Page 60 of Shadow Dance

“I know,” she whispers, wiping her face. “I know.”

“This isn’t about being unhappy anymore. It’s about your safety.”I’ve seen too much to know how this ends if she doesn’t make a move soon. “Have you found your license yet?”

She shakes her head and then goes still, raising her tear-stained face to mine. “Wait. Do you think he took it? So I couldn’t leave?”

That’s exactly what I think.

Chapter 16

Maeve

Iwake up with a knot in my stomach, anxiety corroding my mood. Usually, I love my birthday but this year the only good thing about turning twenty-seven is that Callum’s out of town. I think he might have forgotten my birthday, actually. That would’ve devastated me a year ago, but now it feels like a blessing. I can do whatever I want without him breathing down my neck.

My phone buzzes quietly on the nightstand. Sitting up, I unplug it and open my text messages, grinning when I see that the East Coast crew has been active this morning. I have all sorts of birthday wishes from Mom, Dad, Bria, Lucky, Tristan, Evie and even Liam, via Lucky’s phone. Delphine left an off key rendition of happy birthday via voice memo, and Portia sent a digital gift card to a local bakery, wanting me to have cake no matter what. My heart fills to overflowing, tears of gratitude and sadness rolling down my cheeks as I respond to each of them.

Another message comes through while I’m on a brief FaceTime with Lucky and the fam. It’s Jaime. Wrapping up the video call, I switch over to text.

Are you up yet?

Yes, why?

How soon can you be ready?

I want to take you somewhere.

My stomach does a little flip.He wants to take me somewhere? Does he know it’s my birthday?

Half an hour later we’re headed down the road, toast and cafecito in hand. The sun’s having a hard time waking up, and the rest of the world feels sleepy too with its lethargic traffic. Licking the lingering sweetness from my lips, I stick the cup between my knees. I’ve held out this long, but my curiosity is getting the better of me. “So, where’re we going? Is it a surprise?”

He cocks a half smile. “San Leandro.”

“For what?”

“The shooting range.”

I look at him askance. “Are you serious?”

“Every girl should know how to handle herself,” he says, squeezing my knee.

“I can handle myself.” I pause, using air-quotes for emphasis. “Just fine, thanks.”

He glances at me as we sail through a yellow light. “Humor me.”

By the time we pull into the parking lot of the Carson Rifle & Pistol Range, I’m more than just a little nervous. It’s not the guns. My family always kept firearms. I’ve never really handled them, but I’m used to them. No, I’m thinking about Callum’s creepy GPS. Would he find this inappropriate? It’s not exactly in the same vein as ballet class and Trader Joe’s.

I suppose it could be explained away as an errand. Then again, I haven’t heard from Callum since he left, so maybe he’s too busy to care what I’m up to. He’s probably passed out with some random girl right now in a swanky hotel room in Vegas. Suddenly I have the urge to defy him, whether he knows or not.

Zipping my bomber jacket, I walk around to the back of the car where Jaime’s retrieving a black carrying case from the trunk.Doublechecking the lock, he shuts the trunk and nods toward a squat building across the lot. “Ready?”

“Let’s hope so,” I say with a sigh.

“I almost forgot.” Reaching into his jacket, he pulls out a small, rectangular card and hands it to me. My license. “Happy birthday.”

“How did you—”Oh, right.My birth date is on my license. I look up at him. “Where did you find it?”

“Under the couch.”

“In the living room?”

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