Page 38 of Wolf Cursed
Instead of answering, Idrissa got out of the car and stood before me. All of the anger and defensiveness were gone. Now, her expression was open and a little pleading.
“The real Ridley Falls is dangerous,” she said. “I mean, what you saw today, that’s a typical scene.”
“I’m feeling a bit dangerous myself right now,” I shot back.
“Damn right you are. Good call with the knife,” Isaac called out.
I ignored him.
“What did Silas mean that I have to fight?” I asked.
Idrissa hesitated. I could see in her eyes that she didn’t want to tell me. My hands fisted in frustration.
“If you don’t tell me, I’m leaving right now—”
“The Falls has a code,” she blurted. “To be initiated into town culture and accepted by everyone here, you have to fight. It’s stupid. I know. Barbaric. Archaic. Ridiculous. But that’s what he meant.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but she stopped me. “I know. That sounds crazy. Who would want to live in a town where people just beat the crap out of each other every day, right? We’re all Neanderthals.”
“I was thinking more along the lines of law enforcement,” I said.
“The fights are all organized. They’re held in a neutral space, and it’s voluntary.”
“And what happened at Bo’s today?” I asked. “Is that organized and voluntary? Because I’m pretty sure physical assault will get you two to four.”
Her brow lifted. She looked like she wanted to ask how I knew that. Instead, she hung her head, and I could see how much she hated what had happened earlier.
“The cops aren’t interested in anything that happens at Bo’s,” she said.
“What about hospitals? Aretheyinterested? Because Vinny looked like he needed a doctor.”
“Vinny will be fine, I swear.”
She sounded so damn sure.
Hell, maybe this wasn’t the first time she’d knocked him out. Still…
“You shouldn’t have done that.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Look, Ash, if you’re going to stay here—and I really hope you do, which is selfish but the truth—you need to know what it’s like.”
“So you decided to throw me to the wolves rather than just explain it?”
She gave me a strange look then blinked and slowly returned to normal. “Yeah, I guess so. Subtlety and softness aren’t my style. I’m sorry. But you have to know I wouldn’t have let anything happen to you. I swear it.”
“Yeah, I noticed. Hell of a right hook you’ve got.”
She grinned. “Thanks.”
“That Vinny guy,” I tried again.
“He’ll be fine. Trust me,” she said.
I cocked my head, wondering how she could be so sure. Actually, I was wondering a lot of things. And I was pretty sure I wouldn’t like the answer to any of them.
The silence stretched, and Idrissa’s smile slipped. I knew she was waiting for me to forgive her, but I couldn’t quite bring myself to do it. Not when I wanted nothing more than to escape the violence and chaos that had made up so much of my life. And now I’d just walked right into more of it.
Isaac got out of the car and walked around to stand beside us.
