“Did you not hear me, or are you blanking me on purpose? Don’t you know it’s rude to ignore someone who’s talking to you?”He steps forward. I swear the elevator sways as he does, though it’s probably just me wavering on my feet. His hand clamps down on my shoulder, and he yanks until I’m flat against the side wall and facing him.
“I’m sorry, sir, I don’t know you, and I’m a little uncomfortable with the conversation,” I reply, pulling on my best Harrison Heights accent and flicking my eyes between the floor and the man glaring down at me.
“Oh, I get it. You’re too uppity for me?” he starts.
Fuck. Trust him to pick a fight? “I…uh…”
“I thought all you posh girls liked a bit of rough to spice things up and there isn’t anyone rougher than me…”
Copper snorts and whacks Scar’s arm, effectively drawing his eyes from me. “Don’t fuck with the girl, Turner. Jesus, you’re so easily distracted.” I turn back to face the doors but keep my head bowed, only daring to glance at their reflection through my lashes so they can’t see my face.
The eighth floor passes by in whirrs and clunks.
“What? I’m only asking a question!”
“Yeah, well, keep all your questions for this Jules Feelan cunt.”
There it is. Exactly what I was afraid of.I’m pretty sure a groan leaves my lips, but the henches are too busy bantering to notice.
With a wary eye on the descending numbers flickering above the control panel, I pull at the threads of my bandages. I curl my fingers up awkwardly to pick at them, all the while whispering in my head;I’m safe.They don’t know who I am. They’ll never suspect a posh girl of being from the Vale. Keep your head down and get the hell off this elevator.
“That’s if she’s even here. Your snitch could’ve sent us on a freaking goose chase just to fuck with us.” Scar groans.
My ears prick up.Snitch.My eyes dart up to watch their mirror twins once again.
Seventh floor.
Copper rolls his eyes. The gesture is so exaggerated I see it clearly in the reflection. “Have they ever been wrong before?” His words drip with condescension as he drones on.
They? Who are they?If I needed confirmation that someone on Dax’s side is selling me out, this is it.
Scar responds in a tone that has the same insulting tenor as his partner. “Have we caught her yet?”
“You’re a dickhead, but you’re not wrong. Still, did you see how many of Nagano’s men are here? Trust me, the little whore is here somewhere.”
“Perhaps we should try a couple of other departments before we head downstairs. Making a last-second grab with all of them hanging about…”
Sixth floor.
Copper crosses his arms. Rolling his head back to stare up at the ceiling. “We already checked burns and X-rays.”
Fifth floor.
Scar hums as he thinks, then hammers the wall with his fist, a grin cracking across his face that makes my stomach turn. “Her dad fucked up her hands, so what about Ortho? They handle bones and shit.”
I pull my hands into the sleeves of my jacket, inching the cuffs down over my bandages with my fingertips. The threads hang loosely; ugly little strands of truth, ready to give me away.
“Fuck, what floor is that on?”
Fourth floor.
“Hey kid, do you know where orthopaedics is in this place?” Scar acts like he wasn’t threatening to fuck me a moment ago.
“No. However, there is a department listing and map on each floor. When you disembark on the ground floor, the sign will have them all listed.”
Third floor.
The doors gape wide when, at the last second, Scar leans acrossme and hammers the open-door button. He slams his foot in the doorway, holding the car hostage and directs Copper to take his place.
