Page 40 of Awry
“A safe journey tonight,” Zaya says, pronouncing it like it’s a fucking benediction.I catch a tendril of that same effervescent minty scent again.“For you, Presh, and your loved ones, Timothy.”
Grinder, suddenly looking like he’s holding back a fuck-load of emotion, taps his chest three times with the first three fingers of his left hand over his heart.It’s a reverent gesture, full of meaning, and I’m shocked at his directing it toward the impostor.
Zaya all but dismisses Grinder, deliberately shifting her attention to Presh.She and my sister exchange soft smiles.Grinder gets in the SUV, driving away even as he’s pulling on his seat belt.I’m fairly certain Presh is waving at us, but the windows are all tinted.
All three of us watch as the SUV hits the main road and speeds off into the night, heading south.Well, Doc, Zaya and I watch.Reck hasn’t taken his attention off the impostor.
The moment Presh is out of sight, Zaya shakes her head, inhaling deeply.Then she grabs her suitcase and pivots as if she’s going to head to the motel office.
Reck instantly blocks her path, towering over her.
I shift to the side, not certain if I’m going to intercede or if I’m backing up my brother.I should be backing up my brother.Clearly, I should be.That shouldn’t even be a question.But …
Zaya tilts her head, raking her gaze over Reck, head to toe and back up again.
He smirks, fucking full of himself.As if she’s going to drop her panties at the sight of him.
She’s never been easy to impress —
No.The actual Zaya had never been easy to impress, never predictable.Fake Zaya just stares at Reck, all dispassionate and hard to read.
He stands under her regard for all of ten seconds.Then irritation flickers over his face, and he shoves his suit jacket to the side, drawing her attention to the badge clipped to his belt.
She shifts her gaze back up to capture his, staring him down.
His jaw clenches.He breaks the silence first.“I have questions.”
“Your type usually does.”Her tone is cold, as if he’s a stranger.As if he’s beneath her notice.
He bristles.“You fucking kidnapped a minor today!”
I stiffen, not liking the accusation when we already know the truth.Now is not the time to play Reck’s games —
He keeps going.“You murdered a member of —”
“Oh?”she says mockingly “I didn’t realize that berserkers and rapists are a protected class these days.”
Reck’s eye twitches.He glares at me, as if I’ve held back vital information.I haven’t.He knew about Breaker already.He has a shit-ton of loyal informants among the Outcast.He also apparently has me under surveillance, and I haven’t forgotten how pissed I am about that.But I also had no idea about any rape.And suddenly, my beast is clawing inside me again, because if Presh … if Zaya has been —
Zaya shakes her head, sighing affectedly.“ID,” she demands.
Reck narrows his eyes at her, remembering she’s his primary target.“You?You need me to identify myself?”he asks mockingly.
His point being that if she were really Zaya Gage, she’d know him.She would know us.
“ID,” she repeats, bored and flicking her free hand offishly.“Or is not following that protocol also a new policy with the Authority?”
She knows it’s not.The requirement for Authority agents to identify themselves is a fundamental right, enforced by every level of government, no matter how independent.Enforced by the World Council, even — the organization that oversees all other recognized ruling entities, backed by the most powerful figures in the world.Countries and individuals alike.
Reck tugs his wallet out of his inner suit pocket with a snort.His arrogant, knowing smirk is back in place, as if he has the upper hand.
I can see that he’s about to be blindsided.Even not knowing exactly how.
Or maybe he already has been.Because I’ve been in that barely functioning state myself for the last few hours.
He flips open the wallet, all cocky and sure, displaying his Authority ID.Zaya barely glances at it.Probably not even long enough to note his nonclub name — Carlos Guerra — emblazoned across it.She simply reaches over and presses her thumb to the iridescent medallion embedded in one corner of the ID card.
It glows platinum under her touch.
