He walked ahead of me to open the passenger door of the old sedan.
“Whose car is this?”
Coyote shrugged. “Don’t know. I stole it.”
Perfect. I sighed and got in, trying as much as possible not to contaminate what would be Exhibit A in our trial should anyone find it.
Coyote popped the trunk, and I tried very hard not to think about what he was doing, especially as the car lightly jostled with the extra weight being added in.
You did this.
Then he was getting in on the driver’s side and we were back on the road.
“There weren’t any cameras that I could see. Though I assume that’s not an accident?”
I looked out the window rather than responding. Tristan had probably chosen that specific place knowing there weren’t cameras. Maybe if I hadn’t been crying like a fool, I’d have noticed him before… everything.
You did this.
I never should have joined The Veil.
The car came to a stop out the front of a very average-looking house on the border of Harborview and Deltran. I’d never been to Bull’s house before. Of all Archer’s group, I’d seen him the least, both of us more like honorary members. But I knew he was Archer’s cousin, and one of the few people in his family he actually liked.
I had to trust him. I figured Archer would have told me if I couldn’t, like he’d told me he wasn’t sure about a couple of the others.
During the drive, a throbbing pain had replaced the relief I’d felt in my shoulder. Adrenaline had well and truly worn off, and there was nothing to dull the toll the events of the night had taken on my body.
Coyote opened the car door for me. I tried not to let it bother me. I also tried not to limp too obviously as we made our way to the front door. I failed at both.
The minutes we spent waiting in the darkness seemed to stretch longer, my aches making me aware of every second that passed before the front door cracked open. It was just enough to see the shadowed face inside and a single dark eye that looked us up and down.
Bull sighed.
“Nice to see you too,” Coyote teased.
The door was pulled open just enough for us to get inside, then promptly closed and locked.
Bull wore only a loose pair of gray sweatpants and a chunky gold chain around his neck. His short dark hair curled up at all angles, and his dead-eyed expression told me he wasn’t at all pleased at being woken at almost four in the morning.
“What happened?” asked a deep, accented voice as Bull looked me up and down.
I looked away, and he huffed.
“Jesus, Snakey, what happened to you?” came an unexpected voice. Pink knee-high socks padded down the stairs.Cupidwas also shirtless, wearing only tiny pink cherry-patterned booty shorts. There were faint bruises over his torso, and small pink gems glinted off his navel and nipple piercings. His right hand was in a cast.
Brilliant. How many other people had to see me like this?
A wide grin spread across Coyote’s face. “Hey, Matty. Fancy seeing you here.”
Bull tensed beside us. “Not a word,” he grunted as Coyote beamed at him.
Then he turned and walked off through the unlit living room.
I struggled to keep up with him. Coyote stayed by my side but thankfully refrained from touching me.
The living room connected to a kitchen, and a door to the side opened into what seemed like an ordinary doctor’s examination room.
Bull stood by the door, using his body to block Coyote or Cupid from entering after me. “Go away.”
