"Nah, I'm not selfless enough to be a hero." I dazzle him with a sassy grin, my fingers curled around the taser. "But I'll give you some incentive to chase after me."
Most of Will's crew has stopped behind him, but one guy chases after Finn, Noah, River, and Lily.
"Why would I do that?" Will questions with a tilt of his head. "I can just go after these rich pricks and get some cash."
"Is that what this is about?" I tap my finger against my chin. "You think you can what? Lure their sister down here and blackmail them with ransom to get her back?"
He lifts a shoulder. "Sounds like the perfect plan to me."
I smile sweetly at him. "Too bad it didn't work."
"Didn't it??" His lips peel back into a malicious grin. "You're outnumbered, and I'm not letting you go until I get some money." His gaze roves over my shoulder at something.
I peer behind me, thinking one of his guys has snuck up. But it's River.
Stupid, sweet guy.
Now, he fits the profile of a hero.
"Like I was going to let you do this alone," he says when I scowl at him.
"You'd better be ready to run," I whisper, causing his brows to furrow.
I don't have time to explain. I rotate back to Will. "You remember how someone stole from your boss, and no one could figure out who it was? You tried and tried to figure it out, but failed. Well, here's a little incentive to chase me instead of them." Grinning, I back away, urging River to do the same. "I know who stole the money and where it's hidden. All twenty thousand dollars of it."
Will's expression sharpens, his eyes narrowing as he snarls, "You're lying."
"Am I?" I bat my eyelashes innocently at him. "I mean, it's not like I know anyone who would steal from a drug lord." My tone oozes with sarcasm.
He glares at me because he knows what I'm referring to. My father has stolen from drug lords multiple times.
Here's the thing: Will could probably get more cash from River in return for letting us go. But the bait I set up is more than just about money. It's about power and credit, which Will hasn't had since the incident.
Will points the knife at me. "Your father took that money?" he growls out, his face red.
I honestly don't know if he did. But my father—the man I spent most of my life believing to be my father anyway—has a tarnished reputation, so all it takes is a grin from me for Will to take the bait.
I start running backwards, and River follows suit as Will charges at us.
"Get them!" he yells at his crew, his voice roaring with rage.
"It's time for us to use our running skills," I tell River, hoping his stitches won't rip open.
He shouldn't have stayed behind. I had it handled, but I am touched he did, even if I now have to worry about him injuring himself.
Both of us spin around and run. Footsteps barrel after us, along with shouting.
"Can you sprint?" I ask River as we veer around a corner, heading deeper into the murky, run-down shadows of the city.
River nods, and we quicken our pace, sprinting across the street and heading for a cluster of two-story homes that are worn out enough to be condemned, but aren't. Music is flowing through the air as the noise of parties going on fills the streets. People are loitering outside on front lawns and near cars parked.
I grab River's hand as I tug us toward the closet house.
"What're we doing?" he whispers as I steer us into a crowd crowding around two guys fighting in a gravel driveway.
"Blending in," I whisper as I slow to a powerwalk. I throw a glance over my shoulder. Will and his crew are a ways back, so I quicken my pace and let the crowd swallow us.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" people are chanting as I steer us through the mob.
