Titus nodded, Rae’s voice echoing around them, and he couldn’t help but glance back over. She played with the new phone, a charging cable attached to the bottom, and draped over the bar. Her smile dropped when she read whatever was on the screen.
Titus closed the distance within seconds. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s my brother.” The colour had drained from her face. “They’re going to kill him.”
Chapter19
Rae
This wasn’t the first time she’d received a panicked message from Miles. In fact, he’d done it a few times over the last few years. He had a knack for getting himself into dangerous situations, whether it was for money, drugs or his favourite vice, gambling. She didn’t really care what it was, her job was to bail him out. That was what family was for, and he’d done it enough for her when they were kids. Taking the brunt of the punishments from their father, trying to shield her as much as possible.
She’d sent him to rehab so many times, and still he’d always come out telling her he was changing his life, only to fall right back to where he started. Worse even, because last time she’d been forced to give her life over to Vivian, in exchange for his. There was never much choice, not when it came to Miles.
“Fucking idiot,” she cursed. “I’m going to kill him if they haven’t first.”
Titus scanned the street, taking in the vandalised cars, shut down shops and overflowing bins. “You checked your gun?”
“Of course.” She always made sure it was ready, her dagger a backup in these situations.
“Good, you may need it. Just don’t shoot me.”
He moved a step behind, and for some reason she was comforted at his presence. She’d always had to deal with her brother’s issues alone, and it was strange to have someone at her back. A partner, even if she didn’t trust him.
“I tried that before, didn’t work out well for me,” she said, and she swore he smirked.
It took them longer than necessary to find the grungy club, hidden down a side road with its windows smashed and covered haphazardly with wood. A burst of neon pink broke through the shadows, the club’s logo a flamingo holding a snooker cue while standing on one leg. The light flickered every few seconds, creating a low buzz as Titus knocked his fist against the metal door.
A section slid open, a man scowling through the gap, large enough to see half his face. “What?” He barely gave Rae a cursory glance before settling on Titus.
“We’re here to see Miles,” Rae said, but the man wasn’t listening to her. “Hello?”
Titus remained silent, simply crossing his arms across his chest as he waited.
“Your kind’s not welcome here,” the man growled, “Fuck off.” The metal section slid closed.
Rae’s mouth snapped open. “What a prick!”
“My kind?” Titus frowned, his knock against the door hard enough to leave a dent.
The gap slid open. “I said your kind –”
Titus reached through, gripping the man by his throat.
“Fuck, fuck, sorry. I didn’t realise, I thought you were one of them Breeds.”
“What made you think I was Breed?” Titus asked, squeezing enough that the man’s eyes bulged.
“The wrists man,” he gargled. “We’ve been told to look out for tats on the wrists, the way those druids like them. I didn’t see your eyes!”
Rae frowned.His eyes?
Titus released his grasp, the heavy metal door groaning as it unlocked. The man stepped out the way as they entered, keeping himself an arm’s length away from Titus at all times.
The large room was empty but for two people, both playing on one of the five snooker tables. They didn’t look up, continuing to play their game. “Through there,” the one on the left said, carefully lining up his shot.
“Thanks,” Rae muttered, looking at the old guns and knives decorating the walls, along with taxidermy heads of boars and ducks. Another flamingo neon light was behind the bar, but unlike the one outside, it had no head, the space replaced with dramatic blood squirts.
Cries of pain echoed down the slim corridor, the smack of flesh on flesh.
