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Her voice was so low, Seraphina almost missed it. Blowing out a breath, she muttered, “Yeah. He tagged me though.”
Beside her, Coco stiffened. Her gaze jerked up to meet Seraphina’s. “What? How?”
Continuing to move forward, Seraphina quickened their pace. She wanted to be away from here as soon as possible. Her neck itched and her stomach was churning again. “He claimed to feel me pinch his card.”
“Shit. Ditch it. Did you ditch it?” Coco exclaimed.
She hadn’t. What was wrong with her today? Adrenaline surged and with a flick of her finger, she sent the card spinning onto the floor. They were almost to the door. Once outside, they could increase their speed and not draw undo attention in their escape.
“Wait! Stop them. Those thieves tried to rob me!”
The roar blasted out. At the same time, the thumping music dipped and several patrons heard. Chairs and tables crashed to the floor as the Antare charged after them. Heads turned, searching for the commotion. Seraphina risked a glance over her shoulder.
Armed guards zeroed in on Kai and he stopped long enough to angrily point in their direction. She couldn’t hear what he said but four guards turned as one to glare at them.
This didn’t look good. Not good at all. Sweat beaded her upper lip. “Fuck, Coco.”
“I know, I know,” her friend panted as she half-trotted toward the door. “Keep goin’. We don’t stop for nuthin’, ya hear?”
Whenever Coco’s twang and accent from her home world made an appearance, it meant she was nervous. Coco being nervous sent a bolt of fear through Seraphina. Her friend always stayed calm. Her reassurances kept Seraphina from panicking.
Sweat trickled down the sides of Seraphina’s face. Her chest tightened and she had trouble breathing. Blinking at the exit as it got closer, she sped up.
“Entertainment security, please halt for questioning,” one of the guards called out.
Coco muttered curses as she broke into a run, never letting Seraphina’s arm go. Racing in heels might have been a breeze for her friend but Seraphina had never learned the skill. She kicked off the clunky shoes and pumped her legs faster. They burst through the door together and stuttered to a stop outside.
Gaze frantic, Coco directed. “You go left. Head to the old, abandoned sex house. I’ll go this way and circle back. Their attention will be divided if they have to chase both of us.”
Once more fear struck. Seraphina’s throat clogged. She slid her hand to Coco’s wrist and held tight. “No. We don’t separate, remember? First rule of the group home is we stick together and watch each other’s back.”
For a minute the worry lines on Coco’s face eased. A true smile tipped her full lips and her green eyes danced. “Thriller, I’m so impressed with your growth. You really listened to me. Let’s blow these fuckers.”
They went left together, shot across the empty street and darted around late night party goers. A parade was en route in the middle of the walkway. Loud music, dancing performers and drunken patrons.
Coco pulled them right into the midst, snagging a colorful mask for herself and a floppy hat for Seraphina. Bright smile in place, she marched along. “Dance, Fina! Tomorrow we’ll laugh about this.”
Seraphina danced and laughed but inside she didn’t think she’d ever find this moment funny. The path of the parade took them back toward the gaming venue. Her ears were ringing, blood rushed through her veins and her nerves were strung tighter than they’d ever been.
Coco must have caught her worried look. Shimmying with the revelers, she said, “They won’t think we came back this way. It’s perfect.”
It was.
Until it wasn’t.
“No one steals from me.” Bursting through the crowd directly ahead of them, Kai surged into the line of parade people. He raised one of his right arms and Seraphina’s gaze locked on the weapon he held.
Catching sight of the laser, performers parted like the sea on a wave of shrill screams. The Antare’s smug stare pinned Seraphina in place. Fury gleamed in the black depths of his eyes and the bottom dropped from her stomach.
“I’m sorry,” she mouthed, hoping he could read the words on her lips and the sincerity in her gaze.
Seraphina had never been more sorry of anything in her life. If she could take this day back, she would. The blast of weapon fire filled the night. She jolted. More people slammed into her from the side. Coco!
She turned to the right. Face pale, Coco looped her arms around Seraphina’s waist and yanked. “Come on. We can’t stand around for him to shoot again.”
They darted to the right on the other side of the street. Heart thudding, she followed.
They ran and ran and ran until they reached the abandoned sex house they’d found three days ago when they first arrived on Gloucene. Power stones kept the heating on, though no one resided here. She stumbled through the unlocked door and closed it after Coco staggered in wheezing.
