Page 132 of Underground Prince

“Fine,” Nate said. “Kai?”

My flesh boiled, my blood felt trapped within the heavy confines of my skin, and I had no idea if I was doing the right thing. If by Kai’s double cross I was a traitor to Theo. But nothing seemed good anymore. If I didn’t assist the FBI, Theo would be arrested. If I did help them, Theo could be arrested.

All I could recite as Nate handed me a pen, all I could repeat as Kai slid an affidavit in front of me, was that I had control.

Somehow, by some divine opportunity, I was going turn the events of tomorrow night my way.

* * *

Bring us Trace, Scarlet.

Nate’s last words circled, buzzed and dove despite my quickening steps on the street. Swiping under my eye with my palm, I sprinted to the nearest subway without checking whether it was uptown or downtown, never mind what line it was.

I wanted out. Gone. Away. Escaping on a subway car was a significant way to do it. It didn’t matter where I ended up.

Yes, it does.

Theo.

The man of few words and a heavy heart. The one who wanted nothing more than to keep me out but was drawn back to me the harder he fought. Our poles, our magnetized energy, found each other regardless of intent. We were past romantic notions, and I was no Juliet.

Or Bonnie.

I paused at the turnstiles, my MetroCard hovering in the air.

You running again? Noah had asked me, so confident in my penchant for abandonment.

“Fuck this,” I said. And jogged to the exit.

I raced up the stairs and back to the streets where a light rain had started falling, too misty for an umbrella but too wet to walk where I wanted to go. Cabs would start disappearing to other stranded pedestrians shortly, so I whistled and caught one right as an exiting passenger was opening the door, and dove in as soon as he departed.

Telling the cab the address and to hurry, please, I glanced out the rear window, conscious of the idea that I might be being followed. My abrupt decision to exit the subway and dive into a taxi as soon as I saw one could’ve helped, because I didn’t see any repeat vehicles.

Not that I was an expert at spotting tails.

It didn’t matter, anyway. They could probably deduce where I was going through some simple rationale.

And, I thought as I smiled dully, I hoped they were wetting their pants while doing it.

As soon as the car slid to a halt I handed cash to him and hopped out. I dipped my head against the rain and pushed through the revolving doors.

I didn’t bother to announce myself, just kept running and heard someone call “Hey!” behind me.

An elevator dinged its arrival and I jumped in, shoes squeaking on the marble behind me.

There was someone else in here with me, and I smiled at the man in an expensively tailored suit as he stood in the corner, studying me.

“Not every day you see rainbow streaks and leather, huh?” I said to him.

He coughed into his hand and looked away.

We reached the eleventh floor and I swooped into the hallway, knocking on Theo’s door before the elevator even closed.

“Please be home…”

The door opened, and there he was.

I leapt into his arms before I processed speech, his bare ones coming around and lifting me while he shut the door with his foot. I kissed him and held there for as long as I could.

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