Page 86 of Fire of the Fox

As I handed the cash over, he asked, “Were you in a wreck?”

“No,” I snapped.

He moved at a sloth’s pace as he gathered my change. “Did you get in a fight?”

“No,” I forced out between clenched teeth.

“What happened then?”

“What does it matter, Blake? Do you somehow care about others now? It’s none of your business.”

His eyes went wide, and hurt took root in them. As soon as I saw the sting register on his face, I couldn’t help the biting guilt pricking at my insides. Blake was a criminal. He’d stood by and watched his friend try to rob me and then again threaten to kill me. He’d watched and done nothing to help.

“I’m sorry,” Blake whispered.

His voice came out so low, I thought I’d imagined it at first. But as he handed me my change and his eyes found mine again, I saw the tears pooling in the corners, and I knew I hadn’t imagined anything.

The memory of his hesitation, his attempts at convincing his friends to walk away, and the threat made to him about being homeless again rang through my head. He clearly felt bad about his part in what happened, but remorse didn’t fix things. He’d still made those mistakes, and they were his to live with. I didn’t need to pity him.

Though, knowing I didn’t need to didn’t stop me.

He sniffled and repeated, “I’m so, so sorry.”

“What you did is not okay.”

“I know. I know it’s not. There’s no excuse for what I did. Still, I am so sorry.”

Perhaps one day I could forgive him, but not yet. Instead, I nodded to acknowledge his apology and placed my wallet back in my bag.

“I get that you don’t want to tell me what happened, but can you at least tell me if you’re okay?” I looked up at his sudden question, and he nodded towards my face. “Allen didn’t get to you, did he?”

A shiver ran down my spine at his phrasing. Was Allen trying to “get to” me? Could that imply he was actively pursuing me to finish the job and silence me? I wouldn’t put it past him to do something like that, and the very notion made unease settle in my gut like a cinder block in water.

“No. Allen didn’t find me. Is he trying to?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest. I cut ties with him after, well, after that day.”

I raised a brow in surprise before I could stop myself. I wasn’t expecting to hear that from him. Allen had definitely felt like a fierce leader, and Blake was a loyal, if not fearful, follower. To hear that Blake had managed to break away from the toxic friendship was good to hear. I hoped that meant he was on his way to a better lifestyle, one that wouldn’t have such dire consequences.

There was no need for me to stick around and congratulate him, however. I started to turn to make my leave.

“So was it your boyfriend, the one who helped you at the club and here? Is he the one who did it?”

The idea made me recoil. Rune would never ever hurt me. The mere suggestion made my defensive tongue lash out.

“No. It wasn’t Rune. He’d never do that.”

Blake nodded as he twirled a rotating display. “So that’s his name. Rune. What’s your name?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why would I tell you my name?”

“You know my name. What’s the harm in me knowing yours?”

I rolled my eyes at the ridiculous question.

“It’s Amber,” I lied.

The corners of his mouth barely hinted at a smile. “Wrong. I know that’s not your name.”

---