“And now Salazar’s men are looking for you.”
“I can handle myself.”
“You shouldn’t have to.”
That hits harder than it should.
Because nobody says that to me.
Nobody.
Ghost makes a sound through the earpiece, quieter this time. Not a laugh. Something else.
Shadow taps the mic. “Not helping.”
“Wasn’t trying,” Ghost says. Then, colder, “Keep her there. We’ll move when Havoc says.”
The line cuts.
I stare at Shadow. “Saints protection. What does that mean?”
“It means nobody touches you unless they want all of us.”
The words should scare me.
They do.
They also do something else, low in my chest, something warm and stupid and dangerous.
I look away first.
“Does that come with a pamphlet?”
“No.”
“Return policy?”
“No.”
“Customer service number?”
“Just me.”
My cheeks warm, and I hate them.
I hate the way my body reacts to two simple words, like they’re a promise instead of a warning. I hate the little dip in my stomach, the flutter under my ribs, the stupid, traitorous part of me that hears just me and thinks safe.
My phone buzzes on the nightstand behind me.
Chapter 4
Talia
Thesoundistiny,but it might as well be a bomb.
I spin away from the table and lunge for it.
Shadow moves too, but I’m closer. I snatch it off the charger, the screen finally glowing weakly to life.
