Page 53 of Wings of Ebony
Uh-oh.
“What was the necklace about? And, like, where the hell you been? Something happen?”
Sigh.
“You know I got you. I’m just trying to figure out what’s up with you? The truth.”
I shift in my seat. What do I say? How much? Does him knowing put him in danger too? The questions got my head spinning.
“Rue?”
“Someone’s after my sister—someone besides Litto.” That’s pretty much the whole truth.
“Who? Why?”
The General’s pallid face and thin lips swirl in my memory. “Nobody you would know,” I say.
“Uhm, okay. That ain’t a real answer though. Do you know why? What they want?”
The General’s stern complexion and dead slate eyes are frozen in my mind. The scar under his eye moved when he spoke.Get me that name, recruit.
“I felt cold all over when he looked at me.”
“Whenwholooked at you? Rue, you not making no sense.”
Did I say that out loud? “Just this guy. He’s the boss’s right hand at this place I used to work and I broke the rules. So the boss told him I had to be…”
Get her ready for Unbinding.His words play on repeat in my head.Recruit, get me that name.Luke scrambling to slip me my watch back.That name.Tasha’s name.They’re to be killed.
Words slip from my lips in barely a whisper. “He was practically smiling when he told me my punishment.”
“What punishment? Like he fired you?”
Julius’s words fade and bile hovers at the back of my throat.She has the necklace. It’s okay. He won’t find her.My knee’s bouncing as thoughts of the General’s threats and the Chancellor’s cold stare wrap around my throat…
They’re to be killed.
Tighter.
Chancellor’s orders.
Tighter still.
I gasp, fanning myself for air. “A-air. I need…”
“Rue!” The car jerks to a halt and I roll my window down. Humid air washes over me.Inhale.Tasha is safe. I’m still public enemy number one, but at least my sister is safe.Exhale.
“You okay?”
“I’m okay.” I would touch his hand, reassure him, but touching is out of the question. Dezignz, written in swirly silver letters against a slate charcoal wall, sits outside my window.
“Well, we’re here. Figured I’d just drive us around this area, scope out things. If we…”
Oh, he clearly doesn’t understand how this is going down. “I appreciate you. I really do. But I gotta do this on my own.” I click the door handle open. “Thanks for the ride. I can catch the bus back.”
“Rue!” He’s all shock and stutters as he unbuckles. “I’m not leaving you here!”
“Fine, stay in the car. If you hear anything, call the police and get out of here.Period.”
