Page 55 of Speak No Claim

“So you left fingerprints?”

With wide eyes, I exclaimed, “What the fuck? Is that who was chasing me? They saw I was in the museum from the cameras? Are these the people who are going to tell my uncle?” I didn’t stop. I was too far gone. “Are you those people, Deja? Are the Devereauxs after me? Why? What does it have to do with my father and my uncle?” I was so out of breath, I had to rest.

Feeling a little dizzy, I grabbed my head.

“Are you okay?”

“I don’t know.”

This time, we didn’t speak until she was finished bandaging my wound. Mostly because it hurt like hell. The liquor wasn’t helping.

Once she was done, she softly asked, “Do you know who was chasing you?”

“They weren’t actually chasing me. They were⁠—”

She didn’t have to be told anymore, confirming for me…

* * *

“Hunting you.”

Chapter

Seventeen

Hennessy: What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.

We locked eyes. I felt like her validation was all I needed to know that it wasn’t just in my mind and that I was being hunted.

“When I saw the Graves Academy, I ran there first.”

“And?”

“I ran into the building that Luna warned me against.”

She stood, pacing a little, although she made it appear as if she were simply putting away her first-aid kit. I was already standing where she left me when she walked back into her bedroom.

I blurted, “He was already there waiting for me.”

We locked eyes again, and she sucked in her bottom lip. “Who?”

“He wore a black cloak with a mask. I couldn’t see him at all. At least not his facial features or skin.”

Her eyebrows pinched together for a second, nodding to my wound. “Is that his handiwork?”

I shook my head. “No, I told you, I got that at the museum trying to break in. This was already done, but that didn’t stop him from what he did once he had his hands on me.”

She cocked her head to the side with intrigue and worry.

“He sliced his hand open with a dagger, Deja, like it was nothing. He left it behind, along with his belt, which of course I took both belongings with me.”

Her stare went wide.

“He smeared our blood together.”

She jerked back, surprised. “Did he say anything to you when he did that? Did he say anything at all?”

“Nothing, or maybe he did, and I just didn’t hear him. I’m not entirely sure. I was scared, but also… I don’t know… hot…”