by Tracey Ward
I quickly strip off my jacket, carefully peeling it over my aching arm.
“Hold this,” I snap at Trent, throwing the jacket in his face.
It falls away to reveal his feline smile, his eyes watching me in the dark.
“Joss, you don’t have to change how you look,” Ryan says, sounding tired.
“Yes, I do,” I tell him, pulling my t-shirt up over my head.
I don’t have anything on underneath but a thin tank top and a sports bra, but it’ll have to do. My education on sexy comes from 80’s movies but I somehow doubt fluffing my hair and wearing neon spandex is what I need to blend in these days.
“You need to eat more,” Trent says, pointing at my side. “I can see your ribs.”
I snatch my coat back from him, wincing as pain shoots up my arm.
“If I had more to eat, I’d eat it. Back off me.”
“You’re not taking good care of your girl, Ry.”
“I would if she’d let me,” Ryan mutters.
He’s staring down at me as well. Mostly at my chest.
“Alright,” I growl at both of them, “eyes forward and hands off. Let’s go get this over with.”
We move under an overpass, crumbling and decrepit. I hurry as I always do going under them, worried that they’ll choose that moment to dissolve down on top of me. To trap me as easy pickings for… well, just about anyone, living or undead. I shiver at the thought of all the enemies I have out there, a fair portion of which are in this building looming in front of me. It’s stupid to be here.
The building is two stories of good condition that screams someone lives there. The exterior paint is badly chipped and faded, but broken windows are carefully boarded up and the surrounding areas are barricaded and secured. It’s a long building stretching out onto a pier over the water of the Pudget Sound. I’ve fished there before. Not by this building, obviously, but hidden farther north away from The Hive and the Colonies nearby. I can see them now. The stadiums are just south of us, also glowing faintly in the night sky. All of them so shamelessly broadcasting where they are and what they have. Hardly a care in the world.
I hate all of them.
The inside of the building is dark as far as I can see, but Ryan doesn’t hesitate to walk right up to the door and knock sharply. It doesn’t take long for a small square in the door to pop open.
“What?” a voice asks gruffly.
Ryan puts his face to the hole. “I’m here to see the Boss. He asked for me.”
“You’re not here to fight?”
“No. Just business.”
“That’s a shame. Slow night.”
“Not my problem,” Ryan says, his tone dead.
I hear a muffled chuckle as the square slams shut. Bolts are unlatched and eventually the door swings open. There are lights on inside but not much. The entire entryway is cast in black shadows, including the bouncer at the door, and I hesitate as all of my survival instincts scream at me to run the other way. Nature and numbers. They don’t lie.
Ryan steps inside, not bothering to look back to see if Trent and I are following him. Trent nudges me subtly with his arm, falling in step behind me as I stumble forward. I keep moving, my muscles jerky with the tremors running through them. I probably look like one of the junkies. Someone itching for a fix. Better to look like an addict than a coward.
We come into a large open area with high ceilings and exposed beams. The remnants of a huge fish tank sits on the opposite side of the room. It’s emptied of water but looks like it’s filled with something else. Shoes maybe? It’s too dark to tell and I’m too freaked to wander over and look. I hang close to Trent, of all people.
I am knee deep in Neverland now. There are so, so, so many Lost Boys. They’re milling around the lobby, swarming everywhere. No one close, but they’re on the peripheral. Walking on the catwalks above us, sitting around what was once a reception desk to the left and a lot of them are coming and going behind the fish tank. Back there must either be where the fights or the girls are.
The people, they don’t bother me so much. I got pretty used to it at the Colony, though I never learned to like it. What’s bugging me more than anything is the darkness and the lights. It’s too dark to see well, to know who is who and what their life status is. But the light annoys me more. Strung all over the building are strands of LED Christmas lights of every color. I hate Christmas lights. Christmas trees, Christmas music, Christmas presents, but I absolutely cannot stand Christmas lights. These LEDs make the movements of the people around me seem strange, almost like a strobe light. I try my hardest to ignore them but it’s like ignoring the sun. It’s everywhere.
“Ryan,” a high pitched voice sings out.
We all turn to see a girl about my age walking down the stairs from the catwalks. She’s wearing next to nothing. Tiny little shorts and a tinier tank top. Her long blond hair looks pretty clean, making me wonder if The Hive has hot showers. I’m pretty sure they don’t get their soap from Crenshaw.
“Elise,” he says, his voice no warmer than it was for the bouncer.
“I thought that was you. I missed you the last couple times you were here.”
“I wasn’t here to socialize.”
“What about tonight?” she purrs, walking right up to him and pressing her hand against his stomach. “Do you have time to be social tonight?”
I go to take a step toward them, but Trent stealthily grabs my hand. Thank goodness it’s my good hand, because he crushes it in his. When I glare up at him, trying to pull it out of his grasp, he shakes his head minutely. I freeze, waiting.
Ryan steps back from the girl. She steps forward, regaining the ground and giggling up at him.
“Not a good time, El. I’m here to see the Boss tonight.”
“What about after? You might want a midnight snack.”
He jerks his head toward Trent and I. “I packed a lunch.”
I want to punch him, but I remind myself that being a trick was my idea.
Elise smiles happily. “Ryan, finally taking a taste! It’s about time.” She glances over at me, frowning. “She’s scrawny, though. Where’d she come from?”
“I don’t know. She’s on loan from the Pikes.”
The girl scrunches her nose in disgust at me. “Geez, Ryan, are you that hard up? There are girls here that would give it up to you for free and you wouldn’t have to check them for fleas.”
“Just crabs,” I say sharply.
“What did you say?” she shrieks.
“I said you’re a dock walker,” I enunciate slowly. Loudly. “No doubt you’re crawling with crabs.”
“You’re dead,” she breathes, taking several steps toward me.
I’m itching for her to come closer. Just a little bit closer. Even with Trent destroying my good hand and my other arm on the mend, I could beat this chick into the ground. She won’t remember her own name when I’m done with her.
“You’re just mad because she’s right, Elise,” a voice flows down from the rafters, a soft southern drawl making her bitter words sound sweet.
We all look up to see a woman with long dark hair making her way toward the stairs. She’s beautifully pale and dressed almost the same way I am, only her bra, if she had one on, would be working a lot harder than mine.
“Now get away from Ry before I remove you myself.”
Elise backs away, glaring.
The dark haired woman stops at the bottom of the stairs, staring expectantly at Elise.
“Disappear.”
I’m disappointed when she does.
“Thanks, Freedom,” Ryan says, walking up to the woman to give her a hug.
It doesn’t bother me the way Elise’s hands on him did. My veins don’t run hot, my hands itching for a fight. For a knife.
“No problem,” Freedom tells him warmly. “Your brother would never want to see you around a girl like Elise and neither do I. But what are you doing here? You’re not fighting tonight are you?”
&n
bsp; “No, I got called in to see the Boss.”
Freedom looks at him long and hard. “That’s never good.”
Ryan shrugs. It looks stiff. “I think he just wants to talk about the fights I was in recently. I’m not signing on with him. Don’t worry.”
“Anytime anyone goes in to see the Boss, I always worry. Be careful, alright?”
“Yeah.”
“Freedom!”
She closes her eyes briefly. I imagine her counting to ten in her head. When she opens them, she turns to face a tall, shirtless bald guy stalking toward her.
“What do you want, Dante?”
“Are you seriously giving me attitude right now? You’re supposed to be in the Arena at the table full of Westies. The other girls are already there but they’re asking for you.”
Freedom rolls her eyes at this hulking man covered in tats, towering at least six inches over her. “Why are you even doing business with them? I told you, they’re idiots.”
“Idiots with deep pockets. Get in there.”
“I’ll be there in a minute.”
“Freedom, I’m not dealing with you tonight. Get in there now.”
I hold my breath as I watch his hands, worried he’ll hit her soon. I’ve seen women treated worse than that and this one is pushing the limits. Inside, I’m begging her to just go.
“Dante,” she says quietly, her accent becoming more pronounced. Less sweet. “If you tell me to get in there one more time, I will cut you. Do you understand me? I will cut you so deep your grandma in the grave will feel it. Now, I said I’ll be there in a minute and I meant it.”
Dante shakes his head, a harsh breath coming out his nose, but I see his mouth twitch at the corners. “One minute.”
“Isn’t that what I said?”
“You’re insane.”
“Get out of here.”
He turns to leave, shouting over his shoulder, “Fifty seconds!”
“Unbelievable,” Freedom mutters. She turns to Ryan. “You better get to that meeting. You know where to go?”
“Yeah, unfortunately.”
She pats him affectionately on the shoulder as she steps past him. “You need anything, you come find me, alright?”
“Thanks, Freedom.”
“Thirty seconds!”
“Oh, Grandma Jean is gonna be in a world of hurt, I swear to you!” Freedom shouts as she saunters off in the direction Dante is disappearing.
Ryan looks at me, his face tense. “You could wait out here. Trent could stay with you.”
“You shouldn’t go in there alone,” Trent tells him.
“She can’t stay out here alone.”
“So she won’t stay out here at all,” I snap.
I’m grateful for the rage I felt toward Elise. The excitement at the idea of dismantling her has chased the shakes away. I don’t feel any braver, but I’m not outwardly pissing myself in fear either. Progress.
“We do this together or we don’t do it at all,” I say, my voice a little softer.
Ryan sighs, but he nods reluctantly. Trent and I follow him toward the reception desk where we cut right down a dark hallway. Another bouncer with dark almond eyes and perfect mocha skin stops us, gives Ryan the runaround about fighting just like everyone else, then finally leads us to a closed white door. I’m surprised that he doesn’t knock. Just opens it up and sends us right in.
The office isn’t much, but it is large. There are small square tables arranged in every corner, all of them occupied by a few people speaking in hushed voices, but at the far end of the room there’s a large half circle of couches arranged on a platform. There are several men of all ages seated on the couches, all of them talking loudly and laughing. Not too loudly to miss our entrance, though.
“Ryan!” a tall man with long, shaggy hair graying around the temples exclaims. He sits forward in his seat, his eyes landing on Ryan and looking excited. I don’t like that look.
Ryan nods slightly. “Marlow.”
So this is Captain Hook in the flesh.
“Good of you to join us. I sent for you hours ago.”
“I came when I got the message.”
Marlow leans to the side dramatically, eyeing Trent with mock suspicion. “Maybe I sent the wrong messenger.”
“No, I was… unreachable for a while.” Ryan gestures over his shoulder to me.
I can feel every eye at the circle of couches fall on me. I’m acutely aware of the clothes I’m wearing but I’m more aware of what I’m not wearing. I long for the jacket draped over my arm but to put it on now would be to hide. To show weakness. So I square my shoulders, raise my chin, and even though the shakes are coming back, I keep my eyes locked on Marlow’s.
“Now that,” he says softly, eyeing me, “I can most certainly forgive. Where did she come from?”
Ryan shrugs, casually scanning the room. “I don’t know. She’s a loaner from the Elevens.”
I thought I was from the Pikes, I think.
I nearly scowl, nearly pinch my brow in confusion, but I lock it down. Marlow is still watching me closely.
He grins, sitting back in his seat. Finally his eyes fall to Ryan again and I can breathe.
“I’ll have to get in touch with them. They have better inventory than I thought. But I’m glad you’re finally here. You and I need to talk. It’s come to my attention that you’ve come out of retirement.”
“You’ve been lied to. I’m not fighting for anyone.”
Marlow’s eyes go round in surprise. “Really? I saw you fight with my own eyes.”
Ryan shakes his head. “I was dealing with Kevin’s death. I needed an outlet. I worked it out in the ring. I’m over it now.”
“Just like that, eh?”
“It wasn’t so easy.”
“No, I doubt it was. So you’re not fighting under the Hyperions?”
“No. I’m not fighting for anyone.”
“Not even for the right price?”
“I’m not as good as he was. I’ll die sooner rather than later.”
Marlow nods slowly, his eyes drifting around the room. “You’re right about that. You’re not as good as your brother was, but you’re still one of the best out there. And I do hate to see talent go to waste.” His eyes land on me again. “A sure fire money maker is so hard to find.”
“I’m not in the market,” Ryan tells him firmly.
“A shame. Well, then be on your way, I guess. If we have nothing else to say to each other.”
Ryan nods again, then starts to back out of the room. His hand grips mine gently, careful of my injured arm. I go willingly when he pulls on it.
“Hold on,” Marlow calls. “Leave the girl. I’ll return her to the Elevens.”
Ryan freezes, his grip tightening painfully. “I can’t. She’s checked out in my name.”
Marlow waves his hand. “I’ll return her for you. I’ll even pay your fee on top of my own. I’d like a taste of what they’ve got up there.”
Ryan is breathing fast and hard, his grip not loosening.
Marlow’s eyes shift to Ryan slowly. “Is there a problem?”
“She’s not staying.”
Marlow smiles. “Either she’s staying or we have a problem. Do you want to have a problem with me, Ryan?”
“She knows Vin,” Trent speaks up calmly. All eyes dart to him. “She has a message from him.”
Marlow doesn’t miss a beat, though his smile disappears. “Vin is no longer with us.”
“Not with you here, but he is alive.”
That’s a big maybe, I think, but I keep it to myself.
Trent looks at me with his intense eyes. They speak volumes, all of them saying don’t mess this up.
“Show him the ring.”
I look at Ryan meaningfully. He releases my hand but his eyes are tight, full of worry and regret. I smile faintly at him before I turn to Marlow, hoping it’s reassuring. I raise my hand, showing Marlow the large ring on my finger.
He eyes it without e
motion, his face completely placid. I can’t tell if he actually recognizes it. Then he speaks and the entire room freezes from the chill of his tone. I know immediately I’ve struck a chord with the ring but the tension rolling through the room makes me worry it’s one I shouldn’t have hit. It makes me wonder if I’m making it out of this room with all my fingers.
“Out,” he says coldly, his eyes hard on mine. “Everyone out. Now.”
Chapter Ten
“When did you steal that ring from him?” Marlow asks, his voice so low I barely hear it.
My heart is in my throat. I have to swallow to speak, but I hold his eye because I know to look away is to admit something. Guilt, lies, theft, murder. None of these will get us out of this room unscathed. It’s emptied out except for the three of us, Marlow and a few men scattered around the room guarding all the exits. Guarding the Boss.
“He gave it to me.”
“Bullshit.”
“It’s not. I was in the Colony with him. I was in the van with him when he, Nats and Breanne were taken.”
Marlow watches me closely, debating. The fact that I know the girls’ names might give me some credibility. Or I might just be a pro with good listening skills on market day.
“You were in a Colony with him.”
It’s not a question. It’s a dubious statement. Like saying ‘So, you’re the tooth fairy’.
“Yes.”
“But you’re standing here now.”
“Yes.”
“Try again. How’d you get that ring?”
“He gave it to me,” I insist firmly, sticking to my story. “He told me to bring it to you. That you’d recognize it because he said it was his old man’s and it’s the only thing that’s ever meant anything to him.”
I’m spinning the ring nervously on my finger the way Vin did when he was thinking. I stop when I notice Marlow watching me do it.
“Why would he give it to you to bring to me?”
I breathe deeply.
Here we go.
“Because the people in the Colony, they want to make a deal. They want your help. Vin was supposed to be the one standing here telling you all of this. The Colonists were going to break him out with the promise that he’d come back with help.”
