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“He might not, but it’s to be expected. I hear you’re amazing at your job and really kick ass.”
My smile wobbles. “Thanks, but it feels like my ass is the one being kicked right now.”
“Sometimes life is like that. Not every plan can work out the way you want it to.” Zahra slams on the brakes and the golf cart screeches to a halt.
“This is the closest I can get you to his location without actually driving where guests can see me.”
“Thank you so much.”
“Thank me by kicking Seth’s ass.” She shoves my backpack into my hands. “Go! Take the back alleys so you can avoid the crowds.”
She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I’m nothing but shaky limbs and protesting lungs as I chase after the little blue dot that marks Declan’s location. I don’t stop running until I find Declan, Yakura, and Seth all talking. Well, more like Seth is talking and Declan looks about one minute away from shoving him into the nearest fountain a hundred feet away.
Mr. Yakura’s eyes land on me. “Iris!”
I can’t respond as I keel over, slapping my hands against my thighs as I take in a few deep breaths. My breathing doesn’t seem to get any better, and my throat feels like someone wrapped their hands around it and hasn’t stopped squeezing.
I stare at two dark shoes stopping in front of me.
“Where’s your inhaler?” Declan’s voice seems rough and on edge.
It makes me bristle.
“Your inhaler, Iris.” His tone has a bit more bite to it.
I point at my tiny backpack in between wheezes. He makes quick work of finding the red canister amongst all the Dreamland junk I’ve collected over the last twenty-four hours.
“Here.” He uncaps it before passing it to me.
I go through the motions, and my breathing becomes easier as the medicine makes its way through my system. Declan steals it back from my hand and packs it away.
I rise up and look over at Mr. Yakura with a shy smile. With the way his eyes shift from Declan to me back to Declan again, he seems almost smitten by his overbearing display.
It was kind of cute. I’ll give him that andonlythat today. Even though he is acting like a total ass right now, not even bothering to look at me as he stares down his father with a scowl.
“I was wondering where you were.” Yakura pulls me in for a big hug.
I catch Seth shooting lasers at me from afar, and I give him a little wave with my free hand.
“Where’s your wife?”
He releases me from his embrace. “She stayed at the hotel. Had I realized you would be joining us, I would have brought her along.”
“What if we go get her?”
His whole face lights up. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to put anyone out by changing our plans.”
“Nonsense. We can’t spend the day at Dreamland without her. It wouldn’t be right.”
He winks. “This is why I like you.”
Seth stares at me like an enemy he wants to destroy, so I welcome his challenging gaze with one of my own. It’s his fault Declan and I were put in this position in the first place.
And I don’t plan on forgetting it.
40
DECLAN
