Page 80 of King of the Cage

I boarded as the doors shut, catching my arm in the process. The doors opened again, and about ten people shot me death glares. I tugged my shirt out of the doors and stepped deeper into the compartment.

I stumbled triumphantly and whirled around to see where Bran had gone. I’d expected him to be standing outside the doors, having just missed the train.

Instead, he was nowhere to be seen. The train pulled away, and I grabbed for a railing to hold before I fell over.

Where was he? Did he get held up on the platform?

The lights blinked on and off as the train swayed forcefully. I glanced around, then stilled; my eyes met an amused dark-green stare.

Bran stood at the doors that connected one of the neighboring compartments with mine. He’d gone for a closer compartment to make sure he got on the train. Now, he pushed open the exit door and stepped between the swaying carriages. I backed up, knocking into people.

“Hey! Watch it.”

“You’re standing on my foot.”

“Get lost, lady.”

I ignored the mutters of other passengers, riveted at the sight of the man striding toward me like an avenging warrior crossing the battlefield. Escape seemed hopeless.

Still, I found myself fumbling for the door to the next carriage.

“Giada, stop!” Bran thundered, drawing all eyes in the compartment.

I slid open the door and stepped between the trains, opening the next before I could close the first.

Bran’s hand shot out and grabbed the handle before I could pull it closed.

I was in one compartment, and he was in the other, reaching between them.

“Stop now, selkie. It’s over,” he said. His amusement was strained now.

Good.

“Yeah, it is,” I murmured and pointed my other hand upward to the speaker, just as the next station was announced. The train was already slowing down.

I could scream for help, of course, but this being New York, there was little chance of anyone stepping in. Crazy shit went down daily in this city, and its residents were the definition of unflappable. But there was a chance some out-of-towner might step in.And what? Get hurt?

No. I wouldn’t get anyone else involved. This was between me and Bran, and it always had been, from day one.

Bran shook his head slightly. “You’re forcing my hand.”

I raised my chin. “Likewise.”

The train swung around a corner. Something cold moved across my skin. I glanced back, stunned to see a handcuff fastened around my wrist. I was so distracted I promptly lost my balance and ripped my hand from the door. I stumbled halfway down the compartment. The train screeched to a stop. Bran stepped into my carriage, right when nearly everyone stood and made for the doors, blocking him. Luckily, it was a big transfer station. With the handcuff dangling from my arm, I joined the crush exiting the train.

A group of teenagers passed me, giggling and pushing. One of them dropped their cap, a pink sparkly number. I swiped it from the floor without breaking my stride and put it on, tucking my hair into my shirt collar.

The older man walking beside me up the stairs stared hard at the handcuff hanging from my sleeve, but I ignored his pointed looks. I was so close to freedom I could taste it. I just needed to get out of the train station, and then I could run and hide somewhere. Find a phone and call my brother.

The escalator upward seemed to move at a snail’s pace. I tried to quiet my ragged breathing and appear calm.

I reached the top and got off, heading for the turnstiles with my head down.

I tapped my card against the reader and left the station. The street was busy, like most New York City streets. I tried my best to blend in until I reached the corner of Central Park. I couldn’t find a pay phone around here. I needed to get farther from the station, and then I could worry about it. I could go and buy a burner phone, after all, as I had all my cards on me.

I broke off from the snake of people heading down the sidewalk and turned into the park.

The back of my neck itched as I walked, making me twist around constantly to check for any overgrown Irishmen on my tail. I didn’t see any, but the feeling didn’t go away.

---