Page 83 of Crown of Smoke

Each day,the pain is less and within a few days, my pain is more like an ache. I’m black and blue, but not swollen. I’m almost back to normal. My brothers still keep me home as my strength isn’t fully back yet. It’s driving me crazy. I want to get back into the world. Back into the fight. Back to Lucy.

Today, I’m drinking my coffee alone, planning what I’m going to say to my brothers to let them know I’m ready to get back into the game.

The alert chirps from Phoenix's laptop. A map pops up on screen, showing Lucy's location ping. Blaise was right in that she doesn’t go anywhere but work and home, so initially, I just glance at it before going back to my coffee. Ten minutes later, when I check it again expecting to see her stopping at the newspaper, I see that instead, she’s in front of the Kean office building.

"No, no, no." I push up from the table, ignoring the protest from my ribs. "What are you doing, Lucy?"

I will her to keep moving. She's too close. Way too close. Every instinct screams at me to go after her, but I'm still sporting bruises that would draw immediate attention.

I grab my phone. The memory of O'Brian's sneering face flashes through my mind. He might be dead, but there are plenty more like him working for the Keans. And Lucy… stubborn, beautiful Lucy with her fearless questions… she's exactly the type they love to make disappear.

My fingers shake as I dial Lucy's number, relief flooding my veins when she actually picks up.

"Lucy, what the hell are you doing?" I keep my voice low despite the urge to shout.

“Putting an end to all this.”

"Are you insane? You can't just walk into Kean’s office!" The room spins, and I grip the edge of the table.

"Actually, I can." She pauses. "How do you know where I am?"

Fuck.

"Are you following me?"

"No."

Another pause. "Tracking me?"

"That's not important now. What's important is that you're about to do something stupid. You have no idea what they're capable of."

"I know exactly what they're capable of." Steel enters her voice. "That's why they need to be stopped."

"Not like this." Desperation claws at me. "They'll kill you the second they realize what you're after."

"Then I'll be careful. Besides, I’m planning to see Ronan in their legit offices. They won’t do anything here.”

God, she’s so naïve. "Where you are makes no difference, Lucy. I’m telling you. If you walk in there, you won’t come out alive.” I search for keys to a car, any car. I have to get to her. “Give me time to handle this my way."

“Your way isn’t working. They nearly killed you and they don’t know who you are. You could lose your cover?—”

“You think I care about my cover?" My voice comes out rough. "I care about keeping you alive.”

“I know what I’m doing. I have to go.”

"Lucy, wait—” The line goes dead.

My hands shake as I redial, but it goes straight to voicemail. Damn it. She's really going to walk right into the lion's den. Part of me admires her courage, that relentless drive for justice that drew me to her in the first place. But right now, that same fearlessness is going to get her killed.

My brothers will kill me for leaving, but I can't just sit here and watch that dot, wondering if each moment will be the one where she crosses a line she can't uncross. I find my keys and head out the door praying to a God I’m not sure exists that I’ll get to her in time.

29

LUCY

Itake one final deep breath before pushing through the glass doors of Kean Enterprises. The sleek marble lobby gleaming under bright lights is a far cry from the grimy underground boxing rings and dark alleys from my other Kean business encounters.

I’m not a complete idiot. I know coming here is a huge risk. But in the two days since I left Flint’s bedside, I’ve grown more frustrated by the whole situation. I hadn’t wanted to leave Flint, but I have a job and his brothers weren’t subtle about wanting me gone so they could conduct their own business. Again, I was blindfolded and whisked back home. Until a few moments ago, I hadn’t talked to or seen Flint. I’ve spent the last few days growing more irritated that my life was on hold because of the Keans.

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