Page 82 of Spinner's Luck

I forced a tight smile. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”

She didn’t take the hint, her gaze lingering on me like she was trying to peel back my layers. “You know, it’s not easy being out here on your own. Sometimes, it helps to have people you can trust.”

That did it. I pushed back from the bar, the stool scraping against the floor as I stood. “I don’t need anything from anyone,” I said sharply.

Her smile faltered for the first time, but she recovered quickly, raising her hands in mock surrender. “Okay, okay. I didn’t mean to push.”

I didn’t respond, tossing a few bills onto the bar before grabbing my jacket. As I turned to leave, she called after me.

“Lucy,” she said, her voice laced with meaning. “Just... be careful out there, okay?”

I hesitated, my hand on the door. Something about the way she said it made my skin crawl. Without looking back, I shoved the door open and stepped into the warm night air.

As I walked to Oliver’s car, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Crystal knew more than she was letting on. The way she looked at me, the things she said—it wasn’t random.

She knew something.

And I didn’t plan on sticking around long enough to find out what.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

THE PLAYLIST SUCKEDtonight. It was cranking outsome song older than me. Normally, I could tune it out, even enjoy, but not tonight. Not with Lucy on my mind. Two weeks. Two goddamn weeks, and we still didn’t have a single solid lead.

I sat at the bar, nursing a drink that wasn’t doing a damn thing to take the edge off. My fingers drummed against my glass as my mind spiraled, stuck in a loop of everything we’d tried and everything that had gone wrong.

Then Hunter walked in, and the whole room seemed to shift. He didn’t come in alone. Trailing behind him was a guy who stuck out like a sore thumb. Too clean-cut for this place. Khakis and a button-up, with a nervous energy that screamedhe didn’t belong. His eyes darted around the room, landing on every patch, every cut, like he expected to get jumped any second.

“Spinner,” Hunter called, jerking his chin toward the guy. “This one’s here for you.”

I set my drink down and pushed off the bar, crossing the room in a few quick strides. My eyes narrowed as I sized him up. “Who are you?” I asked, my tone biting but laced with curiosity. This guy didn’t look like he belonged anywhere near our world.

He held up his hands like we were about to pounce on him. “Name’s Oliver,” he said, his voice shaky but steady enough. “I’m a friend of Lucy’s.”

Lucy’sfriend. My muscles tightened at the word, but I forced myself to keep my expression neutral. “Lucy’s not here,” I said flatly. “What do you want?”

“I know she’s not,” he said quickly, glancing around like he was afraid someone would jump out of the shadows. “She’s... not exactly in a position to call you herself. But she needs help. Fang’s been asking questions—around Charleston, near the docks. I think he’s closing in on her. She’s in trouble.”

My jaw clenched as I stepped closer, my voice dropping to something harder. “How do you know that?”

“Because she and I stay in touch,” he said, straightening up a little despite the sweat forming on his brow. “We work together. I’ve been helping her stay hidden. And I know she’s in too deep this time.”

I glanced over at Devil, who was leaning against the wall, arms crossed and eyes like a hawk on Oliver. His expression didn’t give much away, but the slight nod he gave me told me he didn’t think Oliver was a threat—at least, not yet.

“She’s been in Charleston this whole time?” I asked, my brows furrowed, disbelief etched across my face.

“Mostly,” Oliver said. “She’s been careful, staying in the shadows. But Fang’s been sniffing around, and I don’t think she can keep out of sight much longer. I’m telling you because I know she won’t come to you for help.”

Something about his words twisted the knife in my chest. Lucy wouldn’t come to me. Didn’t trust me enough to call for backup. And honestly, I couldn’t blame her.

I studied Oliver for a long moment, watching the way his hands trembled while his eyes stayed steady. He looked scared, sure, but he didn’t look like a liar.

“And you trust us?” I asked finally, my gaze fixed, eyes cold and unflinching. “What the hell did she tell you about us?”

“She told me enough,” he said simply. “Enough to know you’ll protect her.”

I raised a brow, the pieces starting to click into place. “You sent the note?”

He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. But the shipment got delayed—mechanical issues.”

---