Of course, three steps into the cold, and I wish I’d chosen the tunnels after all.
Pandora’s Uncle Slayer is waiting outside the building.
My heart leaps into my throat. The last time he’d been waiting for me anywhere, I’d lost my finger. Did he find out about the gym? Does he think I did something else to Pandora?
Or is he here with news about my mom?
Fuck.
The tunnels would’ve been more isolated, but I know them better than her uncle ever could.
I think.
I take a deep breath, square my shoulders, then approach him. “Slayer,” I say with a respectful nod. I’m dwarfed by his size and sheer presence, but I’ve learned never to show fear in the face of a predator. Even at his age, he could take me in a heartbeat, but I don’t think about that. “I think Pandora’s in class.”
“Good thing I’m not here for her,” he says. He hands me a piece of paper that’s been folded over twice. “Here.”
“You didn’t have to come all this way to give me anything,” I say. Why would he bother when he could’ve given me information over the phone?
“I was in the neighborhood,” he says.
I roll my eyes. We both know that isn’t true. He probably wanted an excuse to check up on Pandora.
Slayer points to the paper. “Your mom’s new phone number. She’s in hiding. So far, I haven’t told anyone else where she is.”
“So far,” I repeat, my heart thundering in my chest. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m holding the key to finding her again or if I’m afraid my dad will find out where she is. Despite everything, I really do want my mother to escape him. “Does that mean you’re planning on telling people?”
Slayer shrugs. “Pandora would be pissed if I did.”
In other words, no. I would relax, but there’s no room for relaxing near Slayer.
“I appreciate this,” I say, holding the paper tightly. I don’t know if I’m going to call my mother. I still feel so betrayed by the fact that she bailed on me without a word, and I don’t think I know what to say. But having her number eases something inside of me because it means she’s still alive.
“So because you appreciate this so much,” he says, flashing me a grin, “let’s have a chat about Pandora.”
Oh, hell.
I know how this goes.
My mouth goes dry, and I instinctively shove my hands into my pockets.
I remember a flash of metal, and I feel it penetrating my skin. My empty knuckle throbs with pain, shooting all the way up my arm.
“Now’s a bad time,” I say hoarsely. “I have class.”
Slayer steps closer, and I resist the urge to take a step back. “All the more reason for you to be honest, and fast. Tell me what the fuck’s been going on that has Pandora avoiding us.”
I can’t tell him the truth, or he’ll do worse than take a finger.
But I can’t lie, either.
Double fuck.
“She’d be the one to kill me if I told you anything,” I tell him. “You have to know that.”
He chuckles, the sound dark. “Or I can be the one to kill you if you don’t.”
I can imagine bleeding out into the snow.
