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Chapter twenty-six

Forest

A clicking noise draws my attention upwards to find a security camera coming to life. I see it dial in on me, watching how its lens grows wider once it takes notice of my stare. I panic as it begins to move toward where my brother and Hunter stand talking. It can’t see Kai talking to an Unfortunate here. It's treason.

I run to the wall we came from, prying away a loose brick, tossing it once in my hand to observe the size. The boys look over at me, letting their smiles drop, watching me look up before aiming at the camera.

“Forest-” Kai begins.

His voice is cut off by my arm tossing the brick. Watching it collide with the camera, it shatters on impact. The brick and pieces of metal all fall down the side of the building, freefalling until they hit the ground inches away from where I stand. I deliver the camera one last stomp of my boot, kicking it into the dirt, feeling satisfied with how well I managed to aim.

“Can I blame you for breaking the one at home, too?” Kai questions, looking dumbfounded.

Hunter's hands are clasped together. He is unsure how to react to my sudden need to destroy New Haven property. My brother is rigid and uncomfortable from my display of defiance. I crouch down to poke the device, ignoring my brother's question.

“It was watching us,” I whisper.

“That camera looked like it hadn’t been used in years,” Kai says, crossing his arms. His face is filled with a look of disapproval. “And even then, what harm could it have done? No one did anything,” he says, clearly having a moment of forgetfulness of what rules are in place.

I look over at Hunter, watching the gears turn in my brother's head once he realizes what has me so worried.

“Easy to forget it's a crime for them to talk to us, right?” I question.

Kai has nothing to say, looking from Hunter to the camera. Hunter is nearly done loading the cart. He only needs to move a few more crates before he’s done. He sits on the edge of his cart, looking down the alleyway every few seconds with sideways glances.

“Are you waiting for Fallan?” I question.

“No, like I said, he’s incredibly hungover. Last night, he looked thrilled, rambling on about some euphoric experience before throwing up all over my bathroom floor and pelting our buddy in the face. I dragged Valerie’s cousin along with me to help here, but he’s been occupied with a shopkeeper's daughter,” Hunter says, tapping the face of his broken watch.

“Fallan 'pelted' someone?”

“Yeah, our friend, Valerie's cousin, Aaron. He was bragging about… something he had done last night, and Fallan laid in on him-”

“Who laid in on me?”

The voice is familiar and grates on my nerves. It’s the one from last night, belonging to the person responsible for holding me down so hard I couldn’t breathe. I watch him step into the light from the alleyway. I can see just how red his hair is in this lighting. Like flames in a fire, his head is consumed with red locks. His skin is scattered with freckles. He stands around the same height as Hunter, a few inches shorter than Kai. Cuts of varying sizes work up his chest, stopping on the tops of his hands from where my nails had got him. He carries a few armfuls of items, dropping them when his brown eyes meet my green ones. I lower my head at him, touching my neck, reflecting on the feeling of him trying to steal my life.

“Hunter…. Who are these two?” Aaron questions, acting as if his handiwork does not paint my neck.

“I must look different during the daytime,” I hiss, answering before Hunter can get a word in.

Aaron’s eye is bruised, and the skin is swollen, no doubt the result of being on the receiving end of a brutal hit from Fallan.

“What is she talking about?” Kai questions, pointing to Aaron with a look of confusion.

“Go ahead and tell them,” I start, taking another step forward. “Tell them what you did, Aaron,” I taunt, watching him tug at his collar.

“Is she why Fallan laid into you last night?” Hunter questions, giving his friend a shove. Gradually, his mind begins putting the pieces together. “Was she the Untouchable you boasted about 'scaring straight,’” Hunter says, angrily throwing up air quotes.

“Well, I-”

I grab the man's collar, forcing him down and onto the ground, giving him no time to think of a half-assed explanation for harming me. His back hits the Earth, jolting the contents he has indeed stolen in his pockets. With a knee pressed to his chest, I keep him down, seeing his eyes fill with fear for the first time. I draw my hand back, ready to deliver him another black eye. My eyes keep darting to his scars, thinking of Fallan’s screams while they beat him.

“Fucking hell,” I whisper, lifting the man up, only to slam him back down before angrily pulling myself off of him.

His clothes are covered with dirt, having no injury other than the one Fallan gave him. I hold my hand up to Kai, opening and closing my fists like Fallan does to calm himself. Hunter takes notice of this, staying quiet on the matter.

“You're not going to hurt me?” Aaron questions, receiving a flick in the head from Hunter.

Even Kai waits for me to respond, clearly enraged at the thought of Aaron hurting me last night.

“Fallan already did it for me,'' I say, wondering why he would go to such lengths to prove a point. “Consider it even,” I say, watching Hunter’s head shake.

“Who was the one Untouchable he said not to get near?” Hunter says, scolding his friend with another shove.

“Wait,” I say, pausing their banter. “Fallan told you both to stay away from me?” I question, seeing Hunter nod while Aaron shakes his head no.

“He didn't want you getting involved in any Unfortunate drama that could get you hurt,” Hunter says.

Aaron’s eyes roll at the comment.

“Why would he care?” Kai questions.

“You know, I was hoping she would know the answer. He’s never had any issues with any of the other jobs we’ve done in the Untouchable sector or laid into me for doing what I need to do with anyone else that’s gotten in my way during a heist. I never thought the last name Blackburn would start popping up in our life again,'' Aaron says, crossing his arms angrily.

Again?

Hunter’s flicks have grown into full-fledged punches toward the arrogant redhead.

“You do know I can still drag you out onto the street and beat your ass, right? Even if she doesn't?” Kai questions.

Hunter’s lips curl up at the comment, his hand hiding the smile my brother’s threat has managed to give him.

“Please do. Maybe then they will lay off me in my sector,'' Aaron says, scanning his nail bed with annoyance.

The back door to the bakery swings open, revealing the shop's owner. He observes the space around him with large eyes. I have seen him numerous times, catering my father's work events with pastries of all sorts. He scowls at the two men, only softening once he sees my brother and me.

“Are these two bugging you?” he questions, holding his rolling pin in his hand like a weapon.

“No-”

“No. We were passing through, decided to get some amusement watching them struggle to lift bags,” Kai says, answering the question so casually, you would never know he's lying.

I nod at the comment, watching the baker smile. He kicks up dirt toward the two men.

“Between you and me, I think they barely deserve the scraps,” he says, patting Kai on the shoulder, moving to do the same to me.

I grab the owner’s hand, letting it linger in the air between us. Whatever relationship he thinks he has with us because of our father is not one I want to indulge.

“You'd better get back inside,” I say, watching the pots on the stove behind him boil over. “You seem to be needed elsewhere,” I continue, motioning my head toward his open doorway, squeezing his wrist with a tight grasp before letting go.

He exclaims at the gesture, moving away from us and back inside, closing the door with a swing.

“Not a fan of the baker?” Aaron questions, somehow making me smile at his sarcasm.

“Listen,” Hunter begins, smiling while he rubs his hands along the front of his apron. “It’s been great talking to you, but I have to get this all back before noon, and I’m sure Fallan is already wondering why we are so delayed, but thank you,” he pauses, looking between my brother and me. “For everything,” he finishes, keeping his eyes on my brother.

“If you two ever find yourselves in our sector and are looking for fun, you know who to look for,” Aaron says, grabbing one end of the cart. Hunter holds the other. The wheels turn slowly, creaking to life with short movements.

“Wait,” I say, moving closer to Hunter. “If you see him today, can you ask him something?” I question, waiting for Hunter to give me a nod.

“Can you ask him why he gave it to me if he would only take it back?”

The necklace. It's one of the many parts of last night I am struggling to wrap my mind around.

“Take what back?” Hunter questions.

I pause, unsure how much more to say.

“He’ll know what I mean,” I whisper, glancing at Aaron.

All Hunter can do is nod. I can tell he’s wary of getting involved.

“I do hope our paths never cross again,” I say, watching the redhead's smile grow once I look over at him.

“I have a feeling that won't be the case,” he says, waving his fingers to my brother in a gesture I know is making Kai fume.

“It was nice meeting you,” Hunter says, finally addressing my brother.

Kai gives him a small wave, crossing his arms, taking in as much as he can about the two men.

“I'll deliver your message. Maybe it will get him out of bed,” Hunter smiles, motioning his friend to pull.

They both start dragging the cart down where they came from, their figures growing smaller the farther they move.

I turn around to face my brother, watching him tap his foot in anticipation.

“I need answers,” he starts, not giving me the chance to plead my case.

“Starting with; why the hell you were alone with two Unfortunates last night?”