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Still...I have no idea who this other guy is.
I get up and pad over to the dresser drawer, grabbing a big t-shirt and some boxers out of Zane's stuff. It's oversized, but it'll do--and I know Zane will keep me safe.
The voices get louder as I walk from Zane's apartment toward the entrance to the tattoo parlor, but I keep to the shadows to stop myself from being seen. I peer around a corner trying to see who's out there, and I'm shocked when I see someone I recognize.
Leather jacket guy--the one from the auction.
His eyes flicker up toward me, and Zane turns around from where he's sitting and spots me in the darkness.
"Kendra," he says. "It's safe. You can come on out."
I don't move a muscle. "Are you sure? This is the guy who caused the chaos at the auction...I don't know--"
"I did that to get you out," leather jacket guy says. "I didn't know you were going to run."
My eyes widen. "For me?"
Zane nods. "This is Carson Connolly. He's with the Enclave. Or...more accurately, heisthe Enclave."
Leather jacket guy raises his hand with a weak smile. "Hi, Kendra. I've heard a lot about you."
I step carefully out of the shadows and take up a position behind Zane, putting my hand on his bare shoulder. He covers my hand with his and grazes his thumb over the back of my hand, setting me instantly at ease.
"Carson and I were just talking about how to get you out of here," Zane says.
"How did you even find me?" I ask.
"I got a tip from what I think is a rogue ACB agent," Carson says. "But I don't know how long we have if he already knows where you are--it's only a matter of time before the ACB finds you."
"What?" I ask. "I didn't...I didn't think I was followed."
"I should've told you...but the guy came in asking about you a couple days ago," Zane says. "I figured it was best to act like nothing was wrong and lay low. I told him I hadn't seen you."
I frown and think back to the day of the auction--the agent who unlocked my shackles and gave me the opportunity to run. "Wait a minute..." I say. "What did he look like?"
Zane hums. "Short dark hair, official-looking...but strung out like he hadn't slept in a few days," he says. "Why?"
"An ACB agent let me go during the riot," I tell them both. "Do you think it may have been him?"
"Maybe," Carson says. "He told me he wanted to help you, and I'm inclined to believe him if he hasn't brought the ACB down on the shop yet."
"Okay," I say. "So...maybe he could help us?"
"I don't trust it," Zane says. "Look--I appreciate what he did to help you, but I don't want to bring anyone else into this op if it's not necessary."
"What...op?" I ask. "What do you mean?"
"The operation to get you out of here," Carson says. "Not out of the city--the ACB has everything on lockdown right now--but to an Enclave safehouse out at sea."
"You wanna bring her to the Raft?" Zane asks.
"What's the Raft?"
"It's where your friends are," Carson says. "Jade and Olivia."
My heart pounds in my chest at their names, and my eyes widen. "What? They're safe?"
"Yes--they're with us," Carson says. "We've been planning your escape and a push on the city for months now...and we're all gathering out at sea."
