Page 112 of Rules

I frown, pulling the zipper on my jacket before I leave Joe’s. “I’m not sure…”

“Don’t say it,” Lia pleads. “You have to come.”

The blast of cold air hits me as soon as I get outside. Burrowing my chin deeper into my scarf, I try to reason with her. “It’s on the other side of town, and it’s so freaking cold…”

My voice dies as I bump into somebody. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…” I lift my eyes to meet a pair of almost black irises looking back at me. They pierce into me, cold and lifeless as a slow, creepy smile spreads over his lips.

Stunned, I take a step back.

“Brook?” Lia asks on the other end of the line, but I’m left speechless. Goosebumps cover my skin, and they have nothing to do with the cold January air making my blood freeze.

I’ve never seen the guy before—I would have been fine to keep it that way, but I guess destiny has other plans for me—but I’ve heard the stories and whispers. Standing just a few inches away from me, dressed all in black is Dan. Josephine’s bookie slash junkie slash whatever the hell else he is.

“Brook? Are you there?”

My fingers clench the phone to the point of pain.

“Y-yes,” I stutter, and the guy’s smile grows even bigger. “I-I’ll call you back.”

“But…” Lia starts, but I don’t have time to listen, especially not with this creep clinging to every word, so I hang up.

Silence settles over us, and I can feel his gaze roam over my body, an uncomfortable, tingling sensation left in the way of his probing stare. “You look just like your mother.”

“I’m nothing like my mother,” I spit. Almost as soon as the words are out, the realization of what I did hits me. I just smart-mouthed the most dangerous man on this side of town. But instead of being offended, those soulless eyes glimmer under the streetlight.

“And she has claws too.”

Dan takes a step closer, entering my personal space. I inhale sharply, but I don’t move a muscle. No way am I letting him see my fear. I can only hope my pride won’t be the end of me.

My throat bobbles as his hand reaches forward, fingers brushing against my cheek. “What I would do to you…”

Bile rises in my throat at his touch. I turn my head to the side, breaking his hold on me. “What do you want, Dan?” I ask, done with playing games.

“I just came to issue a little warning.”

“Your business is with Josephine, not me.”

“Maybe,” he offers. “But we both know your mother, and if she doesn’t pay up…”

The warning—no, not a warning, apromise—in his voice is more than obvious.

If for a second I thought I’d get out of this unscathed, I was wrong. So very wrong.

Damn you, Josephine.

He comes closer, his lips brushing against my earlobe as he leans down and whispers. “The clock is ticking, little Taylor. And you do not want to find out what happens to the people who don’t pay up on time. I was more than generous to begin with.”

My eyes close, a shudder running through my body. His grip on my shoulder loosens, and I can hear his faint footsteps leave.

I wait until he’s out of earshot, and only then do I open my eyes.

I tried to avoid it, but there is only one way out.

I thought I had more time.

But the hard reality is, time waits for no one. And I just ran out of mine.

Chapter Forty-Three

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