Page 99 of Semblance

He picked up on the first ring.

“Aria?”

“Shadow,” I cried. “She’s fucking dead.”

“My sister?” He sounded panicked.

Aria, you stupid girl, gather yourself together before this conversation went off the rails for both of us.

“No, not your sister,” I said. “The woman working the counter inside the coffee shop is dead.”

“Where is Calisto?” he asked, noticeably concerned.

I shook my head. “I don’t know. She went into the café and never came out. I went in to look for her, and when I did, the place was empty…the woman working the counter was dead on the floor…dead…murdered…violently.”

There was a brief pause.

“Where are you?”

“The Velvet Beanery on Ninth and Front,” I practically shouted into the phone.

I needed to calm the fuck down so I could think with a level head.

“Are you in the car?”

“Yes. Calisto had the keys though.”

“Stay inside and keep the windows rolled up and the doors locked,” Shadow said. “I’ll make sure someone comes and gets you right away.”

“She took the convertible.”

“Fucking hell…” There was a quick pause before Shadow spoke again. “I want you to reach down under the passenger seat.”

I did as he instructed and my hands brushed against something cold and metallic.

“Do you have it?” Shadow asked.

It was attached to Velcro straps, which I undid blindly. The next thing I knew, I was holding a small firearm in my hands.

“I’m holding a gun,” I stated.

“Good. If any stranger comes up to you, I want you to shoot them in the head.”

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“What if it’s some old woman, asking me to help her open a door or something?”

“Aria, I’m not joking,” Shadow said. “I need you to protect yourself.”

“Alright, in the head,” I agreed. “Fuck grandma.”

“I can’t even trust my own men anymore,” Shadow said. “I’m an hour out of town--too long for you to wait for me. I’m going to send Lincoln. I’ll have him over there as soon as possible.”

There was a long pause before Shadow finally added, “Stay safe.”

“I’ll try,” I replied.

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