Page 56 of Twisted Steel

“He’ll be there,” I say.

Saint looks at me.“Maybe.Or he wants us to think he is.”

“I don’t care where he wants me looking.I care where I finish this.”

Savage’s gaze sharpens.“Steel.”

Harper appears, then, like my rage summoned the only thing capable of making it worse.

“What are we doing?”she asks.

“We?”I repeat.

Her eyes narrow.“Don’t make that face.”

“What face?”

“The one where you pretend I’m furniture with a pulse.”

Saint coughs into his fist while Savage’s mouth twitches.I hate them both.

“You’re staying here,” I say.

Harper laughs once.It’s not a happy sound.“Try again.”

“No.”

Her chin lifts.“Dante is in surgery.Reaper put my name in this.Someone tried to come through my window.I think I’ve earned the right to know what happens next.”

“You know what happens next.”

“Violence.”She gives me a dirty look and squares her shoulders.

“Yes.”

She steps closer, and the hospital hallway suddenly feels too small.“And you think keeping me away from it makes me safe?”

“Yes.”The answer is final, and I can only pray she’ll accept it.

“No,” she says.“It makes me blind.”

That stops me.

Her voice lowers.“I don’t want details because I’m curious.I want them because I need to know when to brace.I need to know if Milo is safe.Suppose my apartment is still being watched.What if men show up at my work?You don’t get to keep me calm by keeping me stupid.”

She’s right.And I absolutely fucking hate that.I look to Savage for help, but he gives me nothing.We both know Raven wouldn’t be sitting this out either.

I turn back to her.“We’re hitting a Vulture location tonight.”

Her face pales, but she doesn’t look away.“The trap.”

“Yes.”

“Is that smart?”She isn’t just asking me, but all three of us.

“We’re trying.”

Saint mutters, “Comforting as always.”