Page 19 of Calypso's Shield
It’s dark as hell as we head to the hotel. We left the bikes behind; rolling up on those would be like flashing a neon sign saying,Here we are.
The van slows to a crawl. Scarlett, Allura, Divine, and I file out the back, weapons in hand, ready for whatever’s coming. We breach the front door and start moving toward the basement.
Scarlett suddenly stops me, her voice low but firm. "Listen, I know you have your own way of doing things, but if you trust me at all, go find the kids and let me do my thing."
I pause, studying her face, wondering what she’s capable of, who she really is under all that tough exterior. "Are you sure?"
"Without a doubt. Once I’m done down here, there won’t be anything left to clean up. Find the kids, get them out. I’ll handle the rest."
I stare at her for a moment longer, something in my gut telling me I might not see her again for a while, but I nod and head downstairs with Divine.
We clear out most of the kids from the abandoned rooms, getting them secured one by one. I can’t help but feel a mix of relief and guilt. Relief that they’re safe for now, guilt for the things they’ve already had to endure.
Just as we’re about to finish, Allura approaches me, her face tense. "Calypso, we have a lead on Mercedes. We need to regroup at the Clubhouse."
“What about Scarlett?” The question slips out before I can stop it. I hate how much I’m worried about her.
“All the others are already out. Torch and a prospect are staying behind to make sure she gets out and heads to her next destination safely.”
"You’re acting like we won’t see her again." The words feel heavy on my tongue.
“We might not.” Allura’s voice hardens, but I can tell there’s something more behind her words, something she’s not saying. But it’s not my place to push right now. “We’ve got bigger problems.”
I brace myself, the unease crawling through my skin. “Prez, what’s going on?”
She sighs and meets my eyes, the weight of it all settling between us. "Dave’s been spotted nearby. And rumor has it, he’s coming for you.” I freeze, my heart hammering in my chest.
“Who’s Dave?” Divine asks, and I’m only half-aware of her voice, too caught up in the cold dread gnawing at my gut.
“Dave is my slimy, abusive ex-husband.” I swallow hard, my throat dry. “Last time I saw him, he tried to kill me.” I pull mylong dark hair aside and show the scar running from just below my ear to the edge of my collarbone. "He did this... and left me to bleed out."
8
FARRIS
Icouldn’t go on the raid since it wasn’t in my district, and it’s driving me insane. My entire body feels wired, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios. I should be there. Watching Calypso’s back. Making sure they all come home. Instead, I’m pacing the Clubhouse living room like a caged animal, questioning everything I thought I knew about myself.
For so long, the law has been black and white to me, with clear-cut lines of right and wrong. But since getting involved with Calypso and the Royal Harlots, those lines have blurred into something murky and grey. The more I see, the more I realize how tied my hands are because of my badge. The system I swore to uphold is broken, tangled in red tape that lets monsters slip through the cracks. And now, instead of making a difference, I’m standing around with my thumb up my ass, waiting.
If I wasn’t what they call a civilian, I’d be out there with them. I wouldn’t be here, pacing like a goddamn lunatic.
A sharp buzz in my pocket jolts me from my thoughts. My supervisor.
“Dalton, get your ass to the station. Now.”
I don’t argue. I grab my keys and go.
Now, here I am at the precinct, still pacing, but this time, it’s on the worn linoleum floor instead of the Clubhouse rug.
The questions in my head won’t stop. Am I in the right line of work? I became a detective to help people, to stop the worst of the worst. But right now? I feel like a glorified paper pusher, cleaning up after the real heroes.
The idea of another life, another path, creeps in. Capone and the Royal Bastards. But I shake my head. I don’t even know how to ride a bike. And they’d never trust me. Not after spending my entire life on the other side of the law.
But if Calypso taught me, and I can prove myself, maybe I could prospect. I shake the thought away, but it lingers, curling around my mind like smoke.
“Damn, Dalton, what’s crawled up your ass?”
I snap my gaze to Detective Ponder. My partner for the past six months. An arrogant, know-it-all jackass. His shaggy brown hair is a mess, and his tie is already loose like he’s given up pretending to care.
