Page 89 of Spinner's Luck

I yanked my arm free, turning to glare at him. “I meant what I said, Spinner. Don’t.”

His jaw tightened, but he stepped back, letting me go.

Smart choice.

The moment I stepped into Zeynep’s room, her face lit up, and the guilt hit me like a damn hammer. I hadn’t told her I was leaving. I hadn’t checked in. And still, here she was, smiling at me like I hadn’t let her down.

She looked better, the worst of her injuries fading, but her voice was still a whisper when she spoke.

“Lucy,” she rasped, sitting up in bed.

“Hey,” I said, forcing a smile as I sat beside her, grateful just to hear her talk again. “You look… less terrible.”

She gave a weak laugh, her eyes glistening. “You came back.”

“Yeah,” I said softly, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “I couldn’t stay away. Someone’s gotta keep an eye on you.”

Her smile faltered, and she tilted her head, studying me. “You’re not okay.”

“I’m fine,” I lied, shaking my head. “Just… tired.”

She saw straight through me, but she let it slide. “Did they find you?”

I let out a heavy sigh. There was no point in sugarcoating it. “Yeah. Fang almost caught me tonight. But I got away.”

Her whole body tensed, the worry in her eyes turning heavy. “Lucy, you can’t keep messing with them,” she warned. “I’ve seen what they’re capable of. And so have you.”

“I just have to be more careful,” I said, my voice firm. “I can’t stop, and you know that.”

She watched me, searching my face, but in the end, she didn’t argue. Instead, she hit me where it hurt the most—my heart.

“Spinner?” she asked, barely above a whisper.

I hesitated, my gaze flicking toward the door. “Spinner’s not my business anymore, and I really want to keep it that way.”

She didn’t look convinced, but at least she didn’t push. “I missed you,” she said instead.

“I missed you too.” And I meant it.

Before I could say anything else, the door opened.

Mystic walked in, his eyes immediately locking onto Zeynep’s, something unspoken passing between them. I wasn’t blind. I knew when I was intruding.

I stood, brushing my hands against my jeans. “I’ll come back later. You need to rest your voice.”

Zeynep looked at me with something close to worry. “Just don’t run off again.”

I didn’t respond. I just slipped out the door, leaving the past and the present tangled behind me.

“Back so soon?”

Ashlynn’s voice sliced through my thoughts, sweet as syrup but thick with poison.

I turned, already annoyed, and found her sprawled across a chair in the hallway, legs draped over the armrest like she owned the damn clubhouse. Her painted nails tapped lazily against her thigh, a smirk curling her lips.

“Thought you ran off for good,” she added, her smile not reaching her eyes.

“Disappointed I didn’t?” I shot back, crossing my arms over my chest.

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