Page 79 of Veil of Secrets
Luca’s waiting at the bottom, jacket soaked from the rain. “You two are gonna get us killed.”
“Maybe,” I say. “But not tonight.”
Elara doesn’t look back. “Not ever.”
We hit the exit. The rain’s heavier now, slapping the pavement outside. The neon’s brighter, cutting through the wet dark.
Elara’s steps don’t falter. Barefoot, blood-stained, she moves like she owns the night.
I’m right beside her.
“Vince doesn’t see us coming,” I say, voice low.
She glances at me, eyes sharp. “He won’t see anything after tonight.”
I believe her.
The car is parked under a broken streetlight. Luca tosses me a key.
I catch it. “Elara’s driving.”
Luca snorts. “Yeah, yeah.”
She grabs the key from my hand, already moving to the driver’s side. “Let’s make this quick.”
I slide into the passenger seat. She’s in before I’m settled, knife resting on her thigh.
The engine starts with a low growl. Rain streaks the windshield.
She pulls out. The tires hiss on the wet pavement.
The city blurs past—empty streets, flickering signs, rain turning the world to glass.
We don’t talk.
We don’t need to.
Vince’s time is up.
And we’re the ones collecting.
This isn’t cleanup.
It’s groundwork.
Chapter 13 – Elara
The boardwalk’s quiet in the worst way.
Not peaceful. Not sleepy.
Just waiting.
The clubs are shutting down. The neon signs are losing their grip on the sky. Everything's washed in a dull gray haze like the city hasn’t decided whether it wants to wake up or stay hungover.
My boots hit wet concrete as I round the corner, stepping into the alley off Argento Street—the one between the old bait shop and that boarded-up tattoo parlor where no one ever stayed legit for long.
Nico’s beside me. He insisted we pick up some boots before charging into battle.
