“Sure thing.”
I disconnect and sigh, phone clutched between my hands and elbows to my knees. I want to believe this is total overkill. That I’ll be embarrassed when she turns up fine and gives me sass for over-reacting. Hell, I’d take her old man tearing strips off me for interfering with his girl over this twisted up anxiety.
I hate not knowing how things end. Not having the answer.
Movement to the left catches my eye, and I lift my head, expecting to see one of my brothers on his way to rendezvous with me. But it’s not. Hell, it ain’t even a King.
The patch that stares me square in the face as the guy steps out of the alley between the stores and turns toward the main street is one with a snarling hound of hell. One that’s not fucking welcome here. I glance down to navigate to Chaos’s number, hit Call, and slowly lift the phone to my ear. The asshole across the street hasn’t seen me, and I don’t plan on giving myself away just yet.
“‘Sup?”
“I found our four stragglers,” I say quietly, eyes on the blond guy who also makes a call.
“Where?” He breathes heavier as though he walks quickly.
“Alley across the street from the council. I’ve got eyes on one.”
“Wait until I get there. I’ve just dropped Selena off at home. We’re on our way back.”
“I can’t.”
Chaos exhales heavily. “Why the fuck not? You don’t know what they’re packing. You got something to prove by having your tombstone made?”
“I’ve got something I won’t forgive myself for if my gut instinct is right. I reckon they’ve got Kyra down there with them.”
He covers the microphone, the words muffled as he hollers for Loki and Crow. “What’s your plan?”
Chaos covers the mouthpiece again, barking instructions at the other two while I talk. “Go make a lot of noise and hope they think I’m braver than I feel right now.”
“They’ll smell blood,” he warns. “You sure you don’t want to wait? What if Kyra gets hurt in the crossfire? Marty will have our ass.”
Never mind Marty. I’ll have my own ass. “Either she gets hurt by accident, or they do it on purpose. I know which one I’d rather deal with.”
“We’ll meet you there in ten.” His tone changes as the call switches over to his headset. “Maybe sooner.”
“Is Fang still nearby?”
“He’s circling back to town with Circus. Said the rest of them passed straight through; no sign on the outskirts. I’ll tell him where you are. Wait for him before you go in if you can.”
I rise to my feet as the Devil across the street turns my way. His gaze lifts, phone still to his ear, and recognition steels his features.Game on.“I think it might be a bit late for that.”
Call disconnected, I shove the phone in my pocket as I jog down the steps. “The fuck are you doing in Temperance?” I holler as I hit the street.
He steps toward me, which I don’t like one bit. He ain’t fronting up to me—he tries to draw me away from whatever goes on behind him. “Don’t need an invite to travel America’s fine roads, do I?”
“You do when you want to travel on mine.”
He stares down at the ground beneath my feet. “Don’t see your name on it.”
“Quit fucking around.” I hop up onto the pavement with him. “What are you doing here?”
“None of your business.”
“Do we need to go over this again?” I ask, eyes narrowed on the fuck. “You’re in my neighborhood, so yeah, it is my business. Just like it would be your business if I showed up on your back doorstep.”
He turns to read the street sign behind him. “Your name is Cottonwood, is it? If this is your street and all.”
I take another step forward. As predicted, he doesn’t move.
