“There are no benches!” Fiona’s hushed voice rose in pitch.
“Then hold hands walking around,” Merrick said.
“I’m not armed,” Jax mumbled.
None of us were. It was a risk we’d all taken. Guns weren’t illegal, but they were the height of suspicious. Getting caught with one meant an automatic interrogation for anyone without clear ties to the Dark Watch.
“Are you bleeding?” Tess asked.
“A little. Jax is hiding my hand in his.” Fiona’s almost inaudible response faded into a mere hint of sound as a whistle blew in the background. Its shrillness shot me through with tension. Tess flinched but didn’t slow down.
A masculine voice replaced the screeching whistle. “Loitering is prohibited under AGL, Regulation 19.”
“Isn’t this a public park?” Fiona asked.
“Are you talking back?”
Typical Dark Watch.Even asking a question was a risk.
“We’re new to Korabon,” Jax said after a beat of silence. “Are parks off-limits?”
“I guess you should’ve read the Citizen’s Code if you moved here. The only place it’s legal to gather outdoors is at the shuttle gates.”
“But we’re not gathering,” Fiona said.
“I see two people,” a woman sneered. “That’s a gathering.”
Tess’s head swiveled my way, her jaw dropping in silent protest.
“She giving you attitude, Drake?” a different male voice asked. “The captain told you loitering’s prohibited. That’s a fine.”
“Three hundred units.” The captain again, Drake. “Pay up and we’ll walk away. Pretend we never saw you.”
“I want to see this code,” Jax grated. “And the fines by regulation.”
The goons all murmured. Someone snickered.
“More attitude,” the female said with an audible sniff. “That’ll be six hundred units, since there are two of you…loitering.”
“Six hundred!” Fiona cried. “That’s ridiculous!”
“You bleeding?” one of them asked. That was a fourth voice, another man. The Dark Watch rarely went anywhere with fewer than three goons if they were on duty. The typical foot patrol was a unit of five.
“I tripped and cut myself.” Fiona’s carefully even tone only highlighted her hostility. “Accidentally broke a branch.” I pictured her holding out a thorny stick to show them.
“Disorderly behavior,” someone barked. “Misdemeanor, a night in jail, and full background checks.”
“This is harassment,” Jax ground out.
They laughed. Of course it was. That was the point.
Tess was done listening. She started running again. I took off alongside her, looking for a way in.
Fiona suddenly gasped. “Jax!” she cried out.
“Don’t. Touch. Her.” Pure volcanic fury boiled in Jax’s voice.
“Or what?” one of the men asked.
