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She couldn’t, even if she wanted to. She was trying to let me go, but our bond was too strong.
Still, Abby had to know that playing both sides like this was only going to lead to trouble, even if I was fully aware of what she was doing. I had seen dread on her face, the two of us being caught as we were. I had to follow her, just to ensure she was safe.
But if I went after her when she had specifically asked me to keep my distance, I ran the risk of antagonizing her again—and running into Orson.
That’s not a bad thing. I’ll kill that son of a bitch with my bare hands.
As long as it didn’t endanger Abby. I had the benefit of immortality, a fact that Abby didn’t let me forget. She did not. When I met up with Orson, it would be on my terms, not because I was following Abby around and chanced on him accidentally.
Around and around, I did this dance in my head. Abby needed my protection, but providing it would anger her and possibly put her at risk.
I was stuck between a rock and a hard place, but I thought of a reasonable solution.
Fumbling in my pocket, I reached for my cell phone, dialing out to Silver. Based on how we had sectioned the map earlier, I surmised he would be closest.
He answered immediately.
“Is there trouble?” he asked quickly.
“Potentially. I need you to get eyes on Abby,” I told him, buttoning my jeans. “She’s headed in your direction, but keep your distance, and don’t get caught.”
He tried to hide it, but I heard him suck in a breath over the speaker.
He’s worried he’s being dragged into a lovers’ quarrel.
“Don’t interact with her unless she’s in trouble,” I continued, not bothering to set him right. He was my underling, not my confidant. He was being paid well to do what he was told. “And if there is any trouble, contact me at once.”
“Yes, sir.”
I disconnected the call, sliding my phone back into my pocket, and smoothed out the front of my black shirt, rolling my shoulders back to alleviate the tension mounting at the shoulder blade.
Abby’s words replayed in my mind suddenly as I ambled toward the street again.
“Then let’s just get out of here. Let’s forget about Pario City and start over somewhere else. We can go back to Seven Rock.”
Oh, that invitation was so tempting, so real. If only Orson had just been clean about the way he’d handled my business, I would have snatched up my mate and taken that stolen sedan from Montshire all the way back to Seven Rock without a second thought.
I’d gotten almost all the answers I’d sought since that strange postcard had arrived. I still didn’t know who had sent it or why, but it had given me my memories back and, most importantly, Abby. The idea of leaving Pario City to Orson might have played out in different circumstances.
But it wasn’t just about me, not anymore. Selling women, crimes against children—I couldn’t abide by those terms. And I wouldn’t let the events surrounding my burial go uninvestigated.
Maybe there’s still time—
A shadow fell over me, cutting my thoughts off abruptly. I raised my head, stopping in my tracks as a figure loomed at the end of the alley, a few feet from where I stood. The appearance startled me, but not more than the blazing irises boring into me, legs spread apart in a fighting stance. My gums throbbed in anticipation; my form poised to shift.
Our eyes locked, and my pulse quickened apprehensively as I sniffed the air for an ambush.
And what the hell is this now? Where did you come from, and what do you want?
Chapter37
Abby
I’d taken too long in the alley, arguing with Elijah. By the time I got back to the street, Carter and Rob had disappeared from my view, but I had a good sense of where they might be headed.
It was still in the middle of the workday, after all. They would likely return to their respective corners. At least that was my hope.
Let me not be too late. Let them not call Orson or look for him somewhere.
