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Ana chats for a moment and I watch with interest. I can’t hear what’s being said, but the woman starts off looking very stern and not too happy about Ana interrupting. Only a moment later though, a huge grin breaks out on her face and she barks a laugh. The woman points up the street and Ana smiles.
“There’s a tavern just up this way,” Ana says as she comes back to us. “If anyone needed a place to say, that would likely be it.”
She starts to lead the way, but I nod my head back toward the bread woman.
“What was that?”
Ana hides a smile, glancing toward me only quickly.
“One thing about how I grew up is I really learned how to read people. Having to hide for so long, I’m also pretty damn good at acting and playing the part I need to in any given situation.”
“So, manipulating people?” I ask with a bit of a smirk.
“Yes, if you want to put it that way, I suppose it is,” she replies, a bit uncomfortably. “I’ll do what I have to… to survive. And if knowing what a woman like that would need to hear to help me find what I need is manipulating, then fuck it.”
I nod in understanding, but a small piece of me can’t help but wonder what Ana thinks I need to hear. I’ve seen her pretend before and will admit, she is good. Would I know the difference? I didn’t when she was acting for fucking Dick. A wave of revulsion fills me at the thought of how I felt when I thought she had betrayed me. The relief I felt when I found out I was wrong was unforgettable and the small seed of unease settles.
As we approach the tavern, I catch sight of a familiar face leaning against a wall ahead. Luis’s eyes widen as we approach, and he scrambles from his perch and rushes over to us. I don’t see Ethan or any of the others.
“Holy fuck,” he greets in a sort of shout-whisper. “Where the fuck were you guys?”
“We got held up, what happened?”
Luis looks at us worried before darting his eyes around.
“Not here,” he says. “Come on.”
We follow Luis inside the tavern and to a corner where Papi, another of the inmates, is waiting. Still no sign of Ethan or any of the others.
“Where—” Ana starts to ask but Luis shakes his head, gesturing to one of the seats. Another familiar smell hits my senses at the same moment a small hand touches my arm. Flames burn under the touch and my nostrils flare as I realize it’s the same oil or perfume Sammi wore when she visited. The scent of a whore.
“Hello, sugar,” a feminine voice says. Before I can say anything, Ana is beside me lifting the woman's hand from me.
“Mine,” is all Ana whispers, and the look in her eyes is enough because the whore’s eyes widen and she nods quickly, running off to find another john.
Ana turns to me, amusement in her eyes, before she takes a seat. I do the same.
“Where is Theo? Did you take care of Ciaran?” Luis asks and I feel Ana tense beside me.
“Soon,” I tell him, “But first, where is Ethan? The others?”
Luis shifts in his seat.
“You better tell us,” Ana says, “Now.”
“Well,” he says hesitantly, “We had some problems.”
“What kind of problems?”
“Ethan was arrested. He almost killed a man and the locals locked him up. They’ve sent for The Watch to retrieve him in a few days.”
I sigh, rubbing my face harshly.
“Sammi?” I ask through my hand, though I already know the answer.
Luis nods.
“The man he almost killed was her pimp,” Papi adds.
