Page 20 of Cheater Slicks

“Not a bad theory, but it doesn’t account for how Matty was exposed when he was all the way in Thunderbolt.” I sounded like a broken record, but it kept needling me. “We’re no closer to knowing who—or what—is causing the affliction either. Let alone why they conjured it or what they stand to gain from it spreading.”

Still.

Matty aside, I had to consider it might explain how Vi was ensnared while out searching for her friend.

Had she struck out with Matty too? Had she tried to find someone more responsive to question? Had she given up on the stock answers and accepted the offer of a dance to check and see if that helped?

Clearly, once they got their hands on her, they didn’t intend to let Vi go until she had integrated into the collective, which made extracting her our top priority. Any detail she could share with us could make the difference between saving Matty and reuniting his soul with his body or…

Nope.

Not going there.

A text chime drew my attention to my phone and a message from Harrow.

>>Leyna Reynolds.

>As in friend of a friend Leyna? You found her? What about SCAD Grad?

>>No luck on SCAD Grad, but Leyna Reynolds was admitted at Candler Hospital on the same night Matty was afflicted. I saw her not five minutes ago, but she won’t be answering any questions for us. She’s comatose.

>You vetted her in person?

>>Yeah.

>>I figured I owed you.

Warmth ignited in my chest, warning me that my anger at Harrow was close to reaching a melting point.

First loves really screwed with your head. And your heart. I thought I could cut him out of my life, but he was making it hard to paint him as my enemy when he kept brushing aside my animosity to help Matty.

>Send me her picture. I’ll keep an eye out for her too.

>>Will do. Thanks.

After giving me a moment to gather my thoughts, Kierce raised his eyebrows and waited for me to share.

“Harrow identified Leyna.” I shut my eyes, accepting I had lost yet another lead. “She’s comatose too.” I pocketed my phone then sought out Josie. “Let’s go update my sister before she comes unglued.”

The only thing holding her in place was Pedro’s grip on her wrist, anchoring her to the spot to give Kierce space to check me over before she swarmed me with questions. I was grateful for the moment to gather my thoughts before facing her.

Seeing for himself I was fine, he released her with an apology she brushed aside. As soon as I reached Josie, I saw what standing idly by had cost her in the smear of blood where she had bitten her bottom lip.

“Pedro hit the high notes,” she rushed out. “What else can you tell me?”

“I spoke to him. It was Matty. Not an illusion.” I started her off easy. “But he doesn’t know who he is and can’t help us figure out what’s going on.” Her chin trembled, and I brought her in for a hug. “I found Vi in the crowd.” I blinked back frustrated tears. “Whatever swept them up, a spell or an enchantment, it’s eroding her memories too.” I made myself believe the words as I spoke them. “But she’s not gone yet.”

“We need to free her before it’s too late.” Josie sniffled against my shoulder. “In case Matty can’t…”

“Come on, Mary.” I rubbed her back in soothing circles. “None of that.”

“We’re going to get Matty back,” Kierce swore. “No matter what it costs.”

I was onboard until that last bit. Not that I wouldn’t give anything to help my family. I just worried what he had in mind. More specifically, that he was considering a bargain with Pierre. Plenty of people had hinted at Kierce’s forgotten memories, claiming to know his secrets, but he must have known better than to trust them to deliver. With Pierre a temptation so close at hand, I feared Kierce might fall victim easier.

For some reason, the one thing I wanted no part of—my past—made those around me desperate to find their own answers. Which made me question if they saw something lacking in me that compelled them to fill the answering gaps within themselves.

I didn’t want to watch Kierce go down the same road of self-discovery Harrow had once walked with no way to pull him back from the brink of whatever he might learn there on the edge of his known world. I didn’t want to lose him.

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