Page 52 of Tainted Lie

I burned the clothes and gloves in a back alley, only leaving when the fire had gone out and all that was left was unrecognizable black fabric.

The last thing I needed was to start a house fire and for someone to investigate the cause of it.

It took me another thirty minutes to walk to my car that I’d left in a supermarket parking lot. I picked up Pop-Tarts and frozen yogurt pops for Lenny before dropping into the driver’s seat with a groan.

I turned down random streets and picked directions at will, driving through parts of town I’d never been to before. Only when I was sure nobody was following did I make my way back to the motel.

There was no light in the parking lot, and I hit what felt like every single pothole in the dark that was only illuminated by my shitty headlights.

Once the door shut behind me, closing me into the small room that would be home for the next few days, I slumped in on myself.

Lenny’s small form was barely visible in the dim light from the bathroom. He didn’t like sleeping in the dark and usually left a lamp on. But since there were no lamps—or nightstands—the bathroom was the next best thing.

I put his yogurt pops in the freezer and left the Pop-Tarts on the table before taking a much-needed shower. I couldn’t understand why each job became harder and harder to complete. Instead of moving on like I used to have no problem doing, I felt dirty and like I’d done something wrong.

Now, after every job, I spent too much time in the shower, scrubbing my skin and struggling to breathe. Only when I couldn’t stand the cold water any longer, each drop feeling like ice pricking my skin, did I get out.

I knew I couldn’t keep this up much longer. But I’d made my choice five years ago when I joined Gladius, and once you were in, there was no getting out.

18

JUDE

“Get your ass to the house,”Gabriel ordered. “We’re on lockdown.”

Juggling two coffees, Ariel’s favorite muffin, and a bagel for Lenny, I held my phone between my head and shoulder. “Why are we on lockdown? Is this you being dramatic again?”

“The bug you planted picked up a conversation. And they’re coming for Dad.” Gabriel sounded like he was about to shoot someone.

Now I was glad I’d risked sneaking a bug in when I was at the estate. We didn’t think it would work, but somehow nobody had found it yet. I guess they weren’t as good as they thought.

I’d put the bug too far from the center of the room to be able to make out much when someone was talking to the princeps. But whenever they walked past, we picked up plenty of conversations.

I knocked on Ariel’s door with my boot. “I’ll be there as soon as I can,” I told Gabriel.

And I’d be bringing Ariel and Lenny with me. I’d made a decision. One she wouldn’t like. One that was likely to make her mad. But she’d forgive me, eventually. At least she would once she realized I was doing this for her. And saw all the advantages that came with being with me.

I was a catch, after all.

I dropped the bags that held the food on the ground and hung up on my brother, sliding the phone into my back pocket.

There was no movement inside, despite it being early in the morning. Usually, Ariel would have herself and Lenny ready by now. I’d always sneak out before Lenny was up, but I usually came back later to have breakfast with them and knew their schedule inside out.

I opened the door, typing in the alarm code. The apartment was unusually quiet. I picked the bags up off the floor and set them on the kitchen counter, together with the coffees.

Lenny’s room was the first one on the right. I knew something was wrong as soon as I entered. His bed was messy as usual, but all his stuff that had been sitting on the shelf above his desk was gone.

His basketball trophies. His books on Egypt that he loved so much. The closet was open, all his clothes gone.

Stilling my shaking hands by fisting them, I went into Ariel’s room, already knowing what I’d find.

It was as empty as Lenny’s.

Roaring my frustration, I swiped at the lonely plant still sitting on her windowsill, then put my hands on my hips, my breathing heavy.

I raced through the rest of the apartment, finding everything but the furniture gone. The fridge was empty. All traces of them erased.

Her crappy TV still sat on the rickety stand, her frilly cushions still on her couch.

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