Forged in Blood

ing up broken crates and blood. Noi patched a cut on Phet's arm, her hands quick and steady. Kai was gone-out the warehouse door with a phone press

her foot. She wasn't a fighter. She was an artist, a sister-not this. But Aran'

t her. Was ti

ping a knife into a box. She glanced at Mira. "You did

d. "I didn't

st. Tomorrow's busy." She turned back

lank IDs. She picked up a passport, flipping it open. Empty pages stared back. She coul

. She crept to the loft's edge, peering down. A figure slipped inside-a man, tall and thin, with messy hair

grabbed the gun, holding it loose, unsure. The man

lips. Shh. Then he tapped his p

fumbling it out. A text glowed on the screen

airs. No one saw. She could stay, tell Kai, play it safe. Or she could go, find out. Her gut screame

ng, horns honking faint in the distance. The roof was flat, littered with old pipe

he hissed, stayi

voice smooth. "Relax. I'

?" She gripped the gun

, hands up. "Your

opped. "Aran

eat up, but breathing

e demanded.

ot that easy. Kai's got him locked tigh

ed, sharp and bitter.

to Kai. We hit this place tonight, but your lit

of them-the masked men with gu

aded-Aran, bruised and pale, tied to a chair. His eyes were op

ed for the phone, but Jace pulled

she whispered

spots all over the city. I can

didn't like his grin

chips. My crew wants it. You're inside n

in her mind-those dark eyes, that spark when he'd said, You're more th

t," Jace shot back. "Time's

ing his face. He was younger than Kai, maybe her age, with

ked. "You don't

one he'd want coming for him. Plus, you're good-th

That meant something-or nothing, if

lk away. You stay Ka

cream, to run, but the roof boxed her in.

e said, step

now, or

Jace. Aran's life or her o

ce small. "I'll help. But I w

get you something tomorro

sneak out?

he said, winking

-one thing. Kai's sharp. Don't let

vered.

e city's glow washing over her. Her hands shook as she pulled out her phone, s

rting tools, oblivious. Phet snored softly. Mira's mind raced. Jace could

's voice carried up, sharp and angry.

, pretending to sleep. Footsteps pounded the stairs-Lek, not Kai. He

heart hammer

" he growled. "Y

ping her voice stea

e knives. "Boss thi

ood below, holding a cigarette butt-fresh, still warm. "

"I don't know," she sai

rette. His eyes searched hers, hard and cold.

, too sharp. Did he know? "I'm not,"

he butt away. "We'll see," he sa

but his words lingered, heavy as the gun she'd hidden. She