Page 37 of Wolf Cursed
I ignored it and turned to Pres. “Someone should really check on that Vinny guy. He’s bleeding and unconscious, and it’s not a good look.”
Before he could reply, I turned to Isaac. “You ready?”
“More than.” He held Silas’ stare for one more moment and then turned to lead me out the door. Idrissa didn’t move, and I had the sense she was waiting for me to include her. Like she was giving me the chance to choose her as a friend the way she’d chosen me.
“Idrissa,” I called.
“Coming,” she said and hurried to follow us out.
Still clutching my knife, I walked right past the other patrons, not bothering to acknowledge a single one of them. By the time we made it out into the bright afternoon sunlight, my insides were shaking, and I was a little worried the toast I’d eaten for breakfast was going to make a reappearance.
“Holy shit, that was amazing,” Isaac said when we reached the car.
“Was it? Because I actually thought we were going to die,” I said, a little wobbly as I slid my knife back into my boot and reached for the car door.
“I got it.” Isaac opened the door and practically shoved me into the backseat. I was fine with it. This way, I could stretch out and faint if I needed to.
Idrissa slid into the driver’s seat and started the car without a word. Isaac climbed in beside her, and together, we drove away from Bo’s in a weird Bonnie and Clyde sort of silence. I didn’t even bother complaining about the batshit crazy speeds or erratic turns.
In fact, none of us spoke again until Idrissa pulled up and Isaac let me out of the car in front of Oscar’s shop.
Finally, I couldn’t hold it in anymore.
“You did that on purpose,” I said, looking at Idrissa.
“What?” Isaac looked shocked or pretended to. “No way. We—”
“Yeah, I did,” Idrissa said, looking up at me.
“Why?” I asked.
“For your own—”
“Good,” I finished along with her. “Yeah, that’s a running theme, and frankly, I’m sick of it.”
I looked away, staring blankly at the road and the turn that would lead me out of town again if I chose it.
“I know this must be hard,” Idrissa said.
I scowled.
She didn’t know the half of it.
“Tell me why Oscar let me leave with you,” I said. “And why I have to be home by dark. And why everyone in this town thinks I’m a disease. And don’t lie to me,” I added when Idrissa’s expression turned innocent.
She sighed, looking resigned. “Oscar trusts us to protect you,” she said finally. “That’s why he let you hang with us.”
I waited, but she didn’t go on.
My temper flared. “That’s it? You’re not going to tell me the truth?”
“I’m not lying,” she said.
“Refusing to explain is just as bad,” I said.
Idrissa’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I told you we’d show you around town. The real Ridley Falls. And we did.”
“So, the real Ridley Falls is bar brawls and day drinking?”
