Page 112 of Exposé

"Can you pick me up?"

"Did something happen?"

"Yeah." I nodded, wiping my nose with the tissue in my pocket. "I was attacked." The phone shook in my hand. Bile burned my throat, causing me to gag.

"What do you mean you were attacked? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay. I don't have my car. I think it got impounded."

"Okay, I'm on my way. Where are you?"

"Thank you." I pushed away from the wall and paced the sidewalk. "I'm on the corner of Riverside and Ashland." My eyes darted to the store window beside me filled with cupcakes and macarons. "I'm next to Abby's Bakery."

"I'll be right there. Go into the bakery and sit away from the door."

I nodded and sniffled.

"Do you hear me? Furthest from the door, Ava."

"Yeah..." I inhaled a ragged breath. "I hear you."

When the call went dead, I stepped into the bakery, the bell dinging overhead, causing me to jitter. "Welcome," a woman said from behind the counter. "What can I get you?"

I sat at the table at the far end of the bakery and shook my head. "I'm waiting for a friend."

She nodded, and I dropped my phone on the table before me and picked at my cuticles, my heart racing like a hummingbird in a storm.

Did that really just happen?

He threatened to kill me.

Did the Mayor send him?

What if it was the people Kane warned me about?

"Here you go."

The woman from behind the bakery stood beside me with a small cupcake in hand.

"I didn't order this. My cards aren't wo—"

"You looked like you could use a 'pick me up'." She placed the cupcake in front of me. "It's on me."

I swallowed and gave her a tight smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." She bounced on her heels back to the counter, and I stared at the white frosted cupcake.

Poison?

Don't be ridiculous.

I sat back in my seat, my cuticle red and bleeding, as the store door opened and Nate stepped in.

An exhale of relief broke from me as I stood, his face mottled with concern.

He pulled me into an embrace and rubbed my back. "Did he hurt you?" he growled.

"I'm fine. Just shaken up."

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