Page 44 of Bloody Kingdom

With a two-finger salute, the man disappears into the crowd without looking back at me.

Case in hand, I think over my next moves. The lock on it doesn’t look as complicated as I thought at first glance. Honestly, with a bobby pin or piece of wire, I could have this open in minutes. I didn’t learn a lot from my mom or dad, but picking a lock is something that came in handy. Especially when the landlord would change the locks of our trailer when my mom didn’t have the cash to pay the rent. When my mom was too drunk to do it herself, I’d pick the lock to let us back in. Eventually she’d con enough money to pay the guy, but it was a vicious circle that never ended.

I don’t want to open the case right here on the street or in some alley. St. Sin comes to mind. I can sneak in really quick and use their bathroom or break room to open the case. Risky, but my mind is made up.

With my head down, I head in the opposite direction of the car that Della sent me. Intoxicated people run into me, slurring their apologies to me as I go. On the clock and quickly running out of time, I pick up my pace, not giving a shit when dirty looks are passed in my direction.

One of the promoters trying to get people to come drink at the bar he works in gets in my way. As he gets in my personal space, trying to smooth talk and bribe me into entering the bar, I try my best to politely tell him no and get around him. But he’s annoyingly persistent.

The hair on the back of my neck rises as my anxiety increases. Feeling slightly paranoid, I glance over my shoulder at the crowd behind me, I don’t expect to find a man with a hood over his head already looking at me.

Thinking it’s just a fluke, I stare back at him, but he doesn’t flinch or make any move to turn away. Instead, his eyes trail down my body until they lock onto the case in my hand.

Oh shit.

Call it intuition, but instantly I know what’s about to happen. Without a second thought or glance back at him, I take off like a bullet through the crowd. Déjà vu to the night that Gallo’s men chased me hits me, but this time, I don’t think Duke or Silas will be able to come to my rescue. The only person who knows I’m here is Della and she’s an hour away.

Thankfully, I’m wearing my slip-on tennis shoes this time instead of my pumps, I move faster and easier. I can’t believe that this is happening to me again. The constant fearing for my life bullshit is getting old.

On pure instinct, I continue on the path to St. Sin, but I quickly decide that isn’t a good plan. Who knows what kind of weapons this man has on him. The last thing I want to do is lead an armed man into the bar my best friend works at.

On a desperate whim, I dash into the souvenir shop as I pass it. I have no idea if he saw me slip in here and I’m not about to lose my momentum and check behind me.

I’ve been in this shop before, I know there’s a back exit I can leave through. The woman working the register yells at me for running through her store. Without looking at her, I offer an apology over my shoulder as I slam through the back metal door.

I don’t stop when I make it to the back alley. My legs keep pushing me faster and faster through the narrow space. I’m not sure what direction I’m headed now, but I don’t stop moving.

Clumsily, I reach for my phone in my back pocket. I don’t care that this call is about to land me in an ass-load of trouble, I need help and he’s the best chance I’ve got.

The sound of the line ringing is barely audible over the rushing of adrenaline in my ears. My ragged breathing also makes it hard to hear when he finally picks up the line. “Quincey? What’s going on?”

“Duke!” I shout. “I don’t have time to answer questions. I just need you to listen to me.”

“Are you running? What’s all that noise?” He can clearly hear the bustling sound of streets around me.

“No questions!” I bark at him. “Della sent me instead of her to pick up whatever it is that Silas asked her to get. The metal case, Duke, I have the metal case and I’m being chased because of it.”

There’s a loud bang on his side of the phone, followed by a harsh curse. “What the fuck! Where are you now?”

“I’m running up St. Louis now, but I don’t know where I should go, Duke.” Panic bubbles up in my chest and my world starts to become hazy, my brain no longer able to focus on anything but keeping me moving forward.

“Shit, he’s going to lose his fucking mind,” I barely hear Duke mumble. “Q, listen to me, keep moving, don’t stop. I’m coming for you, make it to the—”

I didn’t see the group of drunk tourists until it was too late. I slam into them like a freight train, sending a group of us to the ground. My knee and hands burn in pain as I skid across the concrete on my stomach. People yell and shout, but I don’t really hear what they say. My focus is getting to the case that has flown a few feet in front of me. My phone is nowhere to be seen in the fray of bodies and feet around me.

As fast as possible, I scramble to my feet. My fingers just circle around the handle of the metal case when I spot him, and this time he’s not alone.

“Shit.”

The two men nod to each other, silently communicating with each other as they plan their attack. Like predators coming for their prey. In a desperate attempt to slow them down, I scream, “Help! They’re trying to hurt me! Someone stop them!”

People passing by slow down and stare at the men I point at. They whisper amongst themselves, a few of them shift to look in the men’s direction. While their attention is on the diversion I created, I make a break for it. Not sure how long my head start will last, I don’t waste a single second.

I had no choice but to leave my phone behind. Duke was cut off, I have no idea where he was telling me to go. My only hope is that I can find a place to hide. Duke is resourceful and smart; he’ll be able to find me.

I hope.

It’s been decided, this is the last and only time I’m doing a favor for Della. If I make it out of this, she issogetting an earful from me.Hell,I might even beat her with this metal briefcase just to get my point across.

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