This apothecary better have a magic cure.
A tiny spark tickled her hand, like Aurora was trying to comfort her, or remind her she was there, and Gia’s heart clenched. Not being alone gave her strength.
She hadn’t been her best self this afternoon, and Aurora hadn’t batted an eye. Maybe it was because they were stuck together and Aurora couldn’t run if she wanted to, but Gia couldn’t help believing it went deeper.
The taxi pulled out, and the driver confirmed the address where they were headed. Gia should have watched for cars, kept on the lookout for Salvator or Franco’s other men, not to mention Trey. But looking hurt, so Gia kept her eyes closed, trusting Aurora to be her lookout, accepting the help and doing her best not to feel guilty about it.
“There’s a truck double-parked ahead,” the cabbie said after a while. “Can I drop you here?”
Had they arrived already? Gia opened her eyes. The cab had pulled over at a side street, and sure enough, the way ahead was blocked by a truck.
“Here’s fine.” Gia gritted her teeth against the pain as she paid and added a generous tip. She slid out of the cab, making sure to hold the door open long enough for Aurora to slip out unseen.
“We’re halfway down the block from The Herb Emporium. It’s across the street. Green building,” Aurora’s disembodied voice whispered.
Gia nodded, spotting the place easily with its faded green sign. The street was lined with shops, but she didn’t have the energy to take it all in as she began searching for a gap in traffic. At a lull, she crossed and hurried along the block.
“Gia!” a familiar voice yelled, and she froze.
“Who’s he?” Aurora hissed.
Gia turned, knowing before she caught sight of him. “My brother.”
Marc stood merely five feet away. As far as Gia could see, he was alone, the driver’s door of an unfamiliar car standing open behind him.
“Are you following me?” Gia asked, words sharper than she’d expected.
Marc’s steps faltered, his eyes widening. “G, I’m here to help. We’ve got to get home.” He took two careful steps closer.
Her voice rose. “Are you kidding me? Home?” Gia’s headache flared, but for once, the pain was an afterthought. “To the man who killed our mother?”
Marc’s face fell, but he didn’t seem the least bit surprised, and he didn’t contradict her. “Gia…”
“No, don’tGiame,” she snapped. “You knew? And you went along with it? Became just like him?”
“Hey, I’m not just like Father. You know there are things I’ddo differently. Will do differently when it’s my turn, butcome on, Gia. Live in reality. Our mother wasn’t a saint.”
“And our father belongs in Hell. Though he’s not actually my father, is he?”
“Gia!” Marc somehow managed to look offended.
So, he knew that part too. She fumed, fists clenched. “Where are all your men, huh? You never go anywhere alone.”
Marc swiped a hand over his face. “They don’t know I’m here. Look, I’m taking a risk right now. For you. There isn’t much time. Come with me, and we can work something out. I know what happened with Salvator earlier.”
He did? How was he not freaking out? Guess he had a better poker face than Gia gave him credit for.
Gia’s voice dropped to a growl. “Then you know you don’t have any power over me. Leave me alone, or I’ll toss you aside and burn more than your hand.”
Marc’s face bloomed with splotches of red. “I’m your brother. Yourfamily. How dare you?”
“How dare you talk to me after lying to me my entire life. You knew, Marco. And you didn’t care.”
Marc surged forward, his voice raised. “What do you know about how I feel?”
“Hey, what’s going on here?” a tall, Latino man asked, his hard stare fixed on Marc.
Marc puffed out his chest, adjusting the sleeve of his suit jacket. “None of your business.”
