Page 144 of The Reluctant Hero

“I didn’t steal Gabriel’s fucking money.”

“I don’t care. I’m here for you, nothing else.”

That should have been a heartwarming statement, but the way she says it makes me frown.

“What does that mean? We’ve hung out twice. I shouldn’t mean shit to you.”

“Normally, you wouldn’t,” she agrees readily. “But you see me. And today, I saw you.”

“What are you talking about?” My frown gets darker. Her invisibility crap is going to break what little is left of my mind.

“This morning, you wanted to give up. You were ready to stop fighting and become prey. You’re a predator. A new one that’s learning to use your teeth, but it’s there. I see you’ve perked up some with isolation, which is good.”

I don’t think I’ll ever understand this woman. That doesn’t make her wrong, though. Iwasgiving up this morning. All my support got yanked out from under me.

And now South is standing right here telling me to get in her truck so I can get revenge. Even if this is a trick, what do I have to lose?

My warning system hasn’t gone off. I’m not feeling anything dangerous coming my way. It came up and got worsethe further into the bunker I went. It showed up when Gabriel had me arrested and at the gym. If I start paying attention to it instead of brushing it off, I might have a better chance of survival.

It’s quiet now.

“Shade is his brother. That won’t make waves?” I take a few steps forward, almost against my will.

“Gabriel will pay what he owes,” she says as if it doesn’t matter.

That sounds like a hill of awesome I want to climb. There are a set of new problems, though. If she’s not with them, then being around me is a death sentence.

Unlesshersuperpower is real, too. I’m losing my mind, and I’m not chasing after it.

“I’m in trouble,” I tell her softly, keeping an eye on our surroundings. “I don’t know if you should be around me.”

She shrugs one shoulder casually. “I’ll deal with it.”

The blank look I give her doesn’t seem to faze her at all.

“I’mserious,” I insist through gritted teeth. “They’re trying to kill me.”

“I haven’t found him yet. When I do, Shade has asked if he can question him.”

I shake my head, trying to follow along, but I’m even more confused now.

“Who are you talking about?”

“The driver from Saturday. Get in the truck. Shade bought you a gift. Use it to collect what you’re owed.”

She strolls away with a staggering amount of confidence while I stand frozen. There’s a lot wrong with this scenario. Alot.

Balls to the wall, right? No pattern?

Screw it.

I catch up to her and keep pace to the white truck. My knee isn’t bothering me as badly now. Walking is much easier.She parked directly in the middle of the lot. There’s a long box in the front seat propped up. I shift it around so I can get in.

Something drops into my lap as I’m buckling up. When I look from the cushioned gloves to South, she smirks.

“That’s from me. Blisters would make you hesitate.”

She drives while I undo the tape holding the box closed. Inside is what looks like a metal cane. It has a bulb tip on one end that’s very familiar and a subtle tape grip on the shaft. The other end of it is a flat piece that looks like an extended version of a mallet. Either side of the headpiece comes to a dull point. It’s well-balanced and easy to twirl. The weight of the tip is slightly heavier than the mallet. It’s as if he knows I was a majorette all through school. I haven’t thought about that in forever. Can I even still do it?

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