#dannyatlasxreader

[jb3islife]

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

Sutton sat by the counter, watching fondly as Jack tried to show Lula how to throw a card. She smiled as Lula commented on her “perfect score.” The two bent down to pick up the cards. From what Sutton could tell, they became engaged in a deep conversation.

“Okay, great.” Sutton jumped as she heard Danny respond as he hung up the phone. Danny spun around, clearly surprised to see Sutton sitting so close to him.

“So, was that them?” Sutton asked. Danny sighed as he returned Li’s phone. “Just tell me the truth, Danny.”

Danny puffed out his cheeks. “Yeah,” he huffed, “that was them.”

Sutton sighed. “Do you ever get tired of not trusting people, Danny?”

“Sutton, I’m not doing this to betray the team or Dylan,” Danny explained in a whisper, careful to not let Jack and Lula hear. “I’m doing this so The Eye can fix this and we don’t go to jail, or worse.”

Sutton rolled her eyes. “I know, Danny, but you just need to learn that trusting people doesn't make you vulnerable.” 

Danny looked down, shaking his head. “You’re right. I know you are. It’s hard not being in control.”

Sutton chuckled. “As I recall, that’s what made you hard,” she smirked, patting Danny’s reddening cheek, and turned to head over to Jack. Danny shook his head, bewildered by Sutton’s comment.

Lula had just gotten up, a smirk on her face. Sutton scrunched her eyebrows together as she looked at her. Once Danny regained consciousness, he met Jack and Sutton. “Okay, so there’s a marketplace down the street,” Danny explained as Jack stood, “and I’m meeting a man with a blue hat. I’ll give the stick to the right people and get us home.”

“Go grab, Merritt, okay, Jack?” Sutton said. “Oh, and, uh, don’t forget your belt,” she winked.

“Oh, it’s not- she took it off me-” Jack struggled for an answer. Danny and Sutton raised their hands as if to say “not my problem.” “You know damn well if Sutton took your belt off, Danny, you would-” Sutton glared back at Jack as Danny rubbed the back of his neck. “Yep, you’re right. Totally not the right time for that joke.”

~~

Once the Horsemen finally returned to the Sands to stay for the night, they were escorted to a five bedroom suite, courtesy of the lovely Walter Mabry. The living area looked very much like Walter’s, giving Sutton a creepy vibe as she sat on the couch. She swirled her neck, the joints cracking. She gave herself a bear hug, her shoulders popping.

“Damn, I haven’t heard bones crack like that since I lived with my grandfather,” Lula stated, sitting beside Sutton.

Sutton chuckled. “It’s all from stress, trust me. That’s what caring too much does to you.” She glanced back at Danny who was engaged in a conversation with Merritt and Jack.

Lula cleared her throat, drawing Sutton’s attention to her. “So, um, I have a really dumb question to ask you. Totally won’t be offended if you don’t want to answer.”

Sutton smiled. “Dumb questions get you dumb answers, you know?” Lula smiled lightly. “What’s up?”

Lula huffed. “So, back at the magic shop, Jack told me that every girl he gets close to, he takes their trust.”

“And their wallet?” Sutton said. Lula lifted an eyebrow. Sutton chuckled. “Yeah, he’s told me all of that. Jack is my best friend, Lula.”

“Trust me, that’s very clear,” Lula laughed. “I don’t get it, though. The two of you are extremely close. What makes you different?” Sutton scrunched her eyebrows together. “I don’t mean different in a bad way! God, no. I mean, just, you know, different that he trusts you with so much.”

Sutton sighed. “Back when we first went into hiding, I asked Dylan why he left me the Tower as my tarot card.” Lula stared at her, obviously confused. “Sorry, um, when he recruited us to become the Horsemen, Dylan left us each a card. In some ways, the cards reflected on us.”

“Let me guess, Danny was the Lovers?” Lula stated with a smirk.

Sutton chuckled. “Yes, he was, as irony would have it. Henley was the High Priestess, Merritt the Hermit, and Jack was Death.” Lula sucked in a breath. “Trust me, it freaked him out on more than one occasion. Anyway, I asked Dylan why I was chosen to be the Tower. He said to me that I was chosen to be part of the Horsemen because the others needed me for more than my abilities.” Sutton smiled to herself as she recalled Dylan’s words. “Henley needed me because I’m her family, her blood family. Merritt needed someone who he felt responsible for, someone who made him feel like a family again. Jack needed a best friend, someone to call family, someone to trust.”

 Lula nodded. “So, Jack never really saw you as someone to fall for?” Sutton shook her head. “And you were never interested in him?” Sutton smiled, nodding her confirmation. “Damn, you’re really dumb for such a brilliant woman.

Sutton laughed. “Thanks a lot.”

Lula smiled. “What about Danny? What was Dylan’s reason for bringing you on for Danny?”

Sutton sighed. “Dylan said that he thinks Danny needed me the most. He needed someone to deflate his head and match him intellectually.” Lula laughed as Sutton side smiled. “But, I needed him just as much. Apparently, we both needed love after never truly feeling it, or after believing it never existed at all.”

Lula sighed. “Not needed, Sutton.” Sutton crinkled her eyebrows. “You said you both “needed” love. You still need it, in the present and future tense. You and Danny were meant to fall in love, not out of it.”

“Lula-”

“Just let me finish, okay?” Lula took Sutton’s hands, wrapping her own around them. “I see the way the two of you still look at each other, Sutton. Ever since we got here, all he has done is try to protect you, in his own weird ways.” Sutton snorted a laugh. “I think his real reason for telling Walter we would do this crazy thing is because of you. Walter’s ultimatum was “do it or be killed.” Danny couldn’t risk that. He couldn’t risk losing you in the actual, physical sense. God, he even held your hand when you were scared on multiple occasions. He truly loves you, Sutton.”

Sutton gave Lula a light smile, then let out a sigh. “I miss him, you know?” She looked back at Danny who was now deep in thought as he looked at his phone, trying to figure out his plan. “So, so much. I miss kissing him whenever I want. I miss our stupid arguments about nothing in particular, and then-” Sutton cut herself off, feeling her face heat up.

Lula laughed. “It’s crazy how much two people can miss each other, even when they still see each other every day.” She stood, pulling Sutton up with her. “He misses you like crazy, Sutton. He loves you more than I think even he knows.” Lula pulled Sutton into a hug. “Promise me you’ll be back together before we leave Macau?”

Sutton sighed. “I hope for that more than anything.”

Lula patted her shoulder. “Get some sleep tonight, okay?”

Sutton smiled as Lula turned, walking toward the room Jack just came out of. “Lula, don’t be me,” she joked.

“Hey, like Chase said- what happens in Macau…” Sutton shook her head, laughing.

[jb3islife]

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

The Horsemen’s jeep pulled up to an extravagant building. “Just follow the guards,” Chase explained. “They’ll take you to my boss.” The Horsemen unloaded from the jeep. “Been fun playing this cat and mouse with you, broski,” Chase told Merritt. “Meow.” Merritt flipped him off in his own unique way. “Have fun at the Sands!”

The guards ushered the Horsemen into the building. They passed various gambling games as they walked.

“I am so, so, so sorry,” Merrritt profusely apologized.

“Yeah, you should be,” Danny told him, receiving a “Daniel!” from Sutton. “Don’t ever accuse me of betraying us again, okay?”

The Horsemen followed the guards into an elevator, Sutton standing between Jack and Danny. She looked at Danny as he stood with his hand against the wall, looking quite attractive with his jaw clenched. Jack knocked on Sutton’s hand to draw her attention to him instead.

“So are you two…” Jack drug out. Sutton bit her lip, shaking her head in response.

“Do you guys ever think that The Eye is watching this?” Lula asked the group. “You know, maybe this isn’t what they want? At like the exact right moment, they’re gonna just swoop in and we’ll be like, “Yes, thank God you’re here! Thank God! Just in the knick of time, Eye!” And we’ll just celebrate and it was all worth it in the end?” The group responded with silence. “I don’t even really think that either, so it’s cool.”

Just then, the elevator dinged, the wrong set of doors opening and drawing the Horsemen’s attention to music escaping into the elevator. They all turned to see a figure dancing on what appeared to be a balcony.

“Oh!” the figure spoke as he turned around to face the Horsemen. “Tada! So happy to be working with you!”

The Horsemen looked at each other. “Is it just me or does he look extremely familiar?” Sutton questioned the others, receiving glares from the others.

“Please come in! Come in!” the man told them. The guards drug the Horsemen out of the elevator.

“Wait, sorry,” Danny said, “how are you working with us?”

“Well, as much as a magician who pulled a rabbit from a hat,” the man explained as he put his shoes on, “is working with that rabbit, we’ll be working together, yes.” The man started toward them. “Uh, allow me to introduce myself.”

“Yeah, you’re Walter Mabry,” Jack responded. “You died a year ago.” 

Sutton shook her head. “Nope, that’s not right,” she muttered to herself. Danny elbowed her. “I know him from somewhere else! I promise!” Sutton whispered.

“Yes, an idea I got from you, Mr. Wilder,” Walter responded. “As well as you, Ms. Reeves.” He gave Sutton a smile. “You fake your death and the world puts its guard down. I’m able to control quite a few companies, including my old partner, Owen’s, through a consortium of so-called anonymous shareholders.”

“And that violates how many SEC laws?” Lula questioned him.

“I believe it breaks all of them,” Walter happily confirmed for her.

Lula faked a gasp. “All of them.”

“You see, you all want an audience,” Walter explained. “Need one, desperately. It’s quite sad, really. Hence my ability to nab you. I, on the other hand, want the opposite of that. I just want to be, and I am, 100% off the grid. You know why?”

“Yeah, because the grid is for actual human beings,” Danny responded.

Walter chuckled. “No, because in a world of total surveillance, the only true freedom lies in not being seen. You can’t control the grid from within the grid. Follow me.” Walter walked off, but the Horsemen stayed in place. “Follow me.” The guards pushed the Horsemen toward Walter.

“You pulled a hat out of a rabbit,” Walter said to Lula. “That was very colorful.”

“Almost eight and a half years ago,” Lula reminded him. “So no need to bring that up.”

“We can’t all be held accountable for adolescent personas, can we, Magicolio?” Walter asked Danny.

“Magicoli- That-That was fifteen years ago,” Danny said, looking down. Sutton raised an eyebrow as the others took glances at Danny.

“Don’t get me wrong, I love magic,” Walter stated. “Like you and many others who I suppose weren’t getting any sex in high school, I, uh, I dabbled with it. But, huh, unlike you, I was able to transition upward to actual magic.” Walter gestured toward the corner of the room. “Science, you may have heard it called. So, would you like to know, my friends, just how I got you here?”

“Mhm, we know how you did it,” Merritt responded.

“No, you don’t.”

“Yeah, you stole our files for the show, “Jack stated as Walter tried to stop him. 

“Then obviously hypnotized us,” Sutton added.

Merritt continued, “The strobe was a combo of binaural beats as well as-”

“I said stop!” Walter shouted, placing his hands on Merritt’s face. “You may not be having fun, but I am!”

The Horsemen each grimaced at the man. “You have an unusual way of showing it,” Merritt told Walter.

[jb3islife]

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

“Wait, what are you saying?” Danny questioned Merritt. “How is this possible?”

An eerie laugh sounded, drawing the Horsemen’s attention to the person. “I believe in your particular parlance, the word is “magic,”” the voice responded as the person spun around in their chair.

The jaws of every Horseman dropped. “That guy looks exactly like you!” Lula told Merritt who stood frozen. “He looks exactly like you. Are you seeing this right now?”

Sutton pulled on Merritt’s sleeve. “Is that your…?”

Merritt responded with a nod. “Chase.”

Chase smiled. “Must confess- it’s like what I heard about meeting the Rolling Stones. They’re a lot shorter in person.”

“Remember I told you about the guy who screwed me out of everything?” Merritt asked the Horsemen. “This is my twin brother, Chase.” Chase faked his flattery.

“Wait, did you do this?” Danny asked, stepping toward Chase. Men from all over the restaurant stood, shouting at Danny. Some grabbed onto the other Horsemen. Sutton pulled on Danny’s hand to stop him from moving any further.

Chase laughed. “As you can see, my boss doesn’t mess around.”

“I do not understand what is going on right now,” Lula stated, “at all.”

“Okay, let me break it down for you,” Chase replied. “You jumped off a rooftop in New York and you landed in Macau, AKA the Vegas of China, and, presto chango- don’t you just love it? The “greatest” magicians in the world are the object of someone else’s magic trick. Isn’t that poetic?” The Horsemen glanced at one another. “No? You know what- I’m not gonna let you guys yuck my yum. Shoo shoo, or moo shu. Whatever.”

The men holding the Horsemen shoved them out of the restaurant. “Oh, and you know what they say- what happens in Macau…” Chase’s voice trailed off.

The Horsemen were thrown into large black jeeps and driven down the streets of Macau.

“Are you okay?” Danny asked Sutton as the two sat beside each other, bumping into one another as the jeep drove on.

Sutton gave him a light smile. “I’m fine, Danny. I can take care of myself.”

Danny huffed. “I know. I’m just-”

“Frustrated?” Sutton smirked. Danny nodded. Sutton looked down. “I’m nervous,” Sutton muttered.

“Hey,” Danny whispered, picking up her chin, “don’t be nervous. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Sutton bit her lip. “I know you won’t.” She stared up at Danny in awe, seeing the man she had fallen in love with again for the first time in a long time.

“How can you two be so adorable at a time like this?” Merritt complained, drawing the attention of Jack and Lula.

“Are you gonna kiss?” Lula cooed.

Jack rolled his eyes. “Don’t be stupid. Danny hasn’t proven himself yet.”

Danny glared at Jack. “How do you even-”

“It’s all about blindspots,” Chase interrupted, Sutton silently thanking the creep. “When you’re staring straight at something and not see it. Why? Blindspots. We learned that together, didn’t we, bro?” Chase questioned Merritt. Merritt rolled his eyes. ”Did he tell you that we were partners once? No, I didn’t think so. The Mini-McKinneys.” Merritt sucked in his lower lip, ready to burst. “Chasey and Mer-Bear, gonna make ya scare-bear. Ma-Ma-Magic McKinneys.”

Merritt huffed, covering his face. “Cool,” Lula responded to Chase’s story.

“And then one day,” Chase continued, “we were twelve, and, uh, Virginia von welsheim had a very nice party down the street. I had a little tum-tum, couldn’t go. Mer-Bear did it on his own and got a taste of the solo thing, and, uh, kicked me to the curb.”

“Oh, God,” Jack sighed.

“Chase, you win!” Merritt yelled. “I concede. Just tell me how you did it.”

“Delivery guy came to your door, hmm, about a month ago,” Chase explained. “A little ‘za.”

“‘Za?’” Danny questioned.

“Pizza,” Sutton responded for Merritt.

“So what he did, my little womb-mate, is he, uh, downloaded all your private information.” Everyone glared at Merritt. “And my employer had all he needed.”

“Thanks,” Danny told him. Sutton hit him. “How did you know how to find him?” Danny asked Chase.

“That’s a very good question, Atlas,” Chase responded, pretending to lock his lips and throw out the key.

“Okay,” Danny responded, giving Merritt another glare.

Merritt sighed, guilt filling him. Sutton patted his leg in comfort. “It’s not your fault,” Sutton reminded Merritt.

“What?” Lula and Jack yelled.

“Sutton, don’t be ridiculous,” Danny told her.

Sutton glared at the others. “Oh, don’t act like you boys have never been hypnotized by me.” Jack and Danny looked at one another. “And should I explain what I made you each do?” They gave her pleading eyes. “Jack, you had to…”

“Don’t say it,” Jack muttered.

“...sing “I’m burnin’ up, burnin’ up, for you, baby” every time someone said, “I’m hot” for an entire week,” Sutton smirked. Jack slapped a palm to his face as Danny and Lula chuckled.

Merritt laughed. “This explains so much.”

“And you,” Sutton turned to Danny, a smile playing on her lips.

“You wouldn’t,” Danny challenged her.

Sutton raised an eyebrow. “You’re right. Better keep it PG.”

The others groaned. “This is so unfair!” Jack whined.

Sutton chuckled. “Maybe one day when we’re not in such a… compromising position.”

“Just give us a hint!” Lula pleaded. “Was it for your benefit? Danny’s?” Her eyes darted between the two. Danny’s blushed deepened even more. Sutton bit her lip. “Sutton, you naughty girl! Taking advantage of young Daniel like that!”

“God, now I need to know!” Merritt begged.

Jack grimaced disgustedly. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

[jb3islife]

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

“As the Horsemen like to say,” spoke an eerie voice to the audience, “magic is about controlling perception. You see them as champions of the truth, but are they, or is that just another one of their illusions?”

Sutton ran out from backstage and into the crowd, frantically searching for Jack.

“So since they clearly love secrets, let’s reveal some of theirs.” 

“Danny, everyone, get off the stage,” Dylan’s voice commanded through the earpiece. “Abort! Jack, go with them. I’ll see you at the meeting point.” Sutton’s eyes flew through the crowd. Finally, she saw him.

“Do you recall the deaths of Jack Wilder and Sutton Reeves?” 

Jack grabbed Sutton as they met in the crowd. “We need to get out of here now,” he told her, his eyes wide.

“What if I told you they’re not just alive, but they’re actually right here!”

Sutton and Jack froze, a spotlight blinding them. People in the crowd started yelling for them as photos were snapped. Sutton pulled on Jack, and they began to run.

“And do you know who else is here? The FBI! Let’s let them in, shall we?” the Horsemen heard as they reached the exit of the building, leaving the voice locked inside.

“We gotta get to the chute!” Jack yelled behind Sutton. “Go!”

“Who are those guys?” Lula shouted back.

“Who cares?” Sutton responded as she climbed a ladder behind Danny. “Come on! Keep going!”

“How the hell could this have happened?” Merritt questioned. “I thought Dylan had everything under control.”

“Yeah, apparently he didn’t,” Danny responded as they took out his headset. “You okay?” He asked Sutton.

Sutton smiled weakly. “Besides coming back from the dead in a way I didn’t want to, sure. Just peachy.” Danny gave her a side smile, brushing a few hairs out of her face.

“You know,” Merritt continued, “maybe you’re the leak, Dan. Where have you been sneaking off to?” Sutton’s eyes grew.

“Don’t do that,” Danny yelled back. “Don’t you dare for a second insinuate that I had anything to do with this.”

“I’m not insinuating anything!”

“Let’s get to the truck! Come on!” Jack yelled at the three.

They ran to the pipe they needed to take to the truck, everyone sliding in, Sutton after Jack. As they slid, Sutton heard what sounded like a voice talking to her. Suddenly, she became sleepy, then everything went black.

~~

“Ahhh!” Sutton screamed as she landed with a jolt. She sat up, seeing Jack beside her. “Oh, thank goodness. I’m not dead!” She hugged Jack who gave a light chuckle.

“But I am,” Lula complained as she pushed Danny out of the laundry bin she was sharing with him.

“What the hell is going on?” Jack asked once they all had brushed themselves off.

“Wasn’t there supposed to be a truck?” Lula questioned.

“Where the hell are we?” Danny asked.

The people in the kitchen they were somehow in started yelling in a language none of them understood. One of them grabbed Danny and Jack.

“Hey, hey!” Danny yelled. “Wait, did you misrun the tube?”

“No, I put it in the truck!” Jack confirmed. “I know I did!”

“Yeah? Because we’re really not in the truck right now.”

“Somebody must have moved the tube,” Merritt clarified. “Were we above a Chinese restaurant?” Someone stole his fedora and he grabbed it back.

Suddenly, they were all pushed out some doors, Sutton knocking into Danny who helped her stand up right.

“Okay,” Danny said, “why are we here?” Sutton grabbed Danny’s hand, fear rushing through her. He interlocked their fingers tightly, his actions pulling at Sutton’s heart as she moved to his side.

“Why am I freaking starving?” Lula questioned her stomach.

“Yeah, I’m weirdly starving too,” Jack admitted. 

“This makes no freaking sense,” Merritt stated, rushing out of the restaurant. 

Danny ran a hand over his head, trying to make sense of everything. “None of this adds up,” Sutton told him in an attempt to calm Danny down.

A lady with a sizzling plate pushed past Lula. “Sorry!” Lula apologized. “At least, and I know this isn’t much consultation, but apparently we’re now surrounded by Chinese food. Right?”

“Guys,” Merritt emerged, “I think where we are right now, they don’t refer to it as Chinese food. It’s just called… food.”

[jb3islife]

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

“It’s all in the wrist,” Jack told Merritt as they waited outside the Horsemen Hideout for Danny and Sutton. “Let the momentum of the card do the work for you.”

“Mhm,” Merritt agreed, rolling his eyes.

“This last one, I call the stall.” Jack threw the card, it coming to a perfect stop on the rusted car.

Merritt whistled. “Not bad. Now you want to see a thing of beauty?”

“I do indeed.”

“Here you go, and bingo bango bongo!” Merritt exclaimed, the cards he had thrown falling into a lame pile.

Jack nodded. “That’s good. No, no, no, it’s good to be positive despite making zero progress in a year.” Merritt agreed. “Whereas when it comes to hypnotism, the student has almost become the master.”

“I like your confidence,” Merritt told the pickpocket, “but you might say that you have the better teacher.”

Jack played along. “You’re right, you’re right. Your teacher definitely doesn’t know what he’s doing.” Jack flicked cards through the air. “By the way, was this your card yesterday?” he asked after catching the one he was looking for.

“In fact it was,” Merritt marveled.

“I thought so.” Jack sliced the air with a card. A loud clap sounded in the dimly lit alley.

“Not too bad,” Sutton smiled at them as she made her appearance. Jack and Merritt greeted her. “Ace of spades?” Sutton clicked her tongue. “Very predictable, Merritt.”

Merritt shrugged. “Where’s Ass-las?”

Jack rolled his eyes. “You just love calling him that, don’t you?” Merritt smiled widely in confirmation.

Sutton sighed. “Don’t know.”

Merritt and Jack exchanged a glance. “What do you mean?” Merritt questioned.

“Look, guys,” Sutton started, “it’s really not a big deal.”

“Did he cheat on you?” Jack interrupted.

“Why does everyone keep assuming Danny cheated on me?” Sutton asked. She let out a frustrated huff. “No, he didn’t cheat on me. Danny just did something that made me not trust him.”

“Awe, Sut,” Merritt cried, wrapping her in a hug.

“It’s okay, though,” Sutton said, clearing her throat and wiping at her eyes. “We are just taking a break. It’s not forever. I know Danny knows what he did was wrong. I just know, I don’t know how, but I know he will find a way to fix us, make us ‘Sutlas’ again.” Merritt gasped and fangirled at Sutton’s use of his nickname for the couple. She gave him a light smile.

Jack smiled at her. “I never saw this side of you before, Sutton.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Whatever it is that happened, I’m glad you are handling it well. If you have faith in Danny, I do too.” Sutton smiled up at her best friend.

“How’s Ass-las handling it?” Merritt asked, while Jack cursed him for using the lame nickname once more.

Sutton shrugged. “I don’t know.”

“If he has any sense in him, he will be a mess when he gets here,” Merritt told her. Just then, a motorcycle roared. Sutton turned, knowing fully well it was Danny.

“I’m going to go in a while, okay?” Sutton told the two as she watched Danny remove his helmet. She gulped. Danny was attractive as he was, but the motorcycle put him over the top. Shaking her head, Sutton headed inside to wait for the guys.

A minute later, Sutton heard Danny’s voice. “Okay, somebody broke into my apartment, alright? Some amateur who knew everything about me, everything about-”

“Wait, what?” Sutton interrupted, stepping in Danny’s path.

“S-Sutton,” Danny stuttered. He cleared his throat and gave her his signature smile.

In the dim light, Sutton could tell Danny had dark circles under his eyes. He was crying, Sutton figured, after she left. All Sutton wanted to do was wrap her arms around the man she loved, but she knew she couldn’t give in that easily. She needed to teach Danny a hard lesson. Sutton shook herself back to reality. “Who broke into our apartment?”

Danny shook his own head, disappointed that she didn’t want to talk to him about anything except business. “She-she knew everything about us. The Horsemen, that is. Everything about Henley leaving.” The group of four walked up to the railing. “That’s her.”

“Hey!” the woman from the apartment greeted them.

[jb3islife]

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.

[jb3islife]

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.