Page 57 of Riordan's Revenge

“And somehow not only in a relationship for ten days but also engaged.”

She shrugged, skipping at my side. “Ye won’t regret it. I’ll learn to give good head.”

At my sound of anguish, she laughed. “By the way, ye have really nice legs. Perfectly shaped and strong.”

“Get on the bike, Cassiopeia.”

“Oh no. I’ve made ye grumpy. But only my first name has been deployed. Have to work harder to get the whole shebang.”

Back on the coast road, Cassie tucked herself against my back and cuddled down, trusting me to drive us the long trip back to Deadwater.

We were halfway when dawn stretched its light across the sky. It turned fully pale by the time we were creeping into the city’s outer limits.

Deadwater was split across Scotland and England, cut in half by a wide, tidal river. The city centre was on the English side with suburbs on the Scottish part. We bypassed them and hit the bridge which took us into town then down the harbour road to the warehouse.

We’d been away for days, and I’d left in traumatic circumstances.

Yet somehow, I couldn’t regret any of it. All I knew was the mischievous, bright soul who clung to my back so I could carry her off the bike. She stayed hugging me for a moment then jumped down, her gaze taking in the building.

Everything looked the same. The tall, red-bricked structure had a cobbled street leading to the front and the car park set down a level at the back. My sister had warned of protesters, and there was evidence of some kind of activity at the front, that we didn’t linger to take it in.

I wanted Cassie safely inside. As far as we knew, Arran hadn’t yet revealed his kidnap of Bronson, but that didn’t mean the rival gang was unaware. Even now, they could be lying in wait. Taking either one of us would be a prize that could compromise the skeleton crew’s position.

At the back door, Cassie entered a code.

The panel turned red, the door remaining locked.

She repeated it with the same effect then growled and thumped the glass. “Open up.”

A figure in a skeleton crew t-shirt appeared the other side. He hesitated.

“Jed? For fuck’s sake.”

A pause followed, then the door clicked and swung inwards. Cassie marched through, and I followed.

“When did the code change?” she demanded.

“You’ll have to ask the boss that,” Jed replied.

I’d met most of the crew, but this guy only once. All I knew about him was that he was Scottish.

He slid a glance over me. “Going to need to frisk ye both for weapons.”

I lifted my chin. “I’ll save you the trouble. There’s two guns in the backpack, both owned by the crew. We also both work here.”

The man shrugged. “That may be so, but ye haven’t been here for the past few days. Things have changed.”

“What other than the code is different?”

He eyed me. “Not sure I can tell ye that.”

“Can ye let us in?”

Jed glanced at the inner door to the hall. It formed an airlock in case of emergencies, so I knew it would be locked, too. And Jed wasn’t budging.

“Okay, well, you’re clearly after the prize of sending me insane.” Cassie raised her phone. Dialled someone. It connected. “Shade, can ye come down to the back door for a second?”

Jed’s eyebrows shot up into his hairline.

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