Page 27 of Gemini

“Yeah,” I said even as I continued to look around. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

I looked down at my phone again to another message.

Whatever you’re thinking, it’s not worth it. Do not go near them. I know you’re angry and desperate to find your sister but talking to them won’t help.

Shutting off the screen, I set my phone back in my pocket. Maybe he was right, we should leave.

I let Art finish his drink, before I decided we needed to leave. My anger was rising too quickly, and I was bound to do something I was going to regret.

As I shifted off the stool, I bumped my shoulder into someone beside me. I turned my head to apologize, then froze.

“Woah, there.” The man with the dark, slicked back hair smiled at me.

“S-sorry,” I murmured.

He was a lot older in the light, with a beard flecked with gray and cold eyes.

“Nothing to it, sweetheart.” He had a sort of drawl to his words. He leaned over the bar next to me, signaling the bartender for another round of whatever beers he and his buddies were drinking.

He turned back to me and fixed me with a crooked smile. “That your boyfriend behind you?”

I tried to keep my expression straight. “My brother,” I said. “And we were just leaving.”

He arched his brow. “You go drinking with your brother?”

“No.” I glanced over my shoulder and saw my brother glaring at the guy. He got up from his seat, ready to leave with me.

“Special occasion, huh? Birthday?”

“No.”

“Well, whatever it is.” He pulled cash out of his pocket and put it on the table. “Drinks on me.”

I stood there, uncertain how to respond. Thankfully, Art did.

“Thanks, but we’re okay. We gotta get going.”

The guy shrugged, then told the bartender to put it on the tab for the next round.

Art nodded to me and I started to move. As I picked up my phone, it vibrated again but I didn’t stop to look.

“Hold on.” The guy put up his hand, blocking my way. “Sorry, but…” He tilted his head, his brows furrowing. “You look familiar. Do you have a sister?”

I tensed, my hand gripping my bag. From the corner of my eye, I could see his friends nearby watching.

His eyes moved along my face. I kept my head down, not catching his gaze. I waited for the realization to set in when I felt Art’s hand grip my shoulder.

“Must be a mistake,” my brother said. “We were just passing by.”

The man’s gaze never left me. “You can’t tell me if you got a sister or not?”

Now was the moment to ask about Trish. To beg, to plead, to scream for them to let her go. To somehow convince them. And for a brief second, I felt a surge of confidence.

Until he smiled, showing off perfectly straight teeth, one with a silver filling. His grin wasn’t friendly, it was wicked, like he already knew my secret—that I was Trish’s little sister. Something in his expression—a dark shadow in his eyes—told me this man was not to be fucked with.

It felt like the devil smiling at me.

He started to laugh. “It’s okay, sweetheart, no need to look so scared. Just an honest question.” He put up his hands. “But, hey, none of my business, right?”