Page 97

Weak threats didn’t faze Alex. Not from someone in cuffs, and definitely not against the clock. He pulled the chain tighter, drawing her back against his chest. He leaned close to her ear.

“You think I’m just doing this for fun?” he whispered, making sure his message seeped into her brain. “There’s so many people out there losing their fucking minds over this goddamn drug, and you and I know you know something about it. One of them, including someone you were close with.”

He heard Kana exhale sharply behind him. Her heels clicked towards the door—impatient, not sad.

“So stop being a bitch and follow along. This is the last time I’m gonna ask nicely.”

Alex glared at Ken. “Open the door.”

Ken held the door open, eyes hard. Kana slipped through after him.

Alex kept Snowy in front of him as they moved down the hall. Every time she pulled, he reined her back.

“Get a move on,” he said, pushing her forward. “We’re on a tight schedule.”

Snowy whipped around. “Stop touching me.”

Alex nudged her forward again. Ken stepped up, but Alex raised a hand. “She can walk, man. Don’t baby her.”

“Yo.” Hal stormed around the corner and stopped dead, his grimace deepening at the sight of Snowy squirming under Alex’s grip. “The fuck is going on?”

“No time to explain,” said Alex. “Our boy here?”

As if on cue, loud music bounced through the studio hallways, followed by a roar of cheering. “Guess Covey started,” muttered Kana.

“Great,” said Alex, steering Snowy ahead by the chain, almost making her trip over her long legs. “Get a move on.” He clicked his tongue.

They followed Hal down the corridor towards the studio back door in a line, with Kana and Ken trailing behind him. Coming around the corner, sunlight poured in through the glass back door. Snowy fidgeted under his grip. With his free hand, he took out his phone and opened the group chat.

Connor: we just got here

Augs: k you better stay there

Connor: why?

Augs: I gotta show u smthn;)

“Hey,” Snowy mumbled, looking over her shoulder as Hal opened the exit door.

“What?” he grumbled back, putting his phone away.

“So, who are you anyway? You’re obviously not the cops.” She glanced at Kana and Ken. “And why do you know those two? How are they involved?”

Alex snorted. “As a wise-ass pony once said—” He pushed her through the open door into the parking lot. “‘It’s none of your business.’”

21

Jazz

When the studio’s back door swung open, Jun wasn’t sure what he’d expected. It was not a gorgeous woman stumbling across the pavement with her hands behind her back and Alex gripping whatever held them together. From the sequined outfit and the camera-ready makeup, this had to be Snowy.

Jun never imagined he’d see a celebrity in handcuffs—let alone under Alex’s grip, who at this point looked almost indistinguishable from a real bodyguard in his blond wig.

Ken and Kana walked out shortly after.

“Y’all, let’s go!” Hal called from the hood of the Vanquish, waving them forward with broad, urgent strokes.

“Wait.” Ken stopped them short. “There’s not enough room for all of us in one car.”