Page 51 of Empress of Ruin
“Please,” I try again. “He’s trying to turn me into a human incubator. Fucking breeding stock. I need help.”
“Shit.” His voice is resigned. “Yeah, I’ve got a buddy who has a buddy. Do you have cash?”
“2,500.”
He scoffs. “That’s not going to be enough—”
“I have other accounts, but I can’t access them yet. I’m good for it, I swear.” I’mkind ofgood for it. I havejustenough to get out of this country, find somewhere so rural it’s not even on a map to settle in, and get a job. I don’t have enough to keep hopping from place to place like I did last time, which means that wherever I go has to be foolproof.
“You are a living goddamn nightmare,” Tommy mutters. “You know I had to leave Empire Journal Weekly? Granted, that turned out to be a good thing, but—”
“Tommy,” I emphasize. “Please.”
“Hold on.” I hear rustling, then the typing of a computer. “Can you get to this address?” he rattles off a street address somewhere in the east village.
“Yeah.” It’s just a few train stops away. “Do I need a key, or—”
“No, all you need is a word.Doll. That’s the password. Once you’re in there, I’ll get the rest of this bullshit sorted. I don’t mean this in a rude way, Lyra, but I sincerely hope this is the last I ever hear from you.”
“Likewise.” Every time I’ve reached out to Tommy, it’s because I’ve needed help with surviving or getting away from Killian.
The line goes dead. I head back into the subway station, navigating to the line that’ll take me closest to Tommy’s address. My hypervigilance is at an all-time high; I do my best to scan and memorize the face of every passenger here with me. Even at this time of night, this subway line is pretty crowded, mostly with partygoers either on their way to the afterparty or going home, already drunk.
If Killian catches me…fuck, I don’t know what he’ll do with me. Probably lock me in an actual cage. Hecan’tcatch me. I won’t let him.
I’m on edge throughout the entire ride, and even more on edge when the train pulls up to my exit. My eyes dart around, searching for any of Killian’s men. I manage to make it out onto the dark, ill-lit city street without issue. I even get to the street where Tommy sent me… only to see a police block-off. Complete with red tape, half a dozen police cars, and barriers.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. A drug den in the area must’ve gotten busted.
Where am I supposed to go?I guess I need to findanotherpayphone to get back in touch with Tommy, or even go to Annalise’s place…
Except I don’t want to put Anna in that sort of danger. The safest thing for her is to never see or speak with her again. Otherwise, she becomes leverage.
I turn around, walking briskly in the opposite direction of the police cars, only to pull up short.
Coming out of the subway station are two security guards I recognize. Killian’s men.How the fuck did they tail me here?
Flashing sirens and a bunch of policemen behind me; two trained and probably loyal men in front of me. One of them catches sight of me and elbows the other.
Goddamnit. My survival instincts take over, and I do the only thing I can think of. I break out into a sprint, running across the street. Maybe I can outrun them. Maybe—
“We have a runner!” someone shouts behind me—one of the policemen?
Fuck, if they’re here for a raid, sprinting in the opposite direction makes me look like a goddamn suspect. But I can’t stop now, Ihaveto get away. I’m so close to freedom I can almost taste it.
Footsteps thud behind me and to the side of me, people, giving chase. It only makes me run faster—until a body slams into me from behind, taking me to the ground. My ankle bends at an unnatural angle, sending searing pain up my left leg, shocking the breath out of me as much as the impact with unforgiving New York City sidewalk does. I gasp, my eyes watering, my ears ringing, as my arms are wrenched behind my back.
“Ma’am, you’re under arrest for—”
“Stop!” I turn my head in time to see Killian’s security rounding on the policeman who’s straddling me. “Trust me, you don’t want to touch this one.” He flicks a disinterested gaze over me, cold brown eyes laced with mild irritation, as if annoyed that he’s had to chase me around the city.
Another policeman steps forward. “Sir, you’re interfering with an arrest—”
“That’s Killian King’sfiancée,” the guard emphasizes. “Bringing her in will cost you career.”
“Don’t know who the fuck you’re talking about.” The police officer gets off me and yanks me to my feet by my arms. I let outa cry of pain as agony reignites in my ankle, searing fire shooting up my leg.God, please tell me it’s not broken—
“She’s hurt,” Killian’s man snaps. “You have to—”
