Page 60 of Forged in Rain

“Because Cue is a woman.”

“What?” Holy shit. A woman? I’m equal parts admiring and appalled.

“Yes, so how the fuck did John get that number?” Cyn asks, drilling me with his stare.

“I don’t know,” I say helplessly before the light dawns, and I ask incredulously, “You think it’s my aunt Pam?”

“Or Iris. How else would he have that number? Maybe the book you found wasn’t John’s at all,” he suggests.

“That’s . . . No . . . Shit.”

Before yesterday I would have said hell no, but I also would have said Iris would never betray me, and here we are. But what the fuck? Pam?

“If that’s the case,” I whisper. “She knows her book is missing.”

Cyn nods grimly and says, “I assume she would also make the connection between us since I introduced myself the other day.”

“If she’s Cue, does she know about John? Was she in on it?” I ask aloud before bile surges, and I stand to my feet awkwardly, limping quickly to the bathroom. I make it just in time, ignoring the painful twinge in my ankle as I drop to my knees and vomit into the toilet, heaving for all I’m worth until nothing is left but tears and disillusionment.

If Pam is Cue, does Iris know it? Fuck, is anything true?

Leaning against the toilet, I whisper when Cyn appears in the doorway with a frown. “If Pam is Cue, does that mean I just put you in danger?”

The extended pause is answer enough, and pulling myself up warily, I say, “Maybe I should just leave.”

“It’s too late for that, beauty.”

“But,” I say helplessly, “what if she comes after you? What if—”

“I don’t fucking care,” he says fiercely, crouching down beside me and grabbing my chin.

“I do,” I say softly, smiling when he pecks me on the lips.

Pulling away, I cover my mouth and mutter, “Um, I just puked.”

Chuckling, he helps me to stand, and I brush my teeth with my finger once more, grumbling about a toothbrush.

After we emerge, Jig looks me over anxiously as Cyn says, “It’s not safe for you to go home.”

“I can’t get a hold of my parents,” I mumble.

“Doesn’t matter. You’re eighteen, right?” Cyn asks.

“Yeah, but I don’t have anywhere to go.”

“You can stay with me,” Jig says with a grin, holding up his hands when Cyn swings around with a frown. “In separate rooms. Besides, she can’t stay with you.”

“Your grandma doesn’t like me,” I mutter, overwhelmed at the thought of never going back to Pam’s.

What would she do? And can I just drop everything and live with Jig?

Cyn’s brows rise over his head before he says, “She doesn’t like anyone.” He sighs. “Fine, Jig’s place then. His parents never come around anyway.”

“So just like that? What do I tell Pam?”

“That you’re in love and shacking up with your man,” Jig says, wagging his brows.

Cyn growls, and I huff out a laugh, covering my mouth in amusement when Cyn looks between us with a glare.

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