Page 8 of The Duplicity of Thieves

“Mhm. Okay. Was it good?”

“It was the best sexual experience I think I have ever had.”

“What’s his name? When are you going to see him again?”

“Don’t know, and never.”

“Why are you like this, Josie?”

“Josephine.” My body goes rigid on instinct. The voice is pissed. More than pissed. He’s in a rage. A large calloused hand grabs my bicep, attached to a sun-kissed muscular arm. A man with dark vermilion hair and blazing orange eyes looks down at me. Freckles dust his cheeks like flecks of gold.

“Who the fuck are you?” Clo snarls, ready to pounce. She’s fierce, but with him she wouldn’t be anything but a cat trying to scratch a giant. I don’t turn around. Dread starts to simmer in my gut. This is the very first time Killian has ever come looking for me here. The goddamn note. I knew he would be angry, but to come and get me himself?

“You must be Clo,” he growls. There’s a chaotic aura around him. I can’t read it. I automatically feel guilty for what I just did in the alley with the stranger. I wonder for a moment if he knows, but if he did he wouldn’t be here. He would be shredding the poor guy into pieces before dragging them in front of me.

I can hear him scolding me in my mind while waving the man’s dismembered hand in my face. ‘Really, Josie? Were you that desperate that you had to put yourself in danger?’

“Clo, this is Killian,” I introduce them, but it’s halfhearted. I’ve never been in real trouble with Killian before. He’s been angry with me plenty of times and we’ve argued, but this is something new.

Her eyes widen as she takes him in. Killian has been the subject of many drunken conversations. I don’t have much else to talk about. Even then, Clo doesn’t know much. Just that he's overprotective and things are complicated.

“Wow, not what I expected. Nice to meet you.” She sticks out her hand and he shoves it away.

“You’re the one who has her sneaking out and fucking around in these pubs with you people.”

“You people?” She smirks. “You mean the rest of society?”

“Did you get my note?” he growls in my direction.

“Must you stalk me at every turn?”

He laughs with exasperation. “Stalk you?”

“Protect me. Whatever,” I argue softly, trying to keep a full-on confrontation from happening in the middle of the street.

Clo’s features contort into one of indignation. “Josie is my best friend. I would never let anything happen to her.” Her brown hair flutters in the breeze, and she hugs herself tight in the chilly night air.

“Say goodbye, Jo. We’re going.” He crosses his arms angrily. My pride takes a hit. He’s fucking embarrassing me.

“Goodbye?” Clo pouts. “That sounds real final.”

“Josephine,” Killian says impatiently.

“Bye, Clo,” I say as if nothing is wrong.

“Josie,” she appeals to me in a fervent whisper, her arms wrapped around me tightly as if she’s about to extract me from the grip of death. “Come with me. My sisters will let you stay with us.”

I’m caught in some sort of trap. I can’t speak. I can’t react or think. I can only stand here frozen in time hugging her limply. I know exactly how this will play out.

“Please,” she adds.

Mere moments ago, we were laughing and carrying on, and now the careful facade I have put on has crumbled. I’ve turned into either a charity case or a willing prisoner, and both drench me in shame. Clo’s offer is sweet, but she doesn’t understand. Sure, I liked to talk about leaving, but it was just talk. I know I never could.

“Thanks for everything, Clo,” I manage to finally respond, removing myself from her grasp and taking a step back. I expect there to be a look of betrayal on her face, but there is only a sad understanding.

“Another time, then,” she says softly with pity in her eyes. Clo isn’t an idiot. She knows there won’t be another time. She reaches out, tucking the strand of hair that has been dancing around my face behind my ear. It’s oddly maternal. She clasps my wrists tight and looks into my eyes with a seriousness I have never seen from her before.

“You’re going to do chaotic shit someday, Josie.” Clo is doing her best not to cry. She holds my hand to her cheek for just a moment, before tossing a glare at Killian and walking away in the opposite direction.

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