Page 12 of Siege of Blood and Betrayal

Yikes, that’s embarrassing. How long does it take for squire magic to settle? Why had I never thought to ask?

Tucker meets my gaze, his eyes flashing gold before settling back to a warm whisky color. He releases my wrist and raises his palms. “I didn’t mean to overstep. It’s just that Jack told me to help. You’re bleeding and a little disoriented. You can’t think you’re better off on your own, can you?”

“Absolutely. No offense, but I’ve got a shitty night ahead of me and the sooner I get started, the better my chances of surviving.”

“And those chances would improve if we stuck together.”

“Sorry. I’m not looking for a sidekick.”

A long growl rumbles through the air, and I glance toward the subway tracks to see where it’s coming from. When I glance back, Tucker’s chin is down, and his posture is menacing. “I’m nobody’s sidekick, blondie.”

The hair on my arms stands on end. “Fine. Sorry. Then I’m not interested in hooking up with you. How’s that?”

His brow arches and his mouth quirks up at the side. “Strike two. Even under the grief and panic, I can smell your reaction tome. Under different circumstances, you’d definitely be game for hooking up.”

Good grief. Somebody save me from hot alpha males.“Thanks for the offer and thanks again for the assist, but I’m good. If you really want to help, please go back and check on Jack. I’ve already lost two men I love tonight. I don’t want Jack to be a third.”

Leaving Tucker glaring at me, I tap my pass to the screen of the access turnstile, step through, and jog to the closest platform. It doesn’t matter what direction or destination, because I’m just covering my tracks and making sure no one is following me.

I scan the sea of bodies surging around me, searching for anyone looking suspicious or out of place. The subway platform is crowded, the hum of everyday life oblivious to the chaos swallowing me up.

Well, not entirely oblivious—people are staring at me.

Why? What’s the big deal?

Have they never seen a girl with her cheek ripped open and blood oozing from the nasty gash through her favorite Matchbox Twenty concert T-shirt?

Right.I’ll clean up a bit the first chance I get.

The train rumbles into the station, and I board, slipping into a seat at the end of the car so I can hide the blood and watch the doors.

“King Station, next stop. Stand clear of the doors, please.”A moment after the conductor’s words echo over the speaker system, the train lurches forward and I allow myself a moment to breathe.

Pulling out my phone, I start to text Jack, but stop and stare at the screen. I debate between my duty to make Zane my only focus and my desire to check on a man I’ve looked up to and loved my entire life.

With a sigh, I turn off my phone and pull out my SIM card. I can’t risk being tracked. Jack has weathered storms like this for decades, and hopefully Tucker will go back and help him. I can’t dwell on Jack now.

Be safe, old man. I love you.

My focus needs to be on finding Zane and securing the dagger. And also holding it together when I see him. I’m not twenty-one anymore and he’s no longer my best friend.

Still, it’ll wreck me to tell him our fathers have both been murdered.

My steak soft taco takes another valiant run at spewing up my throat. I close my eyes and lock my emotions down, willing my fast-food choice to stay where it is.

Right and tight. Locked and loaded.

I’ll pull out every tough guy metaphor Da and Jack ever barked at me if it helps me keep it together long enough to survive the night.

CHAPTER THREE

Scottie

The subway’s jostling rattle mimics the jolting chaos in my mind. As the train slows to a stop at the third station of my ‘hop on, change direction, hop off’ trip, I slip onto the platform and make my way with the crowd.

There are enough people in Toronto’s downtown core on a Blue Jays game night that it’s easy to get lost in a sea of royal blue. And the fact that they’re a spirited and boisterous crowd takes the attention off the shellshocked blonde girl who is noticeably bleeding.

Keeping my head low and my pace brisk, I find the public washroom and follow the curve of the tiled wall inside the ladies’ room. There’s a long line of sinks on my left and stalls on my right, so I continue to the sink at the very end.

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