Page 17 of Unmask
“Or something,” I conceded, the corner of my mouth twitching though there wasn’t a trace of amusement behind it. “Will you help me, Poppy?”
She tilted her head, studying me like I was a strange specimen under glass. “Never thought I’d hear those words from Kreed Corvo’s mouth.”
“I’m asking nicely,” I replied.
“And if I refuse?”
I straightened, just a little, letting the quiet stretch, letting her feel what I wasn’t saying. “Then we move to me not asking nicely. Either way, I’ll find out where she is. Don’t give me a reason to unleash what I’m barely restraining.”
Hesitation fluttered across her face, perhaps. A sliver of fear she quickly masked. “Why is this so important to you? It’s not like you haven’t been a complete dick to her.”
“A complete dick, huh? I’ll own that, but I don’t have time to explain everything,” I said. “But the people she’s with? They’re dangerous.”
She arched a brow, lips parting slightly. “More dangerous than you?”
My gaze held hers. “Yeah.”
Her arms dropped an inch, and the sarcasm drained from her face. “Holy shit. You’re not kidding.”
“I wish I were.”
Poppy shook her head slowly, almost like she couldn’t believe she was about to say what she did. “It’s hard to imagine someone worse than you and your brothers.”
I huffed a breath. “Cute.”
She hesitated. “Fine. What do you want me to do?”
“Will you text her or call her?” I asked. “Set up a meeting. Tell her you want to see her.Butdon’t tell her I’ll be there.”
Poppy’s expression darkened. “That’s a horrible idea.”
I sighed, my patience wearing thin. “Poppy?—”
“No, seriously,” she cut me off, glaring. “If Kaylor wanted to talk to you, she would. You wouldn’t need me to play fuckingmessenger. Not to mention, I’ve tried calling her. It seems she doesn’t want to talk to either of us.”
The words stung, but I pushed through them. “I don’t care. Ineedto see her. Reach out to her friends from the Academy. They might know where she is.”
Poppy let out a breath. She’d never seen me like this before. No one had, and maybe that’s why, after a long moment, she muttered, “Shit,” under her breath. “Fine. I’ll try again.Butonly because I need to know she’s okay.”
Relief cut through me.
“Don’t get too excited, Corvo,” Poppy added, pointing a finger at my chest, “if she hates me for this, I’m blaming you.Andafter I do this, you’ll tell me why she’s in so much danger that it has you on edge.”
I’d agree to anything, but it didn’t mean I would deliver. I just needed Poppy to say yes.
Mason leaned against my desk,his arms crossed, watching as I sent Poppy the phone numbers he’d dug up for Kaylor’s friends from Elmwood Academy. It was scary the personal data you could pay to acquire online. “You sure about this?” he asked, his fingers messing up his hair.
“No,” I muttered, tossing my phone onto the bed. “But I’m doing it anyway.”
The card flipping between Mason’s fingers halted. “She’s not gonna be happy to see you.”
“No shit.”
“She might actually try to kill you.”
I gave him a flat look. “If she wanted me dead, she wouldn’t have run.”
Mason smirked, but there was something behind it, something thoughtful. “Maybe she’s plotting her revenge. I still think you should let me go instead.”
