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I'm attached to him, more than Dell, more than my family. I need Xander. I know, even though it’s stupid, the only way I'd run is if Xander came, too.
"The car," I say, taking a ragged breath.
"Are you sure?" she presses, more concerned now.
"Positive. I can't run, not anymore."
Her expression relaxes with understanding. She knows me well enough to know the truth without me saying it. I can't abandon him even to save myself.
* * *
Gillian parksthe car next to mine in the parking lot of my old apartment, the last known location of my old life.
"Why didn't Xander bring me? It seems so odd that he wanted you to do it," I whisper, like we're doing something wrong and will be caught any moment.
"Because he's not supposed to be here. This is Reaper territory and he's a Black Stallion."
Reaper territory? Didn't Xander say something about that when he was here a few weeks ago?
We're in Reaper territory. We need to leave before they find out we're trespassing.
Yeah, that's what he said. I was so out of it from the painful beating I took from Browning that I wasn't paying attention.
"Technically, you're not even supposed to be here. You're Black Stallions property. As long as we're quick, it shouldn't be an issue."
The area seems quiet and clear, but I can't shake the feeling that something bad is about to happen. Is someone watching us?
"Hurry up. Go get your damn car," Gillian snaps, growing impatient with my cautious brain.
"What if someone—"
"The longer you take, the more likely trouble is to find us. Go, now!" She points at my car, aggravation brewing in her eyes.
Am I really being ridiculous? Maybe I'm so used to being under Xander's constant protection that the absence of it is making me antsy.
With my keys in my hand, I hurry out of Gillian's car, closing the door behind me. The sound of rustling leaves puts me back on edge and I hurry around the car to the driver's side door. I click the button on my key fob to unlock the car, but nothing happens.
God, no.
The shaking of branches intensifies as my heart races.
I shouldn't be scared. I have lived in this apartment complex since I graduated high school and yet I'm petrified, the feeling made even worse by that sound.
My heart slamming against my ribs reverberates through my veins, echoing in my ears, until suddenly, a black cat jumps out of the tree over my car, landing on the hood, the shaking of the leaves stopping.
I let out a yelp of surprise as I jump back, but when the cat's gold eyes meet mine and the tom lets out a soft meow, I laugh with relief, clutching my chest.
"Oh, Mr. Kitty. How are you?" I ask the sweet babe as I scratch behind his ear, earning a soft purr.
Mr. Kitty, a name given to him by a little girl who lived here years ago, is the stray cat everyone in the complex feeds and loves. It's a small apartment building and the sweet boy gets all the love and attention he needs. Shelter is another thing though.
"Did you miss me?" I smile at the cat but then he steps back, his ears pulled back.
"I sure did." Out of nowhere, I'm spun around and pinned against the side of the car, the chill of metal and light flickering off the blade alerting me to the knife pressing against my cheek.
My night vision is heavily underused so I can barely make out the face of the man holding me captive. There's just enough light that I recognize him. I've seen his face exactly two times before this. The first time was the day Dell and I left for Paris. He was getting ready to move in. I offered to help but his move-in day was during my trip and he said he had plenty of friends to help. The last time was when Xander helped me out of the apartment. He waved as we walked out, but luckily, Xander stashed his kutte in one of my bags so this thug probably had no idea who he was, or that he had an affiliation with the criminal elements in San Jose.
I never would've thought my new neighbor was a criminal from his semi-professional attire during our previous encounters, but this time, his kutte is in place, one similar to Xander's, except for the logo I catch in the reflection of Gillian's window.
