“Please, Neo.” The whispered plea tumbled to the very bottom of the beating organ in my chest.
Irritated, I snarled into the line even though she couldn’t see me. I wasn’t about to fall for that. My lips parted to tell her that very thing. But instead, something completely contrary came out. “I’m on my way.”
The slammer to slums, as everyone in this district liked to refer to the local jail, was really no better than any other rundown building in this part of the city. Except this place had better security and a bigger supply of donuts.
The place really wasn’t much cleaner either, but it could be argued it was because it was a revolving door to the street rats that ran around here on the daily.
By streets rats, I mean of the human and rodent variety.
Every cell in my body actually revolted against me when I stepped over the threshold, willingly walking into a place that often offered to lock me up. They never did, though, as much as they might want to.
Still, it was basically against my religion to roll right in and wave a red flag signaling war.
My religion = anything that offered self-preservation.
Here I was, though, breaking my self-made rules for a woman whose name I didn’t even know. For a woman who insulted me.
“Well, well, well, look what the cat dragged in,” one of the boys in blue drawled, standing up from behind his desk to shake his head at me.
I grinned lazily. I definitely might not want to be here, but I would damn sure act like this was the best place in the world while I was.
“Officer Friendly,” I boasted, calling him that because I didn’t know his name. Friendly my ass.
“You here to turn yourself in, Neo?” The man chuckled and turned a chair around from his desk, offering it to me. “Have a seat.”
I spread my hands. “You know I’m as clean as a bottle of bleach.”
“If you’re clean, then I’m the next queen of England,” Fig announced, stepping into the room from the hallway.
“I look forward to seeing you in a diamond tiara,” I quipped.
Fig slapped the folder he was carrying onto the counter. “You here about Fletcher? Worried your little protégé is about to be hauled in?”
“I don’t need to be worried about Fletch because he didn’t do anything wrong.” I lied.
“I might have to believe you this time because I got the culprit the first time around.”
“Why haven’t you released her yet?”
“Now you know I can’t discuss details of an ongoing case with civilians.”
I suppressed an eye roll and smiled instead. “If I was a civilian, y’all wouldn’t know me by name.”
“That’s not anything to be proud of.” Reba, one of the female officers strolled by.
“You are looking better than ever, Ms. Reba,” I drawled. “Is that a new hairstyle?” I held up both my hands to give her a ten out of ten.
She giggled. “You come by anytime, Neo.”
I winked at her.
Turning my attention back to Fig, I said, “So? What’s the deal?”
A stubborn glint flashed in his eyes. “I said—”
I cut him off. “She called me to come bail her out.”
Fig’s eyes widened. “You know her?”
I didn’t say anything.
Fig and a few other officers shuffled closer. I watched them carefully but didn’t move back.
“So, ah…” Officer friendly leaned in. “What’s her name?”
Fig pulled out a pen and poised it above a notepad as he listened.
“You arrested her hours ago, and you mean to tell me you haven’t gotten her name yet?”
“Won’t give it up,” Fig said, brusque.
“And her ID?”
“Doesn’t have one.”
“Thought about doing a strip search. That is one fine-looking piece—” Officer Friendly’s words cut off with a strangled choke when I set my full dark stare on him.
He was no longer Officer Friendly. Now he was Officer Scallywag.
Fig smacked his partner in the chest. “He’s just kidding, Neo. That isn’t how we operate…”
“How much?” I said, my cajoling, charming tone no longer in use.
Fig straightened, sensing the change in me. “You really know her?”
“Pretty sure I don’t have to answer that.”
He made a sour face. “You’re going to play this game.”
“You know damn well I don’t play games. You also know I don’t give out information I don’t have to.”
“I could arrest you too.” He threatened, gauging my reaction.
“You’re really pressing charges?”
“That’s the victim’s right.”
Folding my arms over my chest, I relaxed into the conversation. “You know damn well when that fool wakes up tomorrow, he won’t remember jack shit about this, and his wallet is already back in his pocket. So why waste everyone’s time?”
“Guess we’ll have to wait and see tomorrow…”
“Or you could just let this go tonight,” I suggested.
“You telling me how to do my job?”
“Seems like someone needs to.”
Fig got up in my face, and I held my ground. He was nothing but a man on a power trip. I sniffed the air, leaned closer to the man, and sniffed again. “You smell like a brewery, Fig.” I spoke loudly.
His eyes widened and then narrowed.
“You arrested that woman while you were intoxicated, even after she insisted she was innocent.”
“She was not innocent! You were standing right there. You saw the wallet in her pocket!”
I pursed my lips. “You know… I was drinking too. And I sure can’t remember too clearly what I saw except for some drunken slob yelling about someone taking his wallet, which he found lying at his feet a few minutes later.”
A few officers stopped what they were doing and looked up.
“You know that ain’t what happened,” Fig argued.
“I know you were off duty and drinking when all this happened. I could call up Earth and see what his version of the story is.”
Fig’s tongue ran across his front teeth. “Isn’t Earth a friend of yours?”
“He’s the man who owns the establishment where the alleged crime was committed. He’s also a witness.”
“You been drinking, Fig?” Officer Scallywag said, reentering the conversation. “You know the boss won’t like that if he hears.”
“I know what I saw, Barron. Beer or no beer.”
I gave Officer Scallywag a look reminding him that I hadn’t forgotten about his remarks about his newest inmate.
He cleared his throat. “Why don’t we just let this one go? No one was hurt, and everyone had been drinking.”
Fig’s eyes flared, incredulous.
“The amount of paperwork and digging to find her name is going to be a pain the ass,” Scallywag whined, trying to convince him.
Fig stared at his partner for long moments and then relented. “Reba!” he bellowed. “Go get the girl.”
“You’re gonna release her?” she yelled back.
I glanced at Fig. He glanced at me, then at the men standing around. His face was sour, but he nodded once. “Seems it was a big misunderstanding.”
“Good choice,” I said, lifting a hand to slap him on the back. He gave me a withering stare. I dropped my hand. “I’ll wait outside,” I announced, knowing when not to push my luck.
“I better not see you or her in here again, Neo!” Fig called after me. “Next time, I won’t let it go!”
I suppressed a laugh.
Next time? There would never be a next time.
6
Ivory
* * *
Could it really be considered freedom if you didn’t have anywhere to go?
As I glanced around the dingy, depressing, and somewhat frightening police station, there was not one face I knew. No one to offer assistance or even just
a friendly smile.
I thought after I had some time to think, I’d be able to formulate a plan. But after hours of sitting in a silent cell alone, I only felt more confused.
Walking on wobbling legs, I pushed through the glass doors leading out onto the dark sidewalk. Heavy, persistent raindrops poured from the sky, pounding everything beyond the tiny awning over the precinct doors.
I didn’t know what I’d done to deserve such bad karma, but I was ready for it to stop.
Looking right and then left, I saw nothing but strange darkness and nothing at all to guide me.
“I’m innocent!” a man roared as a scuffle erupted right beside me. “Innocent!” His flailing body knocked into me, and I stumbled.
Drawing back, a uniformed officer gave me a sympathetic smile as he hauled a rough-looking man dressed all in leather into the building I’d just vacated.
A shiver shook my body, and I realized I’d been knocked into the rain and it was drenching my thin clothes. Quickly, I grabbed the hood to cover my head, but suddenly, the rain stopped. The sound of raindrops pattering overhead made me look up. Cold wind blew, sweeping back the hood until it rested at the back of my neck.
Eyes that contained a galaxy pierced mine, and a jolt of electricity zapped my limbs.
“You,” I whispered, unable to look away from his stare.
“You’re surprised?” His voice was low and gruff.
My head bobbed.
“You called me.”
Ripping my eyes off his, I gazed up, seeing the umbrella he was holding over my head. “You’re the reason they let me go?”
“Who else?” He smirked.
I let my gaze drop to my feet. “No one.”
The rain seemed to pick up, pounding more violently overhead and splashing the concrete around us, sprinkling my already ruined shoes with water.
I was so cold my knees ached, and every joint in my hands screamed because I’d clenched my fists for so long.
“You can go home now.” The voice seemed far away, and it took a minute for me to hear him.
Pulling up my chin, I gazed back into his smooth face. “Home,” I murmured wistfully.
A great crack of thunder boomed through the night, attacking the city and knocking me off my feet. Cringing, I ducked into the closest thing I could for protection as I was immediately assaulted by images and flashes of things I didn’t understand.
Lightning streaked overhead, lighting up the sky bright white before sparking out almost as quickly as it appeared.
My sore hand curled around the front of Neo’s black jacket, the buttons on the many pockets poking my palm. The hand not holding the umbrella splayed over my shoulder and pulled me back, but I still clutched the front of his coat.
Tipping up my chin, I tried to focus, wondering why I wasn’t able. “Home,” I murmured once again. “I can’t go home.”
And with that, my mind and body succumbed to darkness.
7
Neo
* * *
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I tried to kick on the door as lightly as possible but still loud enough to be heard. With the adrenaline pumping through my limbs, keeping the kicks under control was actually a challenge.
Normally, I wouldn’t knock. Normally, if I did, I wouldn’t care how loud it was. The whole point of knocking was to get the attention of the people inside. The louder, the better, right?
Not when you had an unconscious princess cradled in your arms.
Granted, I would do well to wake her up, but I found myself trying not to disturb her. Trying to protect her from any undue stress.
I kicked on the door again, staring at the thick wood impatiently. Suspicious bastards.
“I know you’re standing there, Fletch. Open the damn door,” I announced, watching the girl. Her face remained turned into my jacket, long lashes sweeping against her near-translucent cheeks.
Light scuffling sounded, and I heard the small hatch open over the peephole on the other side. I leaned toward it, scowling.
Several locks disengaged, and the light dragging sound of a thick metal chain slid back. The door creaked loudly when it was pulled back a few inches, and Fletch’s golden eye peered through the crack. Surprise widened his stare, and he scrambled back, pulling the door all the way open.
I brushed past, tightening my hold on the bundle in my arms as I went.
“Is that a girl?” Fletcher gasped, shutting the door and scurrying so close he nearly collided into my back.
“Lock the door.” I reminded him.
An impatient, almost petulant sound came from him as he glanced between the girl and the door. Arching an eyebrow, I silently asked if he really thought there was a choice.
His hair flopped as he went to lock up, making about as much noise as the construction crews around here working on the buildings.
“Did you say, girl—” Beau called, pushing back from his usual position to stand and turn. “What the hell happened?” The words rushed out, his legs carrying him to where I was carefully laying her on the couch.
Ignoring both Fletch and Beau, I slipped a pillow under her head and tucked her hands into her lap. Straightening, I saw the blanket tossed over the back of the couch and snatched it to drape over her body.
She was a small woman, her frame narrow and delicate, her stature petite. Even lying across our sofa, she barely took up half. She was still. Silent and so very pale.
Flashes of the past assaulted me. The echo of shattering glass, screaming. Then an overwhelming veil of sadness draped over my mind, blocking out the woman I’d just carried three blocks in the rain and replacing her with another time and place.
“Whoa, whoa.” An arm slipped around my waist, and a solid body offered support I hadn’t realized I needed until his cautious voice was beside my ear.
Blinking, I glanced beside me.
Beau’s blue-green eyes were concerned. “Are you hurt somewhere?”
I shook my head. “No.”
“Then—”
Shaking off his concern, I glanced back at the couch.
Why wasn’t she waking up? Should I have gone to the hospital instead?
“Is that the girl from the bar?” Fletcher asked, pushing into my other side.
I nodded, and the three of us stared at her for long, silent beats.
“You know the rules.” Earth’s voice cut through the room.
I felt Beau and Fletch exchange glances, but I looked directly at my brother. “She literally passed out on the street. Was I supposed to just leave her there in the rain?”
Earth shrugged. “Not my problem.”
“I thought she got arrested,” Fletcher prompted.
“Of all the nights to not go down to the bar…” Beau muttered.
“She did.” I confirmed with Fletch. “She called me to bail her out.”
Everyone’s stare swung to me. I felt their astonishment.
“You know her,” Earth stated.
I shook my head.
“But you bailed her out anyway.”
“She went to jail because of Fletch.”
“That guy knew it was me! I had to do something! I didn’t think she’d actually get hauled in. Stupid Fig.” He complained. “You shouldn’t let cops in your bar, E!”
“Yeah, ‘cause that wouldn’t be suspicious,” Earth retorted, then turned back to me. “No outsiders. No exceptions.”
A faint echo of the memories I’d just relived bounced around inside me, sort of like how the scent of paint lingers as it dries. “I’ll get rid of her as soon as she wakes up.”
“Now.”
“C’mon, Earth. It’s just a girl. And a small one at that. She doesn’t look too good,” Beau concluded, glancing back at her.
“Why is she like that?” Fletch pointed at her. “Did she hit her head or something?”
“I’m not sure,” I murmured. “She just fainted.”
“She’s probably faking.” Earth guessed.
&nbs
p; “She’s very pale.” Fletch leaned in, staring at her closely. “What’s up with her hand?” He pointed to what looked like a sock that was matted with dried blood.
“Whatever is wrong with her isn’t our concern. Wake her up and get her the hell out of here.” Earth’s footfalls were heavy as he walked across the room, his shadow following closely behind.
Both hands slapped onto the back of the leather couch, his torso leaning over. A disgusted sound fell from his curled lip, and his hand shot out.
I caught it.
Surprised, he glanced up.
Both of us leaned over, the sleeping girl drawing a line between us.
“Don’t,” I intoned.
His eyes narrowed. “Why do you care?”
“I don’t.”
Pointedly, he stared down at where my hand circled his wrist, keeping him from shaking her awake. Pulling free, Earth crossed both arms over his chest. “As soon as she wakes up, she’s out.”
I nodded.
“This is the first girl that’s ever been in our apartment,” Fletcher said as if he were seeing some kind of magical creature.
I really should socialize him more. Actually, no. Fletch got lots of socialization on the streets every day. This was different. Part of me understood his awe. She was nothing like any of the people we usually saw. It felt like she was from a whole other world.
“Hey, Sleeping Beauty!” Earth barked, using his knee to kick the back of the couch. “Wake up!”
The muscles in the back of my neck tensed. Her eyelids did not flutter.
“Sleeping Beauty,” Beau mused. “Maybe she needs true love’s kiss to wake up.”
Warmth coated the back of my neck. At my side, my hand balled into a fist. Unable to tell myself no, my gaze strayed to those perfectly shaped lips.
“Don’t be stupid,” Earth snapped, then hit the back of the couch again. “Princess!”
“What the hell is your probl—” I started to challenge, but I was cut off.
“Mmm.” A soft sound purred from the small girl’s throat. The hand not trapped by a sock rose to lightly touch her forehead.
She moaned again.
Dark, velvety lashes began to flutter.
Ivory White : A House of Misfits Standalone Page 4
