Page 86 of Darcy
The flight to Austin is full of quiet grumbling. An email announcing Sully’s sudden collapse and death from a heart attack was sent to the entire crew at five a.m. in the morning. No one believes it. The quiet discontentment makes me wonder how many of the roadies are aware of what’s really happening between the band and the cartel.
I’m sure there are more than a few.
As I wheel my suitcase into yet another hotel, I resolve to keep my ear to the ground while I’m here. Without the band to keep me occupied, I might be able to get more information out of the other roadies.
First though, a nap. I swear Gabrielle is booking the crew flights at ridiculously early times just to mess with me. Once I’m through with that, I’ll go back to hunting through her emails, searching for my next opportunity.
It won’t be as easy next time. The cartel will be extra careful now that they know someone is on to their movements. With any luck, they’ll think it’s a rat, rather than an outsider with access to their network. Either way, my next attempt cannot fail.
I make it halfway to the bed before a knock on the door freezes me. Silently, I check my gun is still in the holster beneath my arm, throw on a baggy hoodie with a fake pocket to disguise it, and look through the peephole.
“What do you want?” I ask, releasing my hold on my gun and cracking open the door.
Arlo and Emma are on my doorstop, though the latter is shuffling her feet, like she’d rather be anywhere else. The guitarist hesitates for a second, then pulls his sunglasses off.
“I came to apologise,” he says. “What we did was wrong, especially after we promised we wouldn’t be as bad as all the other shits you’ve dated.”
Damn it. Stay strong, Darce. Resist the sad puppy eyes.
“I was hoping—” He swallows, glancing back at Emma, who gives him a small, encouraging smile before looking back at her shoes. “That you’d let me take you out to one of my favourite places in the city to make up for it.”
I frown at him, trying to work out why this feels like a date even though we broke up. If itisa date, then why is his sister here?
“This time I guarantee Prophet won’t interrupt,” he adds.
I’m not sure if I’m considering it because Arlo had—arguably—the smallest part to play in the mess that happened in Seattle, or simply because he’s always been so careful and considerate of my feelings before.
Glancing back at my room, and my unopened case, I chew my lip as I think over what this might cost me. I need to be looking for more opportunities to get this mission over and done with, not putting my heart on the line again with a band of guys who’ve already broken it once.
When I look back at Arlo, he’s looking at his shoes, expression tight.
“Another time,” he says, stepping back.
Oh, fuck it. “Let me get my stuff.”
I don’t let myself wait to see his expression as I turn and double check my purse. It’s too warm outside for a hoodie, and I hesitate, grimacing as I realise if I take it off, Arlo will see the gun beneath.
Well, he knows who I am. It can’t be that shocking, right? Emma might, too, given how close the siblings are.
Sighing, I drag the hoodie over my head, ignoring the sharp inhale of breath from behind me as I check the safety out of habit before securing the weapon in a secret lining of my purse.
Wallet, purse, poison ring for emergencies… Wait. Where did I put my C-4?
“Dark… I don’t think you need a gun…” Arlo mumbles. “It’s just a park.”
I raise an eyebrow. “We’re in Texas. I’m hardly the only woman going round with a gun in my purse.”
And there are far more deadly things in my purse. My phone, for one.
I double check the lock on my case, then give my outfit—a cute denim pinafore dress with a stripy top and sneakers—a once over in the mirror before I grab my key card and head for the door.
I try, and fail, to read Arlo through his sunglasses, but Emma keeps shooting concerned looks at my bag as we follow the slim corridor out to the main lobby and then onto the busy street.
“You haven’t told her,” I realise, but I don’t elaborate. There are too many people here.
Emma’s attention snaps to her brother, brows furrowing with concern, but she says nothing.
Arlo shrugs. “It wasn’t my secret to tell. Besides, she’s not here.”
