Page 135

“Glad you remember what I like. I’m heading up there a day early for a meeting in Boston. You’ll have an early guest. I hope that’s okay.”

“Come anytime.”

“Oh, I want to bring a gift for Kiera and her mom. What do you think they’ll like?”

“That’s unnecessary.”

“You’re not them. How do you know? This is my first time officially meeting both of them.”

“Get them something from the apothecary then.”

CHAPTERSIXTY-TWO

KIERA

After a wonderful morning with my mom, I went in for my physical exam, which I’d delayed so many times. All was well, and I was now sitting in the chair at the laboratory, waiting for the nurse to draw my blood. My heart raced a little, but it wasn’t overwhelming like it used to be.

I thought about Forrest, his love for me,and the documentary I’d watched about blood. Like his love, blood was a vital part of me, and there was nothing to fear. That acknowledgment calmed my nerves as I stared at the needle and the tube being filled with my blood.

Before I knew it, the friendly nurse got a bandage ready and said, “You’re all set.”

I am all set.

Smiling to myself, I drove home and glanced in my rearview mirror. A gray sedan with tinted windows was behind me. I’d noticed it when my mom and I were at the spa and shopping center. Was I being paranoid? It could’ve been another gray car . . .

Still, something unsettled me. I pulled over to the side of the road, putting on my emergency lights, took out my phone, pretending to call someone. I just needed a moment to let the anxiety pass. The gray car slowed down, and a man with curly hair glanced at me before driving off. Other cars did the same. An older man in a van stopped, rolled down his window, and asked if I needed help. I graciously declined.

I was probably just spooking myself. Inhaling a breath, I called Forrest on speaker and drove home. I didn’t want to worry him; he had a lot going on. Besides, I was likely being paranoid with everything I’d experienced.

Just listening to Forrest’s voice made me feel better already, and I was motivated to get home to work on my greeting cards.

CHAPTERSIXTY-THREE

FORREST

Thenext day,Kieramet up with her friends at the Krazee Tavern, a restaurant owned by Remi in downtown Providence.

I hung out with Arrow and Remi at his house. Royce and Grayson had other engagements. We discussed the WaterFyre Rising video game briefly, and took a break for lunch before delving into information about the red shoes and Red Venom. I hadn’t planned on telling them about my personal vendetta. But Red Venom was now linked to The Trogyn, and it would be wrong not to inform them. These guys were my brothers. I’d trust them with my life, and they trusted me with theirs.

I had wanted to protect them by keeping my vengeance out of our discussions, but that didn’t sit too well with my friends.

“That’s not cool, man.” Arrow punched me in the shoulder.

“I didn’t want to drag you into my mess.”

“We’re friends. Anyone after you has to deal with us.” Remi crossed his arms from acrossthe table.

“Well, now you know. I’ll fill the other guys in later.”

“And you’ll get punched then too.” Arrow sneered.

When all was said and done and the boys had forgiven me, we shared information about the red shoes and a shoe repair shop in Providence, owned by a law firm based in Texas. Slash’s information had paid off.

My stomach twisted as the dots connected in my head: the law firm in Texas to a shoe repair shop in Providence.

My phone rang. Before picking up the call, I told Remi, “Look up Law Time Group and see if Senator Kramer still practices there.”

The man had gotten his law degree and that helped him climb the political ladder. He had started his firm years ago but closed it to join a bigger one. He’d been promoting the Law Time Group recently, and that piqued my interest.