Merritt’s words, Sutton’s head began to spin. Everyone was complaining about “me, me, me” and not even caring that they were still a “we.” She rubbed her temples, trying to block out Lula’s stupid story. Finally, she had enough. “Shut up!” Sutton erupted. “All of you! You’re all acting like idiots!” The group fell silent.

Sutton looked around at the others, her chest heaving in anger. “Each of you is acting like you are the one and only solution to this mess we’re in,” Sutton told them. “We need each other to get through this, and you all know that.” The men looked at each other, nodding in agreement. Lula snorted a laugh.

“And you,” Sutton pointed at Lula. “You need to stop acting like an entitled bitch.” Lula gasped. Merritt and Jack let out a chuckle as Danny smirked admirently. “You do not get to come in here and act like my cousin was nothing to this team. You do not get to come in here and think you are going to take my spot, or Jack’s spot. Because, let me tell you, when we come back from the dead, it’s going to be ten times better than one of your “faking death” acts.” Lula stared at Sutton, mouth agape. Sutton heaved a heavy sigh, holding onto the table for support. She wasn’t sure where her anger had come from, but Sutton felt her body tell her it needed to be done.

“Damn, Sutton,” Jack spoke after a minute.

Merritt clapped slowly. “Couldn’t have said it better myself, beautiful.” He took Sutton’s hand in his, giving it a kiss.

Danny was still slightly in shock. “I can’t believe those words came from your body.”

“You’ve made your point,” Dylan told Sutton, nodding. “Lula?”

Lula looked at Sutton. “I-I’m sorry,” she said. “I guess I never thought about how you would feel with me joining the Horsemen.”

Sutton nodded. “I might do 75% of the feeling for this team, but you’re all required to pitch in 5% each,” Sutton joke, cracking a smile.

Lula smirked. “You got a deal, Reeves.” She stretched her hand toward Sutton, who shook it. “Much respect for showing dominance in a very clearly male-dominated group. You scared the shit out of me!”

“That was the point,” Sutton smiled, mentally patting herself on the back.

“So, does this mean we’re actually going to do something?” Merritt asked, bringing everyone back to the sole-purpose of the meeting.

“Yes,” Dylan told them. Everyone looked at each other. Danny gave Sutton a slight smile which she returned. “You’ve all heard of OCTA and their playboy CEO Owen Case. His partner Walter Mabry died about a year ago. You wanna know what all of this has been leading to?”

“Yeah,” Lula said, grabbing something off the floor.

“OCTA’s hosting a launch of the next-gen cell phone,” Dylan explained as Lula rolled out a blank blueprint. “Once these phones hit the streets, he’ll siphon the user’s information to the black market. Meaning, OCTA’s selling privacy to up their profit. So, The Eye’s decided to expose him for it. Our mission is to high-jack the show. Rehearsals over, guys. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Now it’s time to get to work.”

Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter I

Sutton rubbed the sleep from her eyes, the morning sun shining bright through her New York apartment window. She checked her Fitbit. It was only ten in the morning. Sutton yawned, the night life taking its toll on her sleep schedule. She had become more of a night owl than she had ever been since going into hiding, as per The Eye's orders 15 months ago.

Sutton sat up slightly on one elbow, staring down at her sleeping boyfriend. She ran her hand over his newly-shaven scalp. She loved the feeling of the short pricks tickling her skin. Her finger traveled over Danny's prominent features. Sutton cupped his chin and ran her thumb over his lips, just as Danny had done to her countless times. As she did this, Danny stirred slightly.

Knowing he would be awake shortly, Sutton's hand traveled down Danny's chest as she gave him a light kiss on the lips. Her hand traveled farther down Danny's abdomen where she drew her finger in various shapes. She found herself becoming lost in the memories of their love story.

"Ahhh!" Sutton screamed as she was thrown onto her back as Danny straddled her.

"Good morning, beautiful," Danny smiled at her as he bent down, placing a kiss to her lips as his hands expertly explored her body.

"Mhm. Good morning, handsome," Sutton smirked, cleverly moving her hips underneath Danny as she gripped his arms

Danny groaned, throwing his head from side to side. "Thank God for this sheet between us or I would be having my way with you already this morning."

Sutton giggled, playfully pushing Danny off her. Sutton held the sheet close to her body as she stood. She twirled back around, watching the sheet fall from Danny's body.

"Hey, not fair!" he smiled, jumping off the bed and over to her, trying to fight his way into the sheet.

Sutton laughed as he began to tickle her. She forced her arms open, allowing Danny to wrap his arms tightly around her, their naked bodies becoming one once again. Danny kissed her hard, slightly bending her backwards.

"Round two in the shower?" Sutton said with the lift of her eyebrow.

"What do you think?" Danny replied, mimicking Sutton's actions and dragging her to the shower.

Sutton emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and freshly combed hair. With her glasses slightly foggy, she padded lightly to the kitchen, scooping coffee grounds into the maker and filling it with water. As the coffee maker boiled to life, she walked back toward the bathroom. Danny was just stepping out of the shower.

"Danny, how many times do I need to remind you to dry off in the shower?" Sutton huffed at her boyfriend.

"I'm sorry, beautiful," Danny smirked as he grabbed for Sutton's towel. Expertly pulling at the tucked in fabric, he pulled the towel open, wrapping it around his body and drawing her near in the process. "It's much nicer to dry off with you."

Sutton bit back a smile. "You do know you're just making me wet all over again, right?"

Danny cocked an eyebrow. "Sutton Reeves, I do believe you have worn me out for the morning."

Sutton hit Danny's shoulder. "Jackass!" she laughed, pulling his mouth to hers.

Somewhere in the apartment, a voice cleared their throat. Sutton and Danny stared at each other, neither one moving.

"Hello?" the voice called. "Mating season is over, lovebirds!"

Sutton and Danny let out the air they had been holding in. "Why are you here, Merritt?" Danny called out, giving Sutton her towel back and getting his own. "You're supposed to be with Jack and Henley until tonight."

"Emergency meeting," Jack's voice answered, followed by a crunch of chips.

Sutton huffed. "Jack, stop eating my food!" She heard Jack mimic her obnoxiously.

Danny kissed the top of her head. "Now you know how I feel every single day," he chuckled.

After awkwardly shuffling to Sutton's room and quickly changing, Sutton and Danny went out to meet their fellow Horsemen. Danny took a seat on the couch with Sutton snuggling up beside him.

"Please tell me we have something, Dylan," Danny questioned the mastermind behind their first scheme. Sutton pushed Danny's shoulder back as if to tell him to chill.

"I'm afraid not, Danny," Dylan replied as he wrung his hands around one another. He glanced over at Henley, who was biting her lipstick-coated lips.

"Hen?" Sutton's voice piped up. Henley didn't look at her. "Henley?" Sutton called again. Still, Henley didn't look at her. Sutton looked around at Jack, Merritt, and Dylan, begging for a reason as to what was wrong with her cousin.

Merritt looked down at his hands, thumbs twiddling over and over again. Jack looked down at the bag of chips in his hands, suddenly disgusted by them. Dylan, on the other hand, kept glancing over at Henley.

Sutton looked at Danny, who was repeating her motions of searching for answers. He looked at her, confusion written all over his face as well. "Did we-?" they both started before Sutton finished for them. "Did we do something wrong?"

Henley shot her a look, eyes wide. "No, of course not, sweetie," Merritt counseled her, giving her knee a light pat.

"Then what the hell is going on?" Danny questioned, his eyes boring through Dylan before moving onto Henley. Sutton looked at him, knowing he was thinking the same thing as her.

Dylan started. "It's compli-"

"I'm leaving the Horsemen," Henley announced, her eyes filling with tears as her voice cracked.

Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter VI

The next morning, Sutton made breakfast for the boys to cure their hangovers. As the eggs cooked slowly on the stove, Sutton cut up various fruits to help speed things along. As she was cutting up her favorite hangover fruit, a vibration traveled through the countertop. Danny’s phone lit up, showing the picture of the two kissing while wrapped in a bedsheet. It was Sutton’s favorite picture of the two and always made her smile. Curious, Sutton leaned over as she made her final cut on the banana.

3:00 AM, the text message read on the screen, followed by a street address.

Sutton crinkled her eyebrows, her face clearly displaying her concern. She quickly typed the address into Google Maps. From what Sutton could see on the satellite view, it appeared to be an abandoned building..

Rustling from the couch caused Sutton to jump, her phone fumbling in her hands. Quickly swiping out of Google Maps and turning her phone face down on the countertop, Sutton turned her attention back to the eggs, mentally fighting with herself whether or not to confront Danny.

A pair of arms wrapped around her waist. “Good morning,” Danny’s sleepy voice whispered in her ear. His lips traveled down to Sutton’s neck, much like they did any morning she was up and moving before Danny.

“Morning,” Sutton said, trying her best to sound chipper and not like the noisy girlfriend she was. “How do you feel?”

Danny rubbed his head as he let go of Sutton and made his way over to his phone. Picking it up, he sat at the small dining room table. “I’m not bad. Just a small headache.”

Sutton hummed a response, watching Danny carefully as he looked at his phone. His eyes grew large as he read the message. His signature smirk crossed his lips. Obviously, the unknown number was known fairly well to Danny. If he wasn’t going to tell her, Sutton was going to find out for herself just who this person was.

The night was long. Danny claimed to be going to bed at 12:00 PM with a stomach ache. Sutton told him she would sleep on the couch so he could sleep. Danny scrunched his eyebrows at this, wondering why Sutton would deny cuddling with him. It was unlike her, especially when Danny was sick. They both laid wide awake in their separate sleeping quarters, each wondering what the other was thinking and what was going to happen in the next few hours.

Danny’s mind spun with anticipation of who may be behind The Eye and what they may want him to do. He had imagined himself leading the Horsemen far better than Dylan for over a year now. Would they accept him as such?

On the other hand, Danny couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with Sutton. She had acted strange all day, keeping her distance and not seeming affected by any affection Danny gave her. It crossed his mind many times in the last two months if Sutton knew what he was up to. The worst thoughts that crossed his mind were what Sutton would do if she ever found out Danny’s secret contacts with The Eye.

Danny shook his head, not wanting to go down that road. He looked at his phone. 1:00 AM. One more hour to keep himself wide awake and travel into the unknown.

Sutton laid on the couch, constantly tossing and turning. She had started reading a book when Danny went to bed and had finished it in two hours. Now, her brain just wracked. Who was this unknown caller? Was it another girl? Worse yet, was he trying to contact The Eye? The secrets grew in her head more and more as the night went on.

Sutton looked at her phone. 2:00 AM. Not long after that, she heard rustling in the bedroom. Sutton could hear Danny’s feet glide against the wood floor in the night’s silence. She knew what he was doing- pulling on a dark hoodie and dark jeans, because he didn’t like walking around in sweatpants

Sutton was broken out of her trance when the bedroom door creaked open. She smirked to herself when she heard Danny whisper a curse. Her body stiffened slightly when she felt a hand brush the hair out of her face. Danny placed his hand on the side of Sutton’s face and ran a thumb along her jawline. Sutton wanted so badly to lean into his touch.

“I love you, Sutton.” Danny’s whisper was just above inaudible. He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering for a few seconds before moving to her lips. His kiss was gentle, light as a feather. It was almost as though it were a farewell kiss.

Danny’s weight shifted and he stood. “I’m doing this for the Horsemen,” he croaked, motivating himself. He walked to the door, pausing with his hand on the knob. He looked back at Sutton and left.

Sutton counted to five and sprang up. She was already dressed in her black joggers and black hoodie. Quickly, Sutton pulled on her black and gray sneakers, tying them tightly. Grabbing her phone, Sutton ran to the door and didn’t look back.

Sutton knew Danny wouldn’t be far. Google Maps said the abandoned building was 30 minutes away by walking. It was only 1:10 AM. When she opened the apartment building door to the street, Sutton looked around for Danny. Not more than 40 feet away, she noticed the familiar silhouette walking in the same direction she needed to go. Hands in pockets was Danny’s signature when he was nervous, and that was exactly what this person was doing. Sutton picked up her walking pace.

After ducking behind trash cans, standing perfectly still, and trying her hardest to not walk too fast, Sutton followed Danny into the abandoned building that read “Subway to Manhattan.” Sutton mimicked Danny’s actions as she stepped through his path, traveling down a set of stairs and through a lightly lit tunnel. Sutton slowed as she noticed Danny stop. He removed his hood and Sutton noticed he took out his ear buds.

Sutton rolled her eyes. All the sneaking around was for nothing if he couldn’t actually hear her coming.

Danny was on the move again as he traveled deeper into the abandoned subway station. Again, they traveled down a set of stairs, the artificial light vanishing slowly. Sutton followed Danny through standing water which sat between dips in the tunnel. Finally, they came to a door. Danny pushed the door open slowly and walked in, the door slamming shut behind him.

Sutton cursed loudly, throwing her hand over her mouth. She noticed a symbol on the door which could belong to only one group- The Eye. She touched the symbol, running her fingers along every curve and angle, studying it carefully. Allowing curiosity to get the better of her, Sutton leaned against the door, hoping to hear something.

“Trust?” a voice clearly coming out of speakers from inside spoke, the words muffled. “Your leader? Your fellow Horsemen? Perhaps even us?” Sutton automatically stepped back, not caring much to try and hear Danny’s response. She shook her head, disappointed in her boyfriend’s actions.

“You might not be a cheater,” Sutton told the air, “but you're one hell of an asshole.” She turned, quickly making her way back to the entrance.

Love is Like a Playing Card (J. Daniel Atlas) Chapter V

Sutton and Danny took the long way to Jack and Merritt’s apartment building that night. The apartments were only five minutes apart, making it easy to get to one another in case of an emergency. The two walked in silence, their hands stuffed inside their sweatshirt pockets. The cookies were snug in Sutton’s backpack.

Sutton turned and began walking backwards so she could see Danny’s face in the passing street lights. “I bet you a kiss that they ordered pizza.”

Danny raised his hands to his mouth and breathed out, trying to warm them up. As he removed them, Danny’s signature smirk covered his lips. “Just a kiss? Damn, I thought by now we could play with a bit more fire.”

“And what were you thinking?” Sutton asked him, cocking her eyebrow and biting her lip.

Danny scoffed and reached out to pull Sutton to him. He pressed their bodies close together. Sutton could feel exactly what he was thinking as Danny played with a strand of her hair. “If they ordered pizza, I’ll be on top,” he stated, bringing his mouth an inch away from Sutton’s, their puffs of air mingling together. “If they ordered chinese, you’ll be on top.”

Sutton bit her lip, remembering just how much Danny enjoyed it when she was on top and in control. The way Danny sighed when she kissed the crook of his neck from her position. The way he moaned loudly when Sutton would pick up her pace. The way his face contorted and his hips jerked wildly when Danny had reached his high. The way his eyes shined with all the love in the world as they caught their breath afterwards.

“Deal,” Sutton panted, looking up at Danny through her eyelashes and biting her lip once more for good measure. Danny groaned as Sutton pushed her hips to his, pulling the illusionist into a deep kiss.

“Are you kidding me right now?” Jack’s voice yelled from ten yards away.

Sutton and Danny parted, the two laughing as Danny rested his forehead against Sutton’s.

“Next it’s going to be sex on our doorstep!” Merritt added.

“Do we really need to do this?” Danny asked, pulling Sutton close against him once more as he kissed her forehead.

Sutton hummed her reply, giving Danny a quick peck on the lips. “Play nice and maybe we can leave early,” she winked. Danny groaned loudly as Sutton dragged him by the hand to the awaiting pick-pocket and mentalist.

The four friends were settled in the living room watching a murder mystery, chinese containers in hand. On the side table which sat in the middle of the room sat a platter full of cream cheese wontons. Three beers and one wine cooler boxed in the food on all four corners. This was often what their Friday nights looked like anymore. It had become a great stress reliever to just sit with friends and enjoy each other’s company.

Merritt and Jack occupied one couch. After eating, Jack always lied on the floor and complained about eating too much. Danny and Sutton occupied the other couch. Danny sat while Sutton lounged, her feet set atop Danny’s lap.

Just as the detectives in the movie found a third clue, all four of the Horsemen’s phones went off. As they read the group message, they all let out a heavy sigh.

“‘It’s soon showtime’?” Merritt read from his phone screen, shaking his head.

“How stupid does he think we are?” Danny blurted, receiving a hit on the arm from Sutton. “What? He has used the word ‘soon’ in every so-called “update” he has given us!”

“Danny’s not wrong,” Jack confirmed. “Dylan’s “soon” is like our “eternity,” if I’m being honest.” Merritt nodded in agreement.

Sutton sighed as she sat up from her lying position. She never liked to go against Dylan, or anyone for that matter, but the boys were right. He had been telling them “soon” since before Henley left. Now, Sutton was wondering if “soon” was even worth sticking around for.

“Sutton?” Danny called to her, giving her a light nudge.

Sutton shook herself out of her thoughts. “Sorry. No, you guys are right, as disgusting as that feels on my tongue.” The boys groaned and rolled their eyes. “I feel almost as though Dylan is playing games with us now, just toying us to see who will stick it out.”

“Damn, girl,” Merritt laughed. “You really are beginning to sound like Ass-las.”

“And this is a bad thing because…?” Danny smirked, pulling Sutton close to him. Sutton let out a giggle as the illusionist kissed the top of her head.

“I just feel like Dylan, or The Eye, is testing us,” Sutton explained. “Henley left for her own reasons, but maybe they are trying to see who leaves next. Kind of like “survival of the fittest,” in a way.”

“Well, it was nice knowing you, Merritt,” Jack confirmed, hitting the mentalist on the arm. “The first to die is always the oldest.”

“What, me?” Merritt yelled. “What about Sutton? She’s the girl!”

“Oh, you did not just say that!” Sutton growled, standing up and pushing her sleeves up her arms. Merritt gulped.

“Oh, this is going to be good!” Danny laughed, thoroughly enjoying his girlfriend sizing up her older partner.

“Hold on!” Jack shouted, standing up and getting in between the two. “I need popcorn first!” He ran to the kitchen.

Merritt gaped at Jack. “You all just want me to die, don’t you?”

“You did this to yourself,” Danny laughed as Jack sat beside him with a bag of white cheddar popcorn.

“Bring it on, old man!” Sutton instigated, putting up her fists and bouncing around like a boxer. Jack let out a whistle, making a comment about her ass to Danny, who shook his head, laughing.

“Alright,” Merritt stood, brushing off his hands and fixing his fedora. “I just have one request.”

Sutton put down her fists and stopped her movements. “What’s that?”

“That this be,” Merritt stated, a twinkle in his eye as his lips pulled into a grin, “a tickle battle!” He lunged for Sutton, pushing her onto the couch. His hands flew over her abdomen, making her squeal in laughter. Danny and Jack quickly joined in, not missing their opportunity to annoy Sutton.