I think we were wrong about Leon and Istvan, at least about their willingness to work with each other for more power and money. It wasn’t out of friendship, but out of necessity.
“How did you know the train was arriving on this platform?” The soldier blocking the path to the platform tilted his head, handing Luk back our papers.
“Attention! Track change for the train heading to Budapest. You are now on platform one. I repeat, platform one.” The announcer’s voice came overhead like he was trying to highlight the fact that we were already there.
“It changed on the board first,” Luk replied smoothly, not even a flicker of doubt.
The two guards peered at each other, both skeptical. Everything you did in this country and mine was suspect, and the young guards were looking for a fight, even if there was none, so they could be praised by their superior.
Both Luk and I kept our chins up, confidence radiating off us, while sweat dripped down my back, panic bubbling under my skin. I heard Prague’s prison tried to compete with Halálház, seeing which one could be crueler.
I couldn’t go back.
Iwouldn’t.
People started to line up behind, taking the attention solely off us.
“Go ahead.” The one closest to me stepped out of our way, allowing Luk and me to walk through them.
The internal relief blew from my lips, my fingers squeezing Luk’s. He clenched mine back, and I could see his lids shut for a moment, then open. Reset.
Now the real challenge lay ahead.
“Look,” he muttered. Men were unloading large crates from the caboose, the back part of the trains holding the cargo, placing them on carts to wheel out.
We walked slowly toward the last passenger carriage, waiting for whatever disturbance Tracker and Ava were going to pull.
“Any time,” Luk said into the earpiece.
“There was a hiccup. Hold on,” Tracker growled back.
“We don’t have time,” Luk hissed.
Right then, two guards with a dog walked toward us, my body stiffening as I watched the guard dog sniff, his eyes landing on me, making me feel like he could see right through me.
As if they could sense I was not right. Abnormal. Wrong.
“Relax. They can smell fear.” Luk pulled me to him like we were a couple in love. We both had packs stuffed with sweatshirts to look like we could be going somewhere.
The huge dog yanked against its blond owner’s lead, a low growlvibrating in its throat. What the hell? Did I roll in hamburger on my way here?
The sentry tried to rein him back, the dog straining to reach me. The man’s beady eyes narrowed on me, twisting my stomach again.
“You,” his dark-haired partner ordered, stepping up to us. The dog whined and pranced in his place. The whimper was so odd even his owner was looking at the dog with bewilderment.
“My girlfriend and I... were just getting on the train.” Luk pointed, his hand drawing me toward the carriage.
“Stop,” the guy ordered again, reaching for his gun.
“Do prdele.”Fuck. Holy shit, Luk hissed under his breath in the old Czech language before putting up his hands. “Yeah, yeah, we’ve stopped.”
“Let me see your tickets.” The dark-haired one opened his palm, even though we couldn’t get this far unless we had them.
Luk nodded, placing the documents in his hand, all of us knowing he’d learn nothing from the tickets except we were heading to Budapest, which was where the train was going.
“What are you going for?”
“I’m meeting her parents for the first time. We’re going to get married.” Luk’s explanation flew off his mouth like it was truth.
