Page 17 of Queen Of WildCards

Hefrowned, glancing over at me. "Howcan you be sure?Shedoesn't look the same as the photoBlackJackfound."

"Onceyou've come to the sound of a woman's voice alone, you tend to remember that particular sonata when it's played back to you."

Thatgave him some pause. "Fairenough."

Herfriends waved her off to the bar, andIwatched the two girls she'd been in the middle of talk together in hushed whispers until a couple of guys wandered over and caught their attention.Theylooked like part of the band, not thatI'dknow one from the other in here, andIscowled as these 'friends' abandoned the vixen in black at the bar to trot off with their newest flings for the night.

Oneglance to the bar revealed their third already knew about their flighty escape, and she slammed a bill on the counter asAceandIwatched, downed three shots of whatever she'd just ordered one after the other, and wiped at her ruby red lips before marching pointedly to the front door without a single glance over her shoulder.

Nowwas our chance.

"Let'smove,"Iwhispered toAcebeforeIflipped my phone open and dialedSpade.

Hepicked up on the first ring. "GoforSpade."

"She'son the move, and she's ditched her friends.AceandIare in pursuit."

Ihung up on him just in time to seeBlackJackappear on my left.Withouta word, we tailed our target into the night air, the three of us splitting up at the corner to trail her from safe distances.WithAceon one side of the street, me on the other, andBlackJackcircling around to head her off, there was no way she could get away from us.

Wasthere?

CHAPTEREIGHT

MALLORY

I'dhad a strange feeling all night that something was very, very wrong, butIcouldn't shake it, no matter whatIdid.EvenwhenIwas safely inside the bar, wedged in the middle of the girls, the lingering feeling of being watched remained embedded in my very bones.

WhenGemmaandSachasuggested that we hit a second bar with the band,Ipolitely declined, thoughIthought they'd stay with me untilIleft.Butthey bailed at the first opportunity, andIreally couldn't be mad.Iwasn't the wild, daring friend they wanted me to be.Iwas super careful and always cautious about strange places with strangers.Theywanted to fly by the seat of their pants, rushing through their twenties like wild children in search of themselves.

Sothat left me, now slightly buzzing from the three shots of tequila meant for us to share, walking on my own in a seedy part of town at two in the morning.

Fuckingfantastic.

Iwalked a bit faster as the people alongside me thinned out and slipped my hand into my purse, gripping that can of mace like my life depended on it.Iprobably wouldn't need it,I'dmade this walk a million times, but the thought of being unprepared was too much to overcome.

Irelaxed a bit at the next light, but the sound of someone coughing behind me made every hair on my body stand on end.Itook a chance, slipped my mace into my purse, and pulled out a makeup compact.Iflipped it open just high enough to look behind me, and all the color drained from my face.

Standinga few feet behind me, his eyes piercing and hard, was a man dressed in all black.

Atfirst glance, he could be anyone from the same concertIhad just come from.Butsomething felt off about the way he stared over me, like the whole point was to look less conspicuous.Itfelt like someone trying too hard.Hissilver hair was immaculate, not a hair out of place, the tone and shine to it marking the dye job as salon-level, not some rush job in your cousin's bathroom over the sink.Histrenchcoat gaped open to show a mesh top and perfectly tailored pants, the whole thing a littletooput together for a grunger at a bar concert in the inner city.

Icringed as a car at the light blew its horn at me, andIstarted to walk across the road without looking.

Asplit second before it hit me,Iheard the second horn, saw the blinding glare of approaching headlights;Ihad a second to thinkwell this is ironic,and thenIwas being yanked back onto the sidewalk by a firm grip on my arm.Ifell with a groan of pain and quickly raised my hands in apology to the passing car.Thedriver just ignored me and drove on, obviously putting me in the rear view of his car and his mind.BeforeIcould get up, the guy with the clean-cut looks stood before me and offered a hand up, a disarming smile on his lips.

"Thatwas a close one, miss.Letme help you up."

Hetilted his head and waited patiently, but something about the angle of his smile screamedpredator,andIknew better than to ignore the feeling bubbling in my gut.

Iwaved his offer off and smiled hesitantly. "Thankyou, butI'llbe alright."

Hiseyes narrowed slightly. "Noworries.I'mjust gladIwas here."

Yeah,Ijust bet you are.Ifit weren't for him,Iwouldn't have run like a skittish bitch into an intersection with a green light."Me, too,"Itittered nervously. "Well, thanks, and, uh, see you around,"Imumbled, rushing off without another word or a backward glance.

Iupped the pace and hustled across the road and down the block, making a note of the street sign asIpassed it.

Threemore blocks to my neighborhood, another two after that to home.

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