“I can’t leave my boyfriend,” said Scarlett. “You’ll let himfollow me, right?”
“Of course. He’ll be right behind you.” Cass was reassuring even under the circumstances.
“Thank you,” Scarlett said, infusing gratitude into her voice. She tentatively descended through the darkness until her feet hit the ground. Seconds later, Alastair was beside her, and she reached for his hand. He took it, gripping it tightly in his.
Scarlett jumped as a thump sounded above them, and then again when Cass landed on the ground with a thud. She switched on a flashlight, illuminating their faces in a soft glow, and pointed the light toward an archway.
“That tunnel will lead us out of here. It’ll take them a while to get the lights back on up there, but we’d best be on our way before they find the trapdoor.”
Alastair started toward the archway without a word, Scarlett’s hand still in his. Cass fell into step beside them.
They walked for a few minutes, gravel crunching under their feet in the cold tunnel. Drops of water occasionally hit Scarlett’s face as she tried to pinpoint their location in her mind’s eye.
“Are we walking under the Sapphire Canal?” asked Scarlett.
“Yep,” said Cass.
Scarlett waited, hoping she’d go on, but Cass didn’t elaborate as she walked the underground path in silence.
“Why are you helping us?” Scarlett asked, unable to resist.
“I support the prime minister’s plans to open the border. Couldn’t have his daughter’s arrest on my conscience.”
Scarlett couldn’t see the other woman’s face, but she sounded genuine. “I can’t thank you enough for helping prevent a scandal.”
Alastair snorted. “Won’t the open borders shrink the profits you get from running illicit boxing matches? You won’t be able to charge as much if it isn’t underground.”
Scarlett pulled her hand out of Alastair’s grip for the firsttime since they’d started down the tunnel. “Not everyone’s top priority is money.”
“What?” he huffed. He stopped walking but then took several quick steps to catch up with them. “I was only asking.”
They arrived at a fork in the path. Cass considered for a second and then led them down the path to the left. She cleared her throat.
“We pay exorbitant bribes. If we could go legitimate, the market would expand, and the crooked cops would truly be the only ones worse off. Besides, like your girlfriend said, some things are more important than money. I believe in freedom for Soleil, and it’d be nice if my family could visit me.”
Scarlett was fascinated. All of Soleil knew about the magical black market, so of course the police must too. It made sense, even if she hated to hear about crooked cops.
“Apparently, your bribes aren’t exorbitant enough,” said Alastair.
“That has me concerned.” There was venom in Cass’s voice. She shone her flashlight on the curved wall of the tunnel, and metal glinted back. “This ladder leads to a side street not far from the Prince’s Street Dock. Can you make your way home from there?”
“Yes.” Scarlett nodded. “I can call my driver. Would you like a ride? We can drop you off anywhere you’d like.”
Cass considered for a second. “Sure.”
The three of them climbed onto the street. The moon shone high in the clear sky, giving them far more light to see by than they’d had in the tunnels. They moved to the closest alleyway for shelter from passersby, and Scarlett called Charlie, who’d been her family’s driver her entire life.
He picked up on the first ring. “Hey, kid. Are you ready for a pickup?”
“That would be great. Thanks, Charlie. We’re at the Prince’sStreet Dock. Alastair and another friend are with me. We’ll drop them off before going home.” She could’ve waited to tell him this, but she wanted it known she was going home alone tonight.
“No worries. I’ll be there in about fifteen minutes.”
Charlie hung up, and Scarlett turned to Alastair and Cass.
“It won’t be long. Should we grab a coffee while we wait?”
Alastair shook his head. “Nah, it’ll take too long.” His gaze pierced Scarlett. “Why don’t you have him drop Cass off first and come back to my place?”
