After catching a connecting route, I exit in The Pitts, keeping my head down and walking quickly. Alejandro’s contacts are never repeated twice, but I haven’t heard back from him since sending my last letter. I have no idea who his new contact is. I chew my lip as I follow the same graffiti signs as the last time I was here.
Princess.
A cold shiver runs down my spine at the memory. It may be the middle of the day now, but that doesn’t mean much in The Pitts.
Finally, I reach the club. It looks the same as I remember, except this time, it’s dead quiet, and there’s no one standing outside the door. Just fucking great. My fist trembles as I raise it to the dented steel door and knock.
A grumbled curse word sounds through the door. Then it opens.
I look up, and up, and find myself looking at someone who has to be the tallest man in the world. He has to crane his neck to see me. He looks me up and down, makes a disgruntled sound, then barks at the bickering voices behind him. Cigar smoke escapes out the open door.
I open my mouth, but the man doesn’t give me a chance to say anything before he starts to shut the door in my face.
“Wait!” I put a hand on the door as if I can stop him from closing it. “I’m looking for someone.”
With a grunt, he slams the door shut.
Shit.
Shit, shit, shit.
I glance over my shoulder, hating how exposed I suddenly feel. The few people loitering in the alley are in their own drug-induced worlds. No one is watching me. Shivering, I hike my backpack up my shoulder and turn back to the door.
Knock, knock.
Silence.
Knock, knock, knock—
The door opens, and I stumble forward.
The giant is not pleased. “What the hell do you want?”
“Odette.” The word rushes out of my mouth in desperation.
He stares blankly at me.
“Odette,” I repeat.
“You stupid or something?” Just as he goes to close the door again, a fist wraps around the edge of the frame, halting it. Slowly, it swings back open, and I’m staring into a familiar set of dark eyes. Relief spills into the cool air with my exhale.
“Give us a sec,” the familiar face mutters to the giant. He doesn’t wait for a response before he steps outside and shuts the door behind him. His irritation is palpable. “You can’t come here with that name anymore, kid.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Just one more letter—”
“No.”
“Please. I don’t know where else to go.”
“Then youwait,” he snaps. “That’s all I know.”
“All you know? Bullshit.” My brave—or stupid—words are betrayed by an unsteady grip as I pull the letter out of my pocket. I shove it toward him. “I need this to get to him. You must knowsomething.”
The guy watches me for a long moment. He shakes his head. “How old are you? Eighteen? Nineteen?”
I lift my chin. “Yes.”
He chuckles.
