Page 24 of Betrayed

Just a quick glimpse of him behind a ticket machine on the other platform.

But it’s him.

I know that silhouette—that posture.

My stomach drops.

I tell myself I’m being silly, but then my phone vibrates—my burner phone. The one no one has the number to except Helena and Mary.

It’s a text.

No number.

No name.

Only a few words, but they’re enough to stop my blood.

Lovely to see you again, baby sister.

My knees almost give out as I stand. I fumble for the brick wall behind me, pressing against it as bile creeps up my throat.

I shove my phone into my backpack before throwing it over my shoulder. I look across to the platform, but he’s not there.

I should run, go back to New York. To Lucian.

Lucian.

His name flares inside me like a match, a heat I forgot I carried. Caleb wants me to be scared and weak. He thinks I’ll freeze up like I used to.

But I’m not the same Erin. Lucian didn’t just touch my body. He remade me. Taught me to feel again. I’ve never had the strength to stand up to Caleb before, but Lucian gave me the confidence I needed to fight.

And this time, I will fight.

The train arrives. I run down the platform, inspecting every car for Caleb’s face till I get to the last one. I hop on, slamming into an open seat just before the doors close.

I sit, my chest heaving, catching my breath. An older woman sits in a seat across the aisle from me. She leans in. “Are you alright, love?”

“I am,” I gasp. “Thanks.”

I’m safe.

For now.

It’s almost dark as I stumble back through town, heart pounding, every shadow a threat. My boots pad against the dirt path as I recite my plan.

I’ll go without fire or candles, lock every window, push the dresser in front of the door, and double the knives under my pillow.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Lucian

The calls come in and go out like a fast-paced game of ping-pong. I gather information, request favors, and make threats. I’ve made it clear to the Morettis—leave Cass and Ryan out of this. Their war is with us.

I post a guard outside their door anyway. Tell Cass to lie low. I offer assistance. She declines, saying, ‘I’m just fine on my own, thank you very much.’

So I have a friend check up on her and the kid and hire someone to help her with anything she needs.

I land in England with one thing in my veins: rage.