The PA system played the final warning that the train would be departing. I swore under my breath as I stopped and scanned the crowd. Jeremiah and Al were nowhere in sight. Did they get back onto the train?
I spotted Al on the platform, weaving his way through the crowd as he tried to catch up to the guy who was wearing my coat.
That left Jeremiah unaccounted for.
I spotted a trio of ladies waiting on the platform, taking selfies. If there was anything I knew about women, it’s that they protected their own.
I rehearsed the story in my mind as I quickly approached the blonde of the group. “Excuse me.”
They looked up, eyes going wide as they took me in. I knew the effect that I had on women, and in this instance, I was more than okay with using it to my advantage.
“See that guy right there?” I said, pointing to where Jeremiah was meeting up with Al. The two of them were frantic as they searched the platform. “That’s my sister’s ex. I’m trying to get her out of here safely, and he’s looking for her.” I showed them the shirt and addressed the blonde directly. “You look like her. Do you think you could put this on and get him to follow you? He’ll leave you be when he realizes you aren’t her.”
“What a piece of shit,” the brunette with sleeves of tattoos sneered as she studied Jeremiah.
“Total limp dick energy,” the girl with pink hair chimed in before giving me an up-and-down assessment. “You, on the other hand . . . Have you ever thought about being a romance book model?”
The woman with dirty blonde hair snatched the shirt out of my hand. “I have plenty of rage for this. Tell your sister we’ve got her. Willow, Wander, let’s go.”
Women were the best.
“Thank you, ladies. Safe travels.”
The blonde immediately pulled on the shirt, fluffed her hair, and waltzed right in Jeremiah’s direction just as the train horn bellowed.
Shit.
I broke out in a sprint, pushing myself as fast as I could possibly go as the engine began to chug.
I didn’t even know what car I was aiming for. I just jumped.
32
AMELIA
Friday, June 6 | 1:37 p.m.
Iwaited in the closet with my arms crossed over my bra, whispering silent prayers that Jude would be able to pull off whatever asinine plan he’d concocted. The moment I felt the train begin to rumble and move, I dashed across the walkway and dove into our room. I told myself that Jude was already back. That he was waiting for me. He’d have that lazy smirk on his face and say, “Told you, little fox.”
He wasn’t.
The roomette was empty, save for our backpacks. My gut sank, but I did exactly what he said and locked the door before rummaging around for a backup shirt.
Then, I waited.
Footsteps sounded outside the door as people began to mill about, but still, no Jude. I stretched out on the cot we had shared and closed my eyes as I sank into his lingering scent.
A soft knock at the door startled me.What if it’s not Jude? What if it’s the men John Valentine had sent after us?
The train began to pick up speed as we left the station behind. The knock sounded again. “Come on, little fox,” Jude said from the other side of the door. “I ran to make it back on the train, and you know how I feel about running.”
I flipped the latch and yanked the door open as Jude scooped me up with that cocky grin on his face. “You ran for me?”
“Of course I did.” His eyes immediately lowered to my mouth. “I’ll never stop chasing you.”
Friday, June 6 | 9:20 p.m.
“You’re ready,”Jude said as he shuffled the deck of cards and slid them back into the box. “Don’t overthink it.”
