I glanced over my shoulder and noticed that Dash was gone, probably having ducked into an alley or entrance to hide. When I turned back, Ireallylooked at the guy. Dark bronzed skin, blue eyes, permanent scowl. He looked so much like Dash I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that they were related.
“This is my girl, Marlow.” Gage squeezed me and then flicked his head to Indigo. “And Drea.”
Nice quick thinking, Gage. Hopefully this guy didn’t know those names. I’m not sure why he would, but I was feeling super paranoid.
The dude scowled. “Not the chicks. Where’s that guy you were with?” He gripped the pool stick in his hands, and I knew this could go south quickly.
I shrugged, hoping I was giving off a casual vibe I wasn’t feeling. “Oh, that dude? We don’t know him. He was trying to hook up with Drea, but she turned him down.” I flicked my head to Indigo.
“I wouldn’t turnyoudown,” Indigo purred, stepping closer to him.
The guy rolled his eyes and waved us off like we were annoying, before he slipped back inside.
My heart rate had been a steady 170 beats per minute through that entire conversation. I felt like I could finally breathe when he stepped away.
Gage yanked me back into the busy street and Indigo followed as we crossed and took a left into the first alley we came to.
I looked over at Indigo. “What if he would have taken you up on that hook up offer?”
She paled. “I didn’t think that far, I was just trying to distract him. Should I be offended he wasn’t interested?”
We both snickered as Gage led us to a dumpster and kicked it twice.
Dash popped out from behind it and blew out a breath. “Sorry, guys. That was…”
“Your brother,” I said.
Dash nodded. “I wasn’t prepared to see him. I won’t mess up like that again.”
Slipping out of Gage’s grip, I stepped over to Dash. “Mess up? You’re allowed to have feelings. Coming back and seeing your family after all this time can’t be easy.”
He cracked a smile, which I only knew because his eyes crinkled under his face covering, and then he put out his fist.
I grinned. Not a hugger. Message received.
After a fist bump, he looked up at the apartment building and the small fire exit we stood in front of. “There’s someone here who might be able to help us, but he’ll want money. Probably a lot of it.”
Oh. Something all Lumens were in short supply of.
“Well, maybe we can negotiate?” I asked. I’m sure I could scramble a thousand bucks from Gran if she knew it would help bring my long-lost sister home.
“Whatever his price, I’ll pay for information on Tatum’s sister,” Gage declared.
I snorted. “You’re broker than I am.”
Gage raised an eyebrow and grinned.
“Aren’t you?” I questioned.
Gage chuckled. “I moved my inheritance to a secret account back when I decided to help you steal my father’s talisman. I knew if he found out it was me, he would drain it.”
Oh. That was smart.
Indigo slapped a hand on her forehead. “Why didn’t I think to do that? My account was frozen weeks ago. I’m sure I didn’t have near as much as Gage, but I would like to at least still have a shoe budget.” She shook her head but seemed to get over it quickly. “But this means Gage is buying from now on,” she declared with a grin, and Dash nodded.
“You don’t have to pay this—” I started but Gage cut me off with a finger to my lips.
“Whatever you want, that I can afford, is yours,” he said.
