Page 75 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“Okay.” She was still frowning.

“Don’t worry. Enjoy the time with your lover.”

I liked the way Kimberly looked at my brother. Like he hung the sun in the sky for her every day. Which she needed because the sun set at 3:00 p.m.

Aaron wasn’t holding his liquor as well as I was, so he slurred a bit. “You’re sure? Because I’ll come out there right now and protect you from whatever. I’ve been training.”

“I got it, ace. Chill here with your girl.”

He gave me a thumbs-up.

Once I was finally outside, I lit that cigarette and pulled my hood over my head. I didn’t like the taste of cigarettes, but I liked that they made me feel a little closer to my brother, wherever he was. I liked to imagine every time I lit one, Zach did too.

I called the number back. Blinking a few times, I fought to steady myself. I was buzzed and going to meet a mad man. Perfect.

“Hi,” I said while passing a street sign. I didn’t know where I was going, but I just walked toward the sounds of more people and cars. He’d given an address, but no smartphone meant no GPS and I had to find it myself. The city was barren the farther you walked from the more popular stores.

“You’re late.”

“I know, but I can’t just disappear without anyone noticing.”

I said it in hopes it would be a warning because I wasn’t entirely sure I wouldn’t get kidnapped. I tried to take a turn down an alley toward the sounds.

“No. Keep walking straight.”

“Wait . . . how do you see me right now?” I stopped, suddenly feeling sick from too much scotch.

“I’m just up ahead. You’ll run right into me.”

I looked ahead and saw much of nothing but a busy street and a crowd of people.

“How do you know what I look like?”

“You dyed your hair. It’s not that hard to spot you. I was given a picture as proof. Couple videos.”

My heart stayed in my throat as I walked, and I really wanted my brothers to come busting through that alley. Luke would wrap an arm around me, and Zach would take the lead and kill anything that breathed wrong. I missed that sense of safety. It was bad to sneak off and follow secret notes all while being tipsy and useless, but my feet kept moving.

Once I was across the street, I spotted a man with tattoos lining his neck and arms while dressed in an all-black suit.

He might as well of had a sign pointing to a dark alley sayingCult This Way.

I could practically hear Luke lecturing me in my head. Getting back to them was the only thing that mattered, and I would finally have some answers.

I stopped in front of him, and he held out his hand for me. Not in that regal way, but more like bros in the frat house did.

“Ready to grab that drink?” He seemed nice enough, with dark hair and broody eyes. Also, very hot.

“Totally.”

We descended a set of stairs into a dimly lit room that reeked of cigarette smoke. The smoke poured out into the frosty air, leaving a dim haze. It was mostly empty except for two others at the bar paying us no mind. Something told me it wasn’t the type of place to check IDs.

The guy led me to a booth at the back where we had a good view of the door.So far so good.

“Name’s Reg.”

“You already know my name,” I said.

Normally, I’d give pleasantries, but the guy had been practically stalking me. I didn’t think I needed to go that far.