etched into its jagged cliffs, whispered in

ss with the

and soaked into every drop of salt air. From Cove to Hollow to Dip, every club, hotel, and greasy diner owes someth

on marble floors beneath their poker tables. Had my first shot of whiskey behind one of their bars. Bled for the first time in a stall wi

he man in the corner booth like

s temple, and for a second, I freeze. Something about the shape of his mouth, the gle

angerous-catch mine just as h

s no

Lucious

zation crashing over me. I can feel Dan watching me from acr

ster and reach for my coat. I don't look back. I don't

d to grab my suitcase

ce cuts thro

ng alr

u

ice higher than I'd

trains on the

ike a shield. "Different t

air thinner around me. I straighten, my fingers clutc

hes the back of my neck. Warm whiskey and cool mint.

is quiet

play yo

ot a r

t my ribs. My chin tips up in defiance, e

, aren't yo

pens. "Oh, I'

it. This man is not interested in flirtation. He's amused, maybe. Curio

l shrug. "Fine

he stool next to mine. His presence swallows th

says, voice like

-question quiz. You get

row. "And wha

neck

ek Breitling on his w

won

apes him. "You'

of a lot o

watches me like a scientist observing a new

he bar-a lemon drop for me,

with suspicion. "

says quietly. "Less

ouldn't bet my life on what's in it. With Raphael watc

. "Each answer must be wrong.

ds once. "

u played

halfway to his mout

uestion. I count it,

e we?" I

e m

lor is m

o the messy bun o

you

lo

good a

d at eve

rous, and the look in his eyes makes me wonder what else he's

uestions ha

bar. Once. Twice. Th

four, includin

s shaky, but

t catches on his diamond cuf

you cheat,"

flat. "Say

nd a liar. You said you haven'

tens. "I sai

actly. That was yo

I hadn't even realized were watching-shift subtly, standing a li

is hand. The movement

ngle man

d me," he s

I reply just as soft

He just finishes his drink, then

ns to slush.

's sympathy there. Maybe

and produces a small ham

neec

it to find

ging behind me. The hammer gleams under the bar

dvan

fa

ttom step, hear

me-citrine ring, sil

ac

en bones. Just..

oken security tag

why the store alar

e he wears now is real-sharp

lucky,"

"Could've been

ruined your l

my arm and pulls me to my feet like I weigh n

care o

es-grief, maybe. Regret. But th

t with a cocky grin. "Want to go ag

"I'd rather shit in

eno

chin toward t

mble up the stairs, the weight of his

move. Just watches me with

how lucky you

harm at my neck burns

laugh b

isper. "It's you