Page 132 of Shades of Silver City

When she finally meets my gaze, her eyes are brimming with anger. “You left work with no word. You’ve been unreliable…secretive. In your own world.” Mellie sniffles again, her face scrunched, as if she’s fighting an inner battle.

A sharp, shooting pain pierces my heart. “Mel…”

“It’s fine. Even if you didn’t have your own shit going on, I need more help than you can afford. I’m sorry. Really.”

All I can do is shake my head. I don’t bother telling her about the job I have with Archer—the money I’m making working for him. She’d just turn him in, too.

She steps up toward me, reaching for my hands, but I pull away.

“You broke my heart, Mellie.” My voice is strained.

Nodding, she glances over her shoulder. “You broke mine, too, by shutting me out. So I guess we’re even?”

With that, she exits the stairwell and closes the door. The latch clicks—she’s locking it behind her. Not that it matters. I’m not about to run down there straight into the Scouts’ open arms.

The bell chimes as the front door crashes open, and I know it’s too late.

They’re here for me.

It’s over.

Out the window, a deep voice says in my mind. It’s the one I thought I heard before. Decidedly not my own voice.

Don’t be stubborn, Tasia. Go out the window!

“What the hell?” I say. I glance at the window, goose bumps covering my arms. “Who the hell’s there?”

You have about twenty seconds. Go now!

My feet move before my brain can fully process what’s happening. I dart to the open window, push out the screen, and poke my head out. Down below, a lone Scout stands facing the building. He hugs his firearm to his chest, keeping his hand on the grip as if ready for action.

“Fuck,” I mutter. “He’ll see me.”

Seven seconds. Move!

The floor vibrates as the Scouts pound up the stairs behind me. I don’t have time to dawdle. I slip out onto the roof just as Scathe lunges into sight down below and sinks his elongated canines into the Scout’s leg.

The man’s mouth opens in a scream, but only silence escapes. He crumples to the ground, immediately rendered unconscious.

Belgian Shepherd my ass. That is definitely not a normal dog.

Follow the roof around the corner. Then jump.

I scurry across the shingles, heeding the mysterious voice in my head. Sirius save me, I’m losing it. After all the trauma I’ve endured in this life, I’ve finally gone and lost my damn mind.

Behind me, inside Mellie’s apartment, the Scouts are yelling at one another.

Without glancing back, I round the corner of the roof, heading toward the alley. It’s much narrower and steeper on this side. I don’t see any way off that doesn’t require—

Jump, Tasia! the voice yells.

Down below rests a haphazard mountain of black trash bags. I almost slip and fall off just from peering over the edge.

Fuck that! I think.

Jump, you stubborn tit!

The voice in my head just called me a tit. It’s enough to unsettle me.

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