Page 176 of Dance of Deception

You look sad.

Unknown

I hope this doesn’t mean you didn’t get me what I want.

Holy shit.

Me

I have more time

Me

it hasn’t been 24 hrs yet

Unknown

Does this mean you don’t have what I asked for?

Unknown

Now the game changes, Lyra.

Unknown

Now I have to hurt the people you care about.

Fuck me.

She wasn’t looking for information because she wanted to.

She was looking because someone wasmaking her.

I scroll up, and my vision turns red when I see the picture of my sister sent from the unknown number, and the threat of not to tell anyone.

I grind my teeth as my eyes narrow to dangerous slits.

Lyra didn’t tell me about everything that was happening, and why she was poking around my laptop, because she was scared of something happening to Bianca.

My phone dings loudly, shattering my attention. I see The Stag’s name on the screen and hit accept.

“What,” I grunt, starting to prowl through the rest of the apartment to see what I can find.

“What’s going on?” The Stag growls in reply, hearing the tension in my voice.

“Lots. There’s been a threat made against Lyra’s mother and Bianca, and someone’s been forcing Lyra to dig into me.”

The Stag swears under his breath. “Okay, what do you need?”

“Not sure yet. I’m at Vera’s place, but there’s no sign of either of them. Lyra’s phone is here… I think they went somewhere together.”

“Fuck,” The Stag hisses. “I called because I have some more information about Arkadi’s death that might interest you. But it can wait. Go do what you need to?—”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m listening.”

He clears his throat. “Arkadi’s will specified burial. But he was cremated.”

I frown. “Vera could’ve made that call as next of kin, which I assume she was.”

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