Page 24 of Into the Blue

My stomach drops.

My blood turns to ice.

He knows.

Did Senior tell him?

How did he find out?

Who else knows?

“How long you been spyin’ on us, cousin?” he spits, closing the space between us.

I force a breath in through my nose. “I didn’t spy. I’ve just been working. More than any of you ever do.”

My response knocks the smirk off his face. His empty eyes grow even darker when he says, “You got a lotta nerve sayin’ shit, when you been strippin’ under his roof.”

Blue. Of course.

To the Fayes, I was betrayal wrapped in glitter.

Seems rather dumb to me since I tried with Senior and he flat out wanted nothing to do with me.How could I be betraying anyone?I’m loyal to me and mine alone in this feud between them.

“You don’t think he cares what blood runs through your veins?” Jimmy hisses, stepping in close enough I can smell his cologne that’s too sweet and too sharp, like rotting flowers. “You think the King’s gonna protect you when he finds out your daddy’s name?”

I don’t move. I couldn’t. My whole body goes still.

He was baiting me.

“Say it,” he taunts. “Say who you are.”

His fingers brush my jaw, and the heat of fury rises up before fear ever could.

“Say it, or I swear I’ll—”

I move first.

My hand snaps to his wrist, twisting hard enough he hisses.

“Touch me again, and I’ll break it,” I say, voice like steel.

He yanks away, holding his hand to his chest. “Bitch! You’ll regret this! Lucky boss said not to hurt a hair on your head.”

I slap him before I even realize my hand moved.

The crack of skin on skin echoes like a gunshot in the narrow room.

He stumbles back, one hand to his cheek, murder in his eyes. “You’re. Dead.”

“No,” I tell him with conviction, chest heaving, heart pounding. “I’m just getting started.” I could say more, but I stop myself because he’s not worth it.

“You think Blue’s gonna keep you after he finds out who you are? After I tell him?”

“You tell him, I’ll survive. You lay a finger on me again, you won’t.”

Something in my voice makes him hesitate. Then, like the coward he truly is, he sneers, adjusts his collar, and walks out without another word.

I stand there, breath shallow, adrenaline singing in my limbs.I’d blown my cover.