Page 44 of EverGreene
“Nice to meet you, Malachi,” I said, looking up at his face, illuminated partially in the streetlights. His dark hair was slicked back with sweat; his light eyes sparkled even in the low lighting. I’d say I’ve heard great things about you from V, but V doesn’t tend to tell me anything.”
“So I hear.” Malachi sighed, reminding me of a disappointed dad. “Be patient with him. He has his reasons.” V and his still silent cohort joined Malachi and Cole. Behind his mask, I swore I could almost see a shy smile on V’s face. “My van is parked in the parking lot behind us. Where did you park your vehicle?”
After the insanity of the night, I had to search the corners of my brain for the place I had parked. “At a gas station down the street from the building we were at.”
“The church parking lot across the street was full, so we avoided parking there,” Katy added. “Probably more cars parked at that church for an illegal fight than there’s ever been for an actual service.” She started to chuckle at her own joke but was silenced by a raised eyebrow from Malachi.
“Good,” Malachi said. “The police are probably too preoccupied at the church to check the comings and goings at the gas station. We should be good to head out there in a few.” He turned to head back to his van, signaling for us to follow him with a nod of his head. “Let’s get in the van before we draw attention to ourselves out here.”
I hadn’t seen Katy so flushed by a man outside of Ian Somerhalder before, which, in a way, Malachi actually kind of looked a little Somerhaldy. As though second-guessing herself at first, Katy cleared her throat before she spoke with hereyes glued to the elaborate piece of art on Malachi’s back, lengthening her strides to keep up with him. “I love the cross on your back.”
“Thanks. I got it done after I graduated from Wakefield.”
“Oh, is that a university or a trade school of sorts?”
“It’s a seminary.”
V snorted, stifling a laugh when Katy stopped walking, her mouth agape in what had been a record scratch moment for her. Perhaps seeking confirmation that Malachi hadn’t been screwing with her, she looked at the other men, who all nodded.
“Fucking Christ.” She gasped, slapping her hands over her mouth. “Oh, shit. Jesus. God, I’m sorry. You know what, I’ll just shut up now.”
“Well, you broke Katy. I hope you’re pleased with yourselves.” I laughed, reaching my arm around her back to comfort her.
“I’m going to have a lot to confess after tonight.” She leaned her head on my shoulder, but I noticed she was still watching Malachi with the same intensity I had when I watched my Keurig brewing my coffee in the morning.
“Don’t worry,” Malachi shot back, “so does Vengeance.”
Chapter 14
Loche
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Katy called back to Ever when she stepped out of the back seat of Ever’s 4Runner.
“Okay.” Ever half-yawned, waving at her friend before she backed out of her driveway.
When Malachi pulled into the gas station, I made the last-minute decision to go with Ever and Katy, partly to spend time with Ever and partly to avoid the disappointed glare from Malachi and the ribbing from Cole and Nix. The raid on the factory had resulted in around twenty arrests, from what Katy had reported seeing on social media, and would most likely be the end of our fights for a couple of weeks while everyone regrouped. We knew something like this had happened before and could happen again, which was why we only carried what was absolutely necessary with us. Our phones were left in Malachi’s van, and no one brought identification with them aside from Malachi, and that was only because he drove us. The only things we carried with us were the clothes on our backs and whatever we were wearing during our matches. Itsucked to lose my spare gym bag, but at least I wasn’t spending the night behind bars.
“Where to?” Ever asked, trying to play it cool. She was obviously hoping I would just word-vomit my address for her to look up online when she got home to track down a list of the residents.
“Head toward downtown. I’ll tell you where to go when we get there.”
Ever merged onto the highway. She didn’t know where Loche lived, and with Nix and me residing in the largest complex in town, discovering my identity wouldn’t be easy—but I knew any crumb of information I gave Ever would be too much.
“After tonight, I think I know more about your friends than I do you. Except for your large friend in the blue mask, that is. Yet, that was by design, wasn’t it?”
Shit. Katy must have seen my signal to Nix.
“What else would you like to know about me?”
“Your name.”
“Nice try”
“Okay, then, your driver’s license number.”
I laughed. “If you held a gun to my head, I don’t think I could give you that.”
“Really? You really should know that.” She sighed. “Favorite color?”
