Page 89 of Tempting Fate

“Not if they assume you got booted out of the city.” She sighs. “Just be careful, okay? I’m heading down first thing on Saturday. Derek said I could borrow his car, so we can put all your shit in the back.”

My heart sinks. I’m really doing it. I’m hoping by Saturday, they won’t care that I’m gone.

“You’re listed as my next of kin,” I say. “My emergency contact, whatever. If anything happens…”

“Fuck, Em. You’re not going anywhere. Tell your housemates what’s going on.”

“Yeah, I will.”

The silence is charged. “Em, if you don’t tell them, I will. You think I can’t find a phone number?”

“Fuck, all right. I will.”

“Good. I’ll ring you tonight when I get in.”

“Talk to you then.”

Cate says bye and hangs up, and when I glance up, Nick is in the doorway again. He raises his eyebrows at my frown and extends a plate in my direction. It has a sandwich on it. My stomach growls.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

“Cate said someone came to her work looking for me.” I take the proffered plate. “Thanks.”

Nick shrugs, but his gaze never wavers. “Dangerous or not?”

“I don’t know. Said they were doing a welfare check.”

“Hm.” He takes a bite of his own sandwich and stares thoughtfully into the distance as he chews. “Least we’ve got some experience with this. Tell Jamie when he gets in. I’ll go make sure everything’s locked up.”

“I—” Nick wanders off. “Okay.”

Surely, I can’t be bringing more trouble here? They’re going to be glad to see the back of me when I leave.

Jamie looks vaguely panicked when I explain what happened that evening, but he overcomes it quickly and pulls out his phone. Nick nods. “Calling Kieran?”

“No,” Jamie says. “I’m texting Patch.”

I reach out and grab his hand before I can think twice about it. “Why… Why would you do that?”

“He needs to know.”

“No, he doesn’t!”

Jamie frowns at me. He’s got that familiar stubborn set to his mouth. “Of course he does. Wouldn’t you want to know if—” He cuts himself off. Nick sighs and gets to his feet.

“I’m going to make a cup of tea.”

“What’s going on?” I ask. “What am I missing?”

“Do you really want me to tell you?”

“I’m leaving on Saturday, so…” I trail off when Jamie’s face falls. “You knew I was going to. You know I have to.”

“Kieran hasn’t said you can yet. Felix’s video is working, you know.”

“Yeah, I know.” I saw it before I deleted my account. Had to. The messages I received—am still receiving because I haven’t closed down the email account yet, and I don’t plan to do that until I know the packs have the identity of the person who sent me down here—were… a lot. Angry. Hateful, almost.

“You might be able to stay.”