Page 78 of Heritage of Fire

“I heard it in her voice, Mom. I’mgoing. Tell Dad—I couldn’t get him on the phone. I’m sending him the location right now.”

“Luna Buscetta, you donotgo in there. You wait for your father. You know?—”

I hang up. I don’t need to listen to this. I’m not leaving my sister. She needssomeone.

I work on sending my dad the pin while keeping my eyes on the road. New York traffic is insane tonight. My phone rings. It’s Frank.

“Where are you?” he asks, voice panicked.

“I had to go to my sister. She’s being held up at a club. I’m sorry, I couldn’t wait for you to get back, and Lev?—”

“Luna, you need to turn aroundrightnow. Or better yet, pull over. I’ll come to you. You cannot be alone.” I hear him running. The sound of a car door opening. “You cannot be alone,” he repeats. “Pull over.”

Why not? I’ve been alone all my life.

Alone when my parents decided I was good for only one thing.

Alone when I was forced to get married.

Alone in an apartment above a weapons warehouse.

Alone with my books.

Alone with my pain.

Alone with my desire.

A fire burns in my chest, pushing me forward with a single focus: get to Bella.

I park on the street, triple-checking the pin I was sent. This can’t be right. There’s nothing around. I don’t see any signs of a club nearby. No troves of people waiting to get in. No music.

I follow the pin to a brick building. It’s tall, but … empty? I keep walking around, dragging my fingers along the rough blocks.Come on, Luna, think!

There’s a dark alleyway up ahead. I stop before it, staring down to a dead end. Trash cans and a dumpster, and the smothering stench of garbage drifts out of the narrow passage toward me. There’s one door attached to the building, but it looks out of service.

My heart races and raw emotions grate at me, but I decide to at least take a look.

At first, it appears to be like any old door, but the signs quickly add up. Blinking red lights in the upper corner expose two cameras—high-tech and clearly in working order. And key card access is required to get inside. I raise my fist to knock, but something catches my attention. Uncurling my hand, I allow my fingers to graze the initials on the door.

EV.

Unease slams into me, and I turn my phone over in my hand several times before glancing back toward the alleyway entrance.I look at my phone again. Zero missed calls from Nikandmy father.

I pick my fist up and knock. A rush of adrenaline hits me as the door creaks and slides open, and music wafts out into the alley. I can make out some red walls?—

“Who are you?” A large man, probably double the size of Nik, stands in front of me. I would consider Nik a buff guy—biceps for days and well-defined muscles. Well, this man is all thatplus. He’s dressed in all black. Suit pants hug thick thighs, and his black button-up shirt is covered with a tactical vest. An earpiece dangles out of his left ear.

“I-I’m here for … someone. I know she’s in there.”

He smirks. “This is members only.”

“Iknowshe’s here.” I say, trying to sound confident. I hold up my phone. “She sent me her location. I suggest you let me get her before I make this a bigger problem for you.”

I’m surprised my voice doesn’t shake like the rest of my body, but I hold strong.

The man glares at my phone and puts his earpiece back in. Several moments of silence beat past as he listens to whoever’s speaking on the other end.

“This way,” he says finally.

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