Page 15 of The Broken Note

I glance in the rearview mirror. We pass a lamppost and the light splays over her small face. Eyes as hard as marbles. Lips set in a firm line. Hair in a messy ponytail.

She’s pissed off, but safe.

It’s better than the alternative.

My teeth chatter.

My heart pounds.

Everything worked out, yet I get a persistent sense that I’m walking into the middle of a terrible hurricane. It’s like losing Viola was me playing the game on easy mode. A side quest. A tiny obstacle to get me warmed up.

Now, the real crap is about to hit the fan.

I could be wrong, of course. This could be my royal pessimism kicking in and making me feel like the sky is falling. I’ll admit that I’m jaded. It’s a fact of life that when something good happens to me, something even worse follows.

The proverbial boot that drops always crushes me into the dirt.

But maybe it won’t happen this time.

Maybe finding Viola is the only struggle I’ll face for the foreseeable future.

Maybe everything is going to be okay.

I shiver again and burrow further under Dutch’s warm leather jacket.

He slows the car in front of our apartment.

The kitchen light is on.

A shadow moves the curtain aside. A near imperceptible movement, but I see it.

Mom’s still here.

I grit my teeth and shrug out of Dutch’s jacket. So much for a calm after the storm. It was stupid of me to eventhinkI could catch a break.

“Keep it,” Dutch says, fingers closing over mine.

For a second, there’s warmth.

For a second, it feels like I can weather through what’s coming and survive.

Foolish dreams.

There’s no use being coddled or cared for. Why the hell should I get used to that? Especially when the care is coming from someone like him—Dark. Ruthless. A creature with golden eyes and magic fingers.

I know Dutch.

He’s one inch away from a raging beast.

I sensed his danger all through the night.

Anger lashing right under the surface, as close as the tattoos on his skin.

Even the thugs in my neighborhood knew not to get too close.

It’s not just Dutch, but everything that comes with him too. I think of Jarod Cross’s proposal and my head starts aching.

Dutch is a complication in my life. One I don’t need. Especially with everything else I’m balancing.

---