“No?”
“The way you’re making that sound like a question tells me you’re lying.” Carter tore into a bag of cheddar puffs produced out of thin air and bit down on one. “You don’t learn, do you?”
“We’re here to help.” Harrow gentled his tone. “To do that, you have to let us in.”
“He’s right,cher.” Vi crossed to me and wrapped me in a hug. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
“But you can if you want to,” Rollo tossed in from the back. “You’re a grown woman and can make your own decisions, and we’ll respect them.”
“Thanks,” I said dryly, pulling away from Vi. “This whole time you were staging an intervention?”
No wonder I hadn’t bumped into anyone upstairs. The only person missing from the mob was Lucia.
The elevator chimed, and she stepped out. Guess I got ahead of myself. The gang was all here.
Watching as she pulled on thick gloves, I asked, “Are you going to tell me off too?”
“I don’t have that right.” She jerked her chin toward the others. “But they do, so I would listen to them.”
“I knew I liked you.” Josie winked at her then scowled at me. “Listen to your mother.”
The creak of leather drew my attention to Lucia, who had dressed head to toe in a scuffed jumpsuit with runes branded into the material. Paired with her dusty work boots, she could have been a mechanic. Or a member of a pit crew for some sortof para racing team. She might have fit right in at The Body Shop.
“You’re leaving now?” There was no other reason for her to be suited up for travel. Or battle.
“With Ankou wreaking havoc topside, I can’t ask for a better opening to go say hello to Ithas.”
“In that case—” I extended my arm, “—good luck and godspeed.”
After a flicker of hesitation, a moment where she might have gone for more, she shook hands with me.
Eyes glossy, she ducked her head and made for the door. “Be careful out there, kid.”
“Will we see you again?” Josie, bold as brass, asked what I couldn’t get out. “Or is this goodbye?”
“You’ll see me again,” Lucia tossed over her shoulder. “As long as I kill Ithas.” Grim amusement laced her voice. “If our paths don’t cross again, you’ll know why.” She hesitated at the door, waiting on Vi to let her out. “It was nice meeting you, Frankie. I’m glad to have one of my questions answered.”
Before I could ask for clarification, Vi had twisted the knob, and Lucia was gone.
“I know how we can get Dis Pater here.” I sounded more confident than I felt. “The problem is what we do with him after that.”
“Dinorah would not mind having his blood on her hands,”Anunit said into my mind.
“We can save that as a last resort.”I wouldn’t need her. Not yet.“Thank you. For offering.”
“Let’s hear it then.” Josie rubbed her thumb between her eyes. “What’s your grand scheme?”
Quickly as I could, I gave them the rundown, skimming the more dangerous parts. Not that I fooled them when they knew me better than I knew myself. They did, however, indulge mebefore sharing looks that I interpreted asI told you so. Meaning they only believed every other word out of my mouth.
Harrow worked his jaw, chewing over my reasons, clearly having a hard time swallowing them.
But he didn’t speak a word against me. None of them did. Not a single protest.
“Take my phone.” Josie pressed it into my hand. “Just in case you need us.”
Understanding I had been given a means of them tracking me, I shoved it into my pocket. “Thanks.”
Scalp prickling under their stares, still wary of their acquiescence, I walked out unarmed with Anunit.
