Page 13 of Rattle the Cage

The prying eyes of the patrons had started to feel far more invasive than I’d originally thought.

Whether I wanted to admit it or not, Rubin’s hold on Valemont was growing by the day. The $40k Cyrus had thrown at me didn’t make a meaningful enough dent in my debt to undo years of missed payments and personal loans. And I was sick and tired of watching the people I cared about struggle.

The thought haunted me as I watched Chrissy color, as I finished making the mac and cheese, and as I split the box over three bowls. While Valemont’s rich were getting richer and Rubin’s horse was growing higher, all the rest of us could do was try not to get trampled under his hooves.

It wasn’t right. But looking at the clock, there was still one thing I could do about it.

Once I’d cleaned up the dinner bowls and set them out to dry, I tucked to the bathroom. While Lola watched TV, letting Chrissy fall asleep in her lap, I changed my clothes before heading for the front door.

“Where are you going?” Lola whispered.

“Visiting friends for a few nights.”

“Friends?” She turned down the TV, careful not to wake Chrissy as she frowned at me. “Do you mean those weirdos in the Cadillac?”

“You’ve noticed…?”

“The thing sits outside of the club whenever you're on shift and outside of my house whenever you’re here. Of course I’ve noticed.”

Heat crept up my neck as I turned to face her. Maybe this was silly. But the stack of bills on the kitchen table, visible just out of the corner of my eye, was enough to remind me what my mission was.

They’re the only people who’ll give me the money. And who can protect me, frankly.

“It’ll just be a few nights,” I shifted on my heel.

“Are you going to at least tell me who they are? Where to send the police if you go missing?” Her voice was taut with frustration.

But she had too much going on already. I couldn’t drag her into this.

Peering out the window, I could see the sun starting to lower in the late September sky. “I promise we can talk when I get back. But I’m running late.”

“Tess.”

“I love you,” I muttered, blowing her a kiss as I slipped into the hallway.

“I love you—” the click of the door shutting cut her off.

Guilt gnawed at my stomach. Maybe it was mean to not give her more notice. But after tonight, all of the stress would be worth it. It had to be.

Keeping my steps light as I passed her landlord’s door, I pushed the front door of the building open, bracing myself against the chill of the evening air. Dialing the number of the cab company Nico used to send home drunk patrons, I sat on the stoop, waiting until a busted old white checkered cab glided down the street.

“Car for Dana?”

The fake name almost made me laugh. I hadn’t heard it aloud in years. But with Rubin's Witnesses following me, I couldn't be too safe. “That’s me.” I nodded, letting the stout, mustached driver hold the rear door open for me.

The cab smelled of old leather and new air fresheners. I crossed my legs, trying to get comfortable as he settled himself back into the driver’s seat.

“Where to, Miss Dana?”

“Feverpoint, please.”

His eyes widened as he flexed his fingers on the steering wheel. “The old amusement park?”

“The very one,” I nodded, meeting his eyes calmly through the rearview mirror.

“Are you sure I can’t take you somewhere else? That place isn’t safe for a young lady like you. Especially with all the weirdos cropping up around this town.”

My shoulders eased knowing that he disliked the Witnesses too. “Thank you, but I know where I’m going. I’ll be perfectly safe.”