Chapter 27
Twenty-Seven
Sugar Skull
My fists tighten in my leather gloves, my eyes on the dingy bar across the street.
It’s taking everything inside me not to walk through those doors, throw Zee over my shoulder and take her to safety.
I should leave. I should be on the next flight out of YUL, but I can’t fucking let her go.
I need to make this right.
For Zee. For Barry.
They’re the closest thing to family, and if there’s anything I’ve learned in Eastmount, you protect family.
"No cameras."
I honoured Zee's request. Besides, cameras are too risky. Too easy for Father to access.
I know how to keep a low profile, but now, I need to be nonexistent. That doesn't mean I won't have her back.
Zee was my angel.
Now I can be hers.
After that, I’ll leave it all behind.
I don’t know what life looks like away from Eastmount with a target on my back. Without Father’s protection.
Without her.
I already neutralized one of the men who followed her here. It's only a matter of time before Father finds out.
Something catches my eye from the small alley where I’ve parked my bike.
Wild hair. Long legs. Sultry curves.
Zee.
When did she get outside?
My eyes fall to her fingers. No joint in hand.
My chest tightens.
Something’s off.
Taking a small step closer, my eyes dart around her frame as she turns the corner.
Her hair’s messier than usual, her dress torn. My eyes land on red marks up her bare legs. Three of them. New.
She whips her head around, her eyes wide.
She doesn't know I'm here. She couldn't.
So what is it?
Her head snaps to where I stand.
I take a step back.
Something louder than my logic tells me to run to her. It tells me to embrace her, to tell her to breathe, that I’m here.
“Zee-Zee!”
Someone singsongs a name I’ve never heard.
With one glance back, Zee rushes inside.
A raging heat fills me when two men sprint around the corner. All in black hoodies.
I’ve seen them before.
Drey’s friends.
They call her again, looking around the front of the bar.
So that’s what this is all about.
Drey’s revenge.
Another mess I made for Zee.
Time slows as I run the calculations in my mind.
"Don't follow me."
I didn’t totally follow that request, and if I step out, I don't know how she'll take it. If I reveal myself, there's a high chance Father notices. But if I don’t step out of this alley, I'll let her be prey. I'll put her at risk.
I'll let those men touch what’s mine.
And that's something I’ve never been good at.
Zee
“Zee!”
Mo calls me as I rush back into Dirty Diana's, my stomach still burning.
As I approach the table, Mo sits up, attempting to read my face. Travis and Lee still sit at the table.
“We need to go,” I say, taking her hand. It's hard to pull her off her chair as she tells me to calm down. “Now, Mo.”
"Zee, wait a damn second!" Her hand comes to my chest. "What the hell is going on?”
Bam!
“Zee!”
Fuck.
Looking back, Houston and Jonesie stand at the door. Jonesie leans against it, blocking the way out.
Lee leans up, looking past me. “You know those guys?”
“No. Let’s go.”
“You sure? ‘Cause they’re calling your name and looking right at you. You fuck with those guys?” He laughs, making this entire thing worse. “You really are crazy. No one should fuck with those guys.”
I find Mo’s eyes. “Please.”
When I look back, Houston makes his way over.
A surge of heat rushes through me.
This is what you get.
You can’t get out of this.
They’re going to use your body for revenge.
They’re going to kill you.
The lights go out.
Mo yelps.
A strike of lightning hits my core, my head whipping around.
Heat settles on my neck.
Is he here?
The bar erupts in chatter, no music left to drown it out.
Phone lights start popping up around the room, helping me spot the back exit.
I tug Mo’s hand. She moves with me this time as I pull her towards the back door.
She pulls Travis behind her, Houston’s yell filling the room. “I see you, Zee-Zee!”
I knock a table over as I pass it, hoping to put more obstacles between Drey’s boys and us. I'm almost at the back door before Jonesie appears. That doesn’t stop me.
Passing another table, I grab an empty pint glass, storming to the door.
“We’re not finished with you, Zee,” Jonesie says as I get closer, a stupid grin on his lips.
Reeling my arm back, I smash the glass into Jonesie’s face.
“Fuck!” A sharp burn pains my hand as Jonesie leans over, his hands coming to his nose. “Fucking bitch!”
He stumbles, reaching for me, but I’m focused on my exit. Travis helps me push Jonesie aside before I finally get through the back door. That prickle of heat slams on my neck.
Stronger than I've ever felt it.
My body stills.
Looking around, I keep an eye out for that shadow. That tall, broad figure.
My protection. My guardian.
But I don’t see him.
"Zee, what did you do?"
Keep going, Zee.
I ignore Mo's question, the guilt rising in my chest.
I made all the wrong decisions.
We round the corner of the bar, onto the main street. I don’t see him there either.
Peering into the alley across from the bar, the only shadows I see are of the dumpsters lined up against the brick wall.
“There’s a bus,” Mo says, her hand gripping mine.
I keep my eyes on the alley, looking for any shift. Any movement.
“Come on.” Mo pulls me towards the stop a few feet away.
My eyes stay fixed on the alley until the bus blocks my view, stopping for us. Rushing on, Travis handles paying as Mo pulls me to the back.
I can still see the alley through the large back window.
A shadow shifts in the darkness, forcing me to sit up.
“Zee?” Mo asks, looking out the window with me. “Is it him?”
The bus pulls off.
BOOM!
My head whips to the loud sound, a bright flame erupting from the small lot next to the bar.
A Honda burns, smoke billowing into the air.
I blink, my eyes zeroing in on something familiar.
A star in the back window.
Drey’s car.
Heat curls in my stomach.
That wasn't an accident.
It’s a message.