Page 107 of Amber Gambler

“That strikes me as a safe bet.”

“Hey.” Audrey stuck up for him. “It’s not his fault his uncle?—”

“Kid,” I bit out, spirits rustling, my bones trembling with cold, “you do not want to test me right now.”

“I would be dead if he hadn’t found me.” Audrey clung to his arm. “He’s one of thegoodguys, lady.”

“He kidnapped my brother.” Blood rushed in my ears. “He’s lucky I haven’t killed him yet.”

Bristling at my threat, she put herself between Harrow and me. “You’ll have to go through me first.”

“You underestimate the lengths I’ll go to for my family. You’re not an obstacle to overcome. You’re not a wall I can’t scale or a hurdle I can’t jump. You’re, at best, a speed bump on the road to retribution. Don’t think I won’t run over you without slowing down or looking back.”

“Take your anger out on me.” Harrow shoved her behind him. “Not Audrey.”

Restless souls slid their chill fingers down my arms, tugging on my fingers, leading me toward…

I didn’t know where they kept trying to guide me, and it terrified me.

Spooked me enough to blurt a sudden realization. “You never blamed Kierce for Lyle, did you?”

“No.” Shoulders rounding, he hunched into himself. “I’m well aware his death is my fault.”

“Then why the act? You let me think you were coming for Kierce.”

“To ensure you kept him, and more importantly his crow, away from me.”

“You couldn’t risk Badb following you to report back to me.” Clever how he boxed me in so well. I had been so afraid for Kierce, I had done exactly what Harrow wanted and kept Badb locked down. “When you followed me to drop off Little, you picked a fight on purpose. You wanted an excuse to file for leave right then and there since you hadn’t asked for it sooner.” He really had thought of everything. “I’m done with this conversation until I see my brother.”

“Go get him,” Harrow told Audrey over his shoulder, and I saw red that he had entrusted Matty to her.

We stood there, neither of us speaking, until she helped Matty stumble to where Harrow stood with legs braced apart like he expected the sight of my brother would send me spiraling into a mindless frenzy he wanted to tackle head-on. He was trying to mitigate the damage. To himself.

Furious magic coated the back of my throat, and I wanted to spit it at him.

“What did you do to him?” I took a menacing step forward. “Mary, are you okay?”

“I used a sedation spell.” Harrow helped Matty sit at his feet. “It’s already wearing off again.”

“Again?”Knuckles popped as my fingers curled ever tighter. “How many times have you spelled him?”

So much for Carter’s certainty he hadn’t been using his magic. Yet another secret he had been keeping.

“M’fine.” Matty listed hard to the right, leaning against Harrow’s knees. “S’okay.”

“You’ll have to forgive me if your protestations of innocence ring false.” I couldn’t tear my gaze from Matty to scowl at Harrow. “Why did you take my brother?”

“To make sure I held your full attention.” He spread his hands in a helpless gesture. “Josie?—”

“Donotspeak her name.” I shut my eyes, forced myself to breathe. “She’s not part of this conversation.” Warmth hit my cheeks, mortifying me that I was angry enough to cry. “You wouldn’t walk out of here alive if you had taken her. She’s been through enough. Forget you know her. Forget you ever knew her.” I got my rage under control, mostly. “You want to prove you’re a good guy? I’m listening. Hit me.”

“I meant it when I said I didn’t know about the recordings. I had no idea Armie was watching Jo—” Teeth clicked together, biting off her name. “I didn’t know Armie was watching you and your family.”

“Stalking.”I suppressed a shudder exposing a vulnerability he didn’t deserve to share. “He stalked us.”

“I’ve known where to find Audrey, yeah, but I’ve been searching for the other girls too. The same as you and Carter.”

Not working with us, or he would have told us what he knew. But maybe not against us either.

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