Page 50 of Forged in Flames (Made of Steel 2)

When I turned away from the window of the diner, I froze. About a block ahead of me on the path was the real Sadie Davis. She was standing in the middle of the sidewalk, obstructing the normal flow of the other pedestrians.

A smile curled onto her lips.

I stepped forward and she immediately put her hand up again. Just like she had the last time. Her five fingers were spread out, signaling me to stop.

Why did she never try to hurt me? Was she just watching me? I certainly had enough people watching me already. If she really was working for Don, maybe she didn't know everything he had done. Maybe she would flip sides. I could talk to her. I could try to make her understand. We didn't have to be enemies.

But then she lowered her thumb.

My thoughts about peace completely evaporated. Four. She's counting down. Yesterday she hadn't been telling me to stop. She had been telling me that I had five days. And now I only had four. I was in some new twisted game.

Someone bumped into me on the sidewalk, knocking me slightly to the side. When I regained my balance and looked ahead of me, Sadie Davis was gone.

Four days. It was like my pulse was pounding in my ears. The normal sounds of the city seemed to fade away. What the fuck is going to happen in four days?!

Chapter 21

Monday

By the time I reached the top of the fire escape, I was completely out of breath. I hadn't stopped running since I had seen the real Sadie Davis. Four days. I swallowed hard and pounded on the strange window-like door of V's lair. There was no answer.

"V!" I banged on the window again. God, where was he? Was I early? I was about to pull my phone out of my pocket when I heard a clanging noise behind me. When I turned around, V was standing there. Tall. Powerful. Every bit the superhero that I needed.

I immediately dropped my backpack and duffel bag and wrapped my arms around him.

"You're shaking. What's wrong? What happened?"

"Sadie Davis..." I managed to choke out.

"Take a deep breath, okay?" He ran his hand up and down my back, somehow making me feel calm despite Sadie Davis' warning.

"She's going to kill me." I pulled my head back so I could look up at him. That's why I had been running as fast as I could to the only place that I felt safe. I had convinced myself that I only had four days to live. Four days wasn't enough time. It was like I could hear a clock ticking down in my head.

"Who?" asked V. "The other Sadie Davis?"

I nodded. The real Sadie Davis.

"No one is going to hurt you ever again. I promise."

"You shouldn't make promises that you can't keep."

"I can keep it. Let's get inside, okay?" He reached around me and pressed the code into the keypad. The window made a whirring noise as it slowly rose. He let go of my waist, grabbed my backpack and duffel, and stepped into his lair.

For some reason I stood frozen on the fire escape.

He put his hand out for me. "I promise I'll keep you safe, Sadie."

I didn't believe his words. But I did believe that he'd try. Besides, I couldn't face this alone. I put my hand in his and stepped through the window. He intertwined his fingers in mine and silently escorted me to his bedroom.

"Athena, lights on." The lights immediately turned on. He dropped my hand and placed my backpack and duffel on the bottom of the bed. "There are a few things you might need in the bathroom. Just let me know if there is anything else."

I nodded.

He didn't say anything about being glad I was going to spend the night again. It was as if he knew I'd be staying all along and it wasn't a surprise to him at all. He sat down on the edge of the bed, looking slightly uncomfortable even though it was his room. He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees, and clasped his hands together. "Tell me what happened," he said.

Even though he didn't specify, I knew he wasn't referring to changing my mind about my sleeping arrangements. "I saw her yesterday and..."

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked, cutting me off.

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