Quickly, I started typing another message, sending it without a second thought.
Me:
I’ve been think about u
Delivered.
I reread the message, my frown deepening. “Oh God.” My fingers moved fast.
Me:
*thinking
“Jesus fuck, what am I doing?” I muttered.
“Yeah, even I think that’s a little too desperate.”
I jerked away from the container, my hand slipping behind me to whip out my Glock, pointing it right at the shadowed figure who was also quick to pull out their weapon, pointing it right at me.
“Drop the gun,” we both said at the same time.
I frowned, squinting to see who the person was. If she could just step into the light a smidge.
“Jinx,” she said. “Just like when we were kids.”
“Darling, I don’t know who the fuck you are, and I won’t hesitate to pull this trigger if you don’t drop the gun.”
“Not until you drop yours first.”
“Awesome, we’re both gonna die then. Take a few steps back. Let’s make it a good old duel.”
She laughed, which made my caution falter a bit. The sound of her gun clattering to the ground was all I heard as her silhouette raised both hands and she stepped into the light.
Jesus fu—
“Hi, Zahra.” She smiled softly.
Long black hair, pale skin, and a familiar smile that broughtback memories from when I was twelve had me lowering my gun. “Daiyu?”
She grinned. “In the flesh.”
I didn’t wait to check my surroundings as I rushed to throw my arms around her. “Oh my God,” I said, hugging her tight. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
Daiyu and I had only spent two years together, but during those two years, she was the closest thing to a friend I’d ever had. We’d met when I was moved to different Handlers at the age of twelve, after I was almost hurt by a drunk Manuel. She was ten when I moved in, and we had hit it off immediately, too mature for our age with everything we’d both been through. When I was fourteen and about to be moved to a different level, I knew I’d never see her again… but now…
I pulled away, my wide eyes searching hers. “You’re out.” I smiled, shaking her shoulders. “You got out… How?”
She shrugged. “I was claimed at seventeen, and the person who paid for me turned out to be an idiot. He’s dead now, and all his properties belong to me.”
I let out a relieved breath, slipping my gun back behind me. “When did this happen?”
“Four years ago… still fresh.”
“Yeah,” I said. “But you’re out, and you’re alive and—God, I’m so happy to see you, Daiyu, you have no idea.”
Her lips curved, her eyes softening. “I think I do because I’m so happy to see you too. When I heard you were claimed, I was so sad, and then I heard he came for you—Manuel. Then the Contis took you in and I thought we would never see each other again, but when I heard you were in Mexico? I knew we had to meet.”
“Yeah, I’m glad you reached out,” I said, then frowned. “What the hell were you thinking getting yourself involved with the likes of Yaroslav?”
