“Whoa,” Quinn drones. “We’re not talking small crush, are we?”
I don’t reply, too busy glaring at the cop who just took his phone out of his uniform pocket and handed it over to Electra. “Is she giving him her number? What the fuck? Is that even allowed?”
I’m so concentrated on the exchange that I don’t notice Malachi climbing behind the wheel until he says, “Officer Stevens is a good, wholesome kid.”
I meet his aviator-shaded gaze in the rearview mirror. To think he played a pivotal role in my beginnings with Electra.
“By the way, Rafferty, you and she are done.” Malachi twists in his seat and lowers his shades as though he plans on hypnotizing me. When his eyes don’t light up, I deduce he just wants to look me in the eye to deliver the nail in the coffin of my relationship to Electra. “I don’t care why you pulled any of the shit you did. All I care about is that you hurt her. Try anything again, and I’ll give you the same fate her father gave yours. Am I clear?”
My molars clench. My knuckles pop. I think I hear Quinn swallow, but that could be in my head.
“Am I clear?” Malachi repeats.
I avert my gaze. “I heard you.”
Electra finally makes her way back to us, while her new buddies head toward the gathered crowd, arms outstretched as though to sweep them back.
“Am. I. Clear?” Malachi growls as Electra hops in.
She pushes her dark, silken locks back. “Clear about what?”
Will Malachi dare tell her? And if he does, will she laugh and promise him that she’ll never again look at me the way she looked at me last night?
“Clear about what happens if they try to dive out of the vehicle,” Malachi mutters, pulling out of his parking spot.
Electra hikes up an eyebrow, stealing a glance first at Quinn, then at me. Where she doesn’t linger on me, she does linger on Quinn—more specifically, on her cheek.
Quinn twists her head, pressing her scar into the headrest.
Without asking what happened to her, Electra turns back around. “Callie says we can use the house. She’ll join us with Tarian after their appointment tomorrow.”
Quinn’s gaze returns to mine, flashing with unconcealed fear. How I wish I could reach out and squeeze her hand to reassure her that everything will be okay.
But will it?
Chapter 49
Electra
“You need to get rid of my phone.” Reeve’s voice rings with nerves.
“We will. Eventually.” Though my reply is cryptic, I doubt he misunderstands my reason for keeping it.
“Trenton can track my phone even if it’s out of battery.”
To avoid appearing dimwitted, I quietly ask Malachi in Atlantean: “Do you know who they’re talking about?”
“Another Hunter.”
I throw Malachi an arched brow. “Wow. I would never have guessed.”
A corner of Malachi’s mouth lifts.
I click on my message thread with Alexander.
ME:Who’s Trenton? And how far out are you guys? We’re almost at the airstrip.
ALEXANDER:We’re right behind you.
