Page 38 of Pervade London
“Why?”
“It’s the way things are.”
“Can you be any more vague?”
“We can’t stay here.”
“Tell me what you did to make them angry.”
“They’re not angry. Emotions never factor into their decisions.”
“Decisions about what?”
He shrugged.
“Whoarethey?”
“Look, I need to protect you and I can’t do that if you’re using tech.” He squeezed his eyes shut. “Stay off the Internet. Don’t use your phone. And for God’s sake don’t use your credit cards. Use the one I gave you.”
“You’re making me paranoid.”
“Good.”
I flinched, realizing he’d prepared for this. “You knew they’d come for you.”
“I was careful.”
“Then how did they find you?”
He sighed. “It’s like trying to hide from the sun.”
What the hell?
“Are you a drug dealer?” I snapped. “Or one of those people they use for smuggling…a mule?”
He burst into laughter. “No, I’ve never shoved drugs up my ass. Still, the night is young.”
“This isn’t funny.”
His smile faded. “I’d gotten to the place where I believed we could have all of this. I thought James would understand.”
“Do you have to sell the flat? It’s okay as long as you and I are together.”
Sadness filled the hard lines of his face. “Forgive me.”
“Why?”
“I never meant to expose you to any of this. That’s why I was reluctant to have anyone in my life.”
“We can’t look back,” I said. “We face this together.”
“Then we need to think about our next move.”
“Which is?”
“Grab your passport. We’ll be better off in Europe.”
“I can’t leave, Xander.” I wrapped my arms around myself. “I’ve been waiting on Friday’s audition my whole life.”
