Page 8 of Saviour

“Uhh.” She shifts uncomfortably and I wonder what could’ve changed her mind within these few seconds.

“What about…” she trails off and points behind her at Lenny’s lifeless body. I look over at him at the back of the alley and then down her body, and it’s as if my brain is only just catching up realising what a mess she’s in.

I grab my phone out of my pocket and shoot a quick text, then shrug my blazer off my shoulders and wrap it around her. She looks puzzled as she drowns under the material way too big for her.

“You can’t walk around covered in blood, Birdie,” I reply and reach for her hand again.

“Birdie?” she questions, her brows furrowing further, and I pause for too long before offering a gentle shrug.

“Yes, Birdie. You remind me of a swan. Elegant, beautiful, pure.”

“A swan?”

She’s probably thinking back to the lake she swam in earlier, thinking she was alone. But I wasn’t going to reveal all my secrets yet. I didn’t know any of hers.

“Come.” I squeeze her hand again and turn towards the street, walking at a faster pace than before, desperate to get her inside somewhere warm where she can clean herself up.

I dart across the road, grateful that it’s late so the roads are quiet and there aren’t many people around. I hear her breathing pick up and look over my shoulder to see her red in the face and taking deep breaths.

I stop, and she all but tumbles into me and bounces off my chest. If I wasn’t holding her hand, I’m sure she’d have fallen over.

“Are you okay?” I ask as she tries to disguise the shock and embarrassment from her cheeks.

“Yes. You’re just a little fast, is all.” She blushes and looks down at the ground.

I take her in, from the red cheeks to the small beads of sweat gathering on her top lip to her tiny frame buried underneath my blazer, and I curse myself for not just carrying her to begin with.

Without thinking, I bend down, scoop her into my arms, and cradle her into me. She’s so light that worry pangs in my chest and I wonder where she’s come from for her to be so weak. So fragile.

“Put me down.” She fights but doesn’t seem to put any physical effort in to back up her statement.

I continue walking with her in my arms, holding her close, and when she rests her head against my shoulder, a deep satisfaction flows through my veins.

This girl, whoever she is, needs me. And I feel a desperate need to save her.

Within minutes, I arrive at the hotel hidden away at the end of the street disguised as a run-down pub.

Carlo Rhivers has many of these lavish hotels, disguised as a dive for the thugs and the homeless so he can eliminate his enemies trying to do business in his District. To an outsider, it doesn’t look like anything special, just an old-fashioned building with peeling wallpaper and watered-down beer. The perfect place for dealings of any kind.

Carlo has eyes and ears everywhere and nothing will get by him.

But to those who know—people like me who have grown up around this lifestyle—know that The Urban isn’t a run-down pub at all.

Walking through a sort of reception area, which is actually just a really small desk, I nod at the timid lady behind it, who looks absolutely terrified to be there. She knows who I am and rightly so. She lets me pass without a word.

Aurora has lifted her head and I can see her taking in her surroundings, probably thinking I’ve brought her here to murder her.

Heading into the lift, I slide open the metal door next to the floor numbers, scan my fingerprint and type in the room number. Carlo wasn’t too pleased about me and King having our own suite, but once we convinced him it’ll be good to get us out of his way whenever he had to do business at home, he allowed it.

Me and King came here to escape it all. It sucked knowing we were leaving Bonnie behind at the mansion, but we also needed that escape. Plus, she always had Puck.

Aurora looks up at me as the doors close, a million questions swimming in her pale blue eyes, but I just smile. There will be time for answers later.

The lift opens seconds later to a brightly lit hallway, with deep green walls and a soft cream carpet. I approach my door and once again use my fingerprint to unlock it. It was much more efficient than carrying a key around.

I push the door open, walking through the entryway slightly sideways so I can slide in easily with Aurora in my arms. Her head rotates left and right as she takes in the room, eyes wide and her mouth left hanging open as she takes in the expansive space.

We enter into an open plan kitchen, dining, and living room. The lights automatically turn on from the sensors and the green-and-brown wooden furniture assaults you from the tattered brown leather couch, decorated in cushions of different shades of green to the deep green countertops on pale wooden cupboards.

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