She flopped onto her back, and Shamus padded onto her chest and settled down. His purring rumbled through her, calming.
Swords, swords, and more swords. Fighting, uncertainty, imbalance. And at the end of it? The Queen of Swords, a womanwith long dark hair, dark eyes, and a smile that hid worlds even as she conquered this one.
Her path led to Marina. However she got there, Marina would be the reason for this calamitous adventure. How the fuck was that going to be a good thing? And yet… A tiny flare of hope lit in her chest, and she focused on it. She pictured Marina’s smile. Heard her laugh. Watched the way her eyes twinkled when she was teasing. Felt the embarrassment and frustration when she tripped, spilled something, or passed out.
Yes. No matter what else was coming at her, something meaningful was meant to happen between them. River sat up, getting an irritated squeak from Shamus. “Sorry, buddy.”
She grinned and let the feeling of hope spread through her. Things were going to be okay. Eventually.
CHAPTER 25
“I was surprisedto get your call,” Marina said, breathing in the crisp afternoon air. “I was pretty sure you’d never speak to me alone ever again.”
River was walking along beside her, her hands shoved in her pockets. “Honestly? I wasn’t sure either. But here we are.”
Marina had gladly left the office when River had texted to ask if she wanted to take a walk and grab a smoothie. She’d responded with an eye roll emoji and a query about where and when.
“What changed your mind?” Marina asked, unsure she wanted to know the answer.
“A tarot reading.” River laughed when Marina looked sideways at her. “I needed to understand some of what I was feeling.”
“And the tarot told you to call me? I should send a thank-you basket.” She grinned when River laughed instead of taking offense. “Did it mention me by name?”
River pulled out her phone, typed something in, and held it up. “Kind of.”
The Queen of Swords was a woman dressed in black. She wore ripped jeans, lace up sandals, and held a sword acrossher lap. She also had long dark hair. “What’s it mean?” Marina asked, looking away from the image that she found a little disturbing, though she didn’t know why.
“That’s for me to know and you to find out.” River’s eyebrows wiggled when Marina gave her an exasperated look. “Google it sometime. I just knew she represented you.”
Before Marina could respond, her phone buzzed and she pulled it out. She stumbled and froze when she read the text.
Your mother is sick. You need to come home right away.
Marina’s hand shook and she looked around to see if there was a taxi near the park.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” River asked, touching her arm. “Talk to me.”
“It’s my family. Something’s wrong and I have to get there right away.” Marina’s heart thundered in her chest. It had been so long since she’d heard from her dad. What if?—
“We’ll take my bike. I’ll get us there faster than a taxi.” River took her hand and headed for the parking lot.
Marina didn’t argue. She couldn’t think beyond the fear spiking through her. While River took a small helmet out of the box on the back of her bike, Marina sent a text back.
I’m on my way.Then she typed in her parents’ address and handed the phone to River, who hooked it into the phone holder between her handlebars.
River handed Marina the larger, full helmet. “You wear this.” She clipped the smaller, basic helmet under her own chin and got on the bike. It roared to life, and she motioned for Marina to get on.
It was awkward and less than graceful, but she managed and then wrapped her arms around River’s waist. Instantly, she could breathe again. River’s solid presence, her willingness to help without hesitation, and her steady, calm nature gave Marina a sense that she wasn’t alone. The thought was anintruder, a creeper through a hole in her walls, but for now, she wouldn’t chase it away.
River was right. The ride to Pilsen took far less time than it would have if they’d been stuck at lights and in traffic, and although she was fast, she was also safe. Marina had been on the back of bikes where the driver wanted to show off or was careless, and she’d refused a second ride every time. But River was careful, aware, and didn’t seem to take any risks. On the other hand, it made it so Marina’s mind had time to wander to every terrible scenario instead of concentrating on her own imminent death.
The trembling started when Marina glimpsed the first sign welcoming them to Pilsen. It began in her stomach, then spread until her arms were so tight and tingly, it was painful. It had been so very long since she’d been back, and the colors and storefronts and demands for ICE to stay out of their community flooded through her like a tsunami.
They pulled up outside her family home and for a brief moment, she was tempted to tell River to keep going, not to stop, to take them anywhere but here. But then the bike engine was silent, and the moment passed. Marina climbed off as gracelessly as she’d climbed on, then simply stood there, staring at the house. She jumped when River’s hands moved under her chin.
She unbuckled the helmet and pulled it off, then looked down into Marina’s eyes. Her own helmet was already off and locked to her handlebar. “I can wait out here, if you want. No hurry. I’ll be here when you want to leave.”
Panic shot through her, and she grabbed River’s hand. “No!” At River’s look of surprise, she sighed. “Please stay. I’ll explain later, but I could use a…” She blinked and took a shaky breath. “I could use a friend.”
