hel

how long I had

s, m

rom afternoon gold into the soft grey of evening by the time I b

cars, people-a city. My knees

thes were dirty from climbing the wall, my hair tangled,

was

in weeks, I could c

neon signs buzzed above me and cars honked while strangers brushed

need to call Dad. Or Marcus. Anyone. Th

to blend into the crowd, but everything fe

rd it-a lo

drawled. "Look w

jumped. I

tside a shop, their eyes locked on me. Rough

hed off his bik

or us?" he aske

I don't have an

He looked like their leader

rincess," he said, breath reeking of smoke. "

through. I don't want

o my face, but to the necklace. The

id, stepping closer with wid

ely, taking a step back. The leader's eyes sharpened. "A girl lik

oy for the empire," one said, grinning. "Didn't know th

once. "I don't know what you're talking about,"

nly serious. "No one wears that symbol

en closer, an

he men muttered darkly. "Bo

yes gleamed wi

his hand shot out and

, stumbling as he

," he

ther arm, fingers diggin

ed. Panic shot

go! I didn't

red me co

ley beside the shop, his grip tigh

of the men laughed. "

trel's mark is worth a lot. And the boss w

od ran

pull back. "I swear, I don't know any

ve

he cold brick wall. The noise of the street faded. My he

ed close, breat

idn't you? Why else woul

"Please don't hurt me. Plea

epped forward, reac

her. Boss wil

along the wall, panic ex

ed. "Shu

my mouth from the side, pi

d, terrified, kicking, twisting,

y were

going to kill you. Not if you're smart. But you ma

an grabbed both my wrists, lifting them ab

reathe. I co

-

ien

. One of the men near Rachel droppe

thing

aw me, stiffening at the cold fury

d behind me, guns raise

, shaking, makeup streaked from tears, a smear of

w tig

m," I sai

creams. Footsteps s

h the storm, watching e

ly one r

ng her up against his chest. A knife

l kill her!" he shou

reath wheezing in panic. She

top

m. But because I saw th

ar of

ear o

ar...

d her tight. "Don't move

rom my chest, amused b

fened. "S-st

ile w

an bargain with

TOP LAU

A

ys as a sniper round tor

rayed across her face and n

e her, but she recoiled

e cried. "Please-don'

one had slammed a

never take from my late bastard father. For a moment, I felt s

g it fall to the blood-stained ground. My voice

lently, sliding down t

y, keeping dista

g to hurt you

d. "Please... p

not in anger at

oat and pulled out

t touching

ingertips and wiped the blood fr

d, but didn

murmured. "No one w

final streak of b

.. come

, her eyes glassy

lid my coat around her shoulde

her t

ecti

axed on my chest, still

it was focused entirely on anyone

home," I

ed her out