“I… Um… Ah… Av—Mr. Av—Um.”
His amusement grew at my stutter.Just kill me. Put me out of my misery.
“You’re not going to cut in?”
“You’ll get there eventually, I’m sure.”
“You could enjoy my stutter a little less.”
“You’re not stuttering anymore. See, I just had to wait.”
I glared. Oh god, I just glared at a supervillain. He didn’t seem bothered by it, just amused. Thank whatever gods were out there.
“I… Um… Look, there’s this kid and she idolizes you. She’s dying and her wish is to meet you.”
“I’m not Avalanche. Do I look blond? Plus, all of that leather—” he cringed. “I could never pull that off.”
“Then why were you so touchy about me following you?”
“It’s a rough neighbourhood.” He shrugged.
“Yes, all five foot three of me—so intimidating,” I said sarcastically, waving to myself.
“You’ve been following me all week?—”
“Three weeks. I found you three weeks ago, Blondie.”
One of his—not blond—perfectly sculped eyebrows rose. “I say again, do I look blond?”
“Look, dude, I spent the last two months watching every video of you,ever. You can change your hair colour, but youcan’t change your build, your walk, or your height. So stop treating me like an idiot and come meet a dying child.”
He peeled himself off the wall—his eyes locked on me like I was prey. Yup, stupid. So stupid. I was a dead girl walking. Playing my hand in a secluded alleyway? Dumb. What the hell was I thinking?
That you could turn your life into one of your dark romance books.
Yes, as always, thank you brain for your input.
“If I was Avalanche, why would I let you live? If you really had discovered my secret, what makes you think that I would let you walk out of here?” he asked.
“It was a risk I was willing to take. That little girl’s dying wish is ten minutes with you. I couldn’t not try. It’s not in my nature.” I held my ground, but my heart was pounding in my chest.
“I don’t know if that makes you brave or stupid.”
Definitely the latter.
“Will you come?”
“If I was Avalanche?—”
I rolled my eyes.
“You can cut the hypotheticals. I’m not here to turn you in or trap you or whatever. I’m here because a little girl with lung cancer wants you to visit her. The hospital on 49th. You don’t have to tell me when. Just be there sometime this week. Room 408.”
His breath tickled my ear as he leaned over me.
“If this is a trap, I’ll find you.Violet.”
The way he said my name made me shiver. His tone didn’t sound threatening. In fact, he said it so softly—like we’d known each other for years and he was greeting an old love.
