Page 33 of H E R

The late afternoon sun bites at our skin, beaming down on us ruthlessly. It feels like I invited the sun to hop into my backpack, and now I’m carrying a ball of fucking fire on my back. I miss the rare bout of rain we had and wish I would’ve appreciated it.

I have no idea who I’m meeting, and the entire thing has me on edge. I don’t want Jule to notice, though. He’s so brave and eager, and I don’t want to be a little bitch and cause him to feel anything but confidence. We reach the run down tavern and I notice my brother square hisshoulders. I keep wondering when the fuck he grew up on me, but I’m glad he’s doing a fine job for a fourteen-year-old. He’s more responsible and mature than I ever was at his age. In fact, I used to be a fucking snob until I stared the grim reaper in the face.

The metal door creaks open and we rush inside to avoid being spotted. My eyes take time to adjust, and the darkness claws at my scalp. What the fuck did I get us into?

A familiar sing-song voice clears the air. “It’s about fucking time.”

Piper.

I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding and unclench my fists. Jule’s shoulders relax and he’s smiling like a fucking idiot.

“What’s with the secrecy?” I retort.

She nods, directing me to sit down on a stool perched up by the bar. “We need to talk about your latest post.”

Jule’s eyes grow, and he pops his gum loudly before letting out a whistle of air. He leans on the bar behind me as Piper takes a seat next to me.

“What about it?” I shrug.

A couple of days after I caughtel cerroin his hole of nasty, I posted the video along with a disclaimer that the surveillance was handed to me anonymously. This was only after Jas threatened to take it down herself if I admitted to recording it. It became the newest scandal. The mayor was immediately swarmed with paparazzi, and his lawyers were scrambling to poke holes into my information. I hold back a giggle at recalling an article titledLittle Justice League Wannabe isn’t Credible and Here’s Why. The mayor owned the press, and they were desperate.

Once the initial spur of attention died down, he became a regular atNym-Pho, only I had yet to see him attend. A place likeNym-Phopromised discretion and anonymity. Of course, he’d end up there.

Piper looks behind her, to the same guy that asked me to present myself, and nods. He rounds the bar and calmly takes a glass, dumps three ice rounds, then pours whisky into it. She gratefully takes it and throws it back. Piper moves it toward him and when he fills it a second time, she chucks it back again. “Another,” she heaves.

Jule squeezes my shoulder and I speak his thoughts out loud. “What the fuck is going on, Piper?”

She lets out a strangled breath and stares at me. “I know you’re the one who recorded it, but he’s convinced it wasme.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Stop the bullshit. I know it was you!” Piper yells and takes the glass and throws it back once more. “Carlton is my father, Justice! Mace and I just barely got away, and now he’s hunting me down because he thinks I’ve caught his sick ass on video.”

Oh shit. I wasn’t crazy when I saw similarities between the three. Staring at him to figure out who he reminded me of practically burned my eyes off. But why are Piper and Macy in hiding?Whatis she hiding?

“What did he do to you?”

As soon as the question is out, I regret it. Piper deflates before me, the wall she’s built crumbles, and her shoulders tremble. I guess it helps that her sister isn’t around.

“He raped me.” Her words are barely audible, and I’m not sure Jule even heard her, but when he digs his fingers into my shoulder, I know he did.

“And Macy?”

Her eyes snap to mine. “The night we left, I stopped him from…” She chokes on a sob, and I nod to let her know I get what she can’t say.

The man approaches her, and he’s in visible pain, his shoulders quaking slightly. He places his hands on her shoulders and it’s then that she takes a breath and stabilizes herself by wiping tears that haven’t yet fallen. It’s like she’s warning her sockets to sponge up any and all traces of moisture. Behind her, the guy gives me a cautioning glare.

“I figure he wouldn’t assume we would pose as sex workers, so that’s what we’ve been doing. Until Vork and his men caught us, and then my plan blew up in our faces.”

Jule’s voice startles me. “We can help you out of this. Nik, we’re going to get them to safety. We can’t let him find them.”

I resist rolling my eyes because even though we can offer protection, I’m not so sure it’s what Piper wants. I’ve never hidden elite patrons. This would not only be dangerous, butcompletelynew territory for us. But the voice my brother uses is authoritative, and he isn’t asking me. He’s made up his mind, and he’s ordering me to offer aghost statusto them.

“What are you offering?” Piper’s guy finally speaks.

I sigh. “Normally, there’s a firm understanding that this is strictly confidential and sensitive information.” I steer my attention to Piper.

“Damn it, Nik. We did this and now we’re going to fix it. Fuck protocol!” Jule’s fist slams on the bar, and I freeze, frustration threatening to spark into anger. But I diffuse it by breathing slowly.

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