Jameson
When Varick and I had explained about the shit-show that had gone down on the roof, everyone was predictably riled up. Okay, so maybe I'd been a little heavy-handed. Maybe shoulder-barging Mr Muscle off the roof of the hotel had been a questionable move to make. But if I was being entirely honest, I kinda blamed the rum. And hey, who really knew? Maybe he'd fancied going skydiving without a chute.
I grinned to myself. Sucker.
By the time everyone had calmed down enough to stop shouting, my head was pounding. “Give it a rest. We are where we are. Que sera sera and all that french shit.”
“Spanish,” Ned corrected me and I glared at him.
Cass planted her hands on her hips. “You could have got caught! What if there'd been cameras up there!”
“But there wasn't,” Varick said for the millionth time.
Gina was sitting in an armchair, nursing a cup of tea Selena had made her. Damn saint that girl was.
“Jameson's right,” Selena said wearily and my mood lifted a fraction. “We can't change what happened. No one has come knocking at the door, so we have to assume everything's fine.”
Ned kept looking at Gina, swaying a little from how drunk he was. “One of you Vs should Charm her. Send her back to the whorehouse and make her forget any of this happened.”
Gina squeaked in alarm, looking between us all. God only knew what she thought of us. Surely she'd figured out by now that half of us weren't human?
“We've been seen on CCTV ass-hat,” I rounded on Ned.
“What did you just call me?” he snarled, squaring his shoulders.
I was not in the mood for his shit. I was pissed off, tired, mega thirsty and post sort-of-accidentally murdering someone.
I squared up to him, gazing down my nose. “Ass. Hat. As in, a person whose head is so far up their own ass that they're wearing it as a hat.”
“Oh you wanna go, dog?” he said in a gruff voice, swaying.
“Do I wanna go?” I laughed. The guy was off his face. I'd have him on his arse in less than a second.
“Enough.” Varick put himself between us, his expression warning me to listen. He may not have been my captain anymore but I knew better than to challenge that look.
I tongued my cheek for a second, letting my anger subside. “We're done with this conversation. Gina can come back to our room, can't she Firefly?” I looked to Cass whose expression was ice cold.
“Fine.” She marched toward the door, gesturing for me to follow.
I hurried to Gina's side, pulling her up by one hand. “Come on, cupcake.”
She gave me a little smile, but I could tell shock had taken hold of her. I frowned as I guided her toward the exit.
Varick met me at the door before I left. “Just keep her hidden until tomorrow evening,” he said in a low tone.
Gina's eyes turned to saucers. “What happens tomorrow evening?”
“I'll explain later,” I muttered, giving Varick a nod as I led her out into the corridor.
Cass had gone ahead of us and we didn't meet anyone on the way back to our room. I expected an explosion when I stepped through the door, but Cass was quietly making up a bed on the sofa. She turned to us as we entered. “You could probably use a rest,” she offered Gina who sniffed in response.
“I'll take the sofa,” I said, guiding Gina to the bed.
She kicked off her shoes, crawling under the covers and pulling them right up to her neck. I moved to leave but she reached for my hand, tugging me down to sit beside her.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I gave her a smile, lightness filling my chest. This was where I was most comfortable: being admired and congratulated by others. It felt good to be doing something right again.
“Nothing's going to happen to you,” I said quietly.
“Who are you?” she breathed, her eyes darting in the direction of Cass.
“A good guy, I think.” I stood, moving away. No point dropping the Werewolf bomb just yet. I wasn't sure how she'd react to that. And considering everything she'd been through tonight, I didn't think it was the right time for an explanation.
Cass and I sat quietly in the lounge until Gina's breathing levelled out, signalling that she was asleep.
“You could have got us all killed tonight,” Cass said in a quiet voice.
I glanced at her, my stomach writhing with guilt. Before I could offer another explanation, she added, “But I'm glad you did.” She silently laid a hand on my knee, giving me an intense look that made my Adam's apple feel like it had doubled in size. “We're not just here for ourselves. And before this ends, I hope we can save some of the others.”
◐ ☼ ◐
I woke to the sound of the door opening. I jerked off of the sofa in my boxers (an item of clothing enforced by Cass), gazing bleary-eyed at the scene before me.
Two armed guards were in the room, marching purposefully toward the bed. Cass was sitting at Gina's side and both of them sprang to their feet at the sight of the guards. A lamp on the bed-stand went flying as one of the men grabbed Gina's arm, dragging her away from Cass, smashing it to pieces on the floor.
“What's going on?” I demanded as Cass hurried to my side.
“A spectator died last night. We're taking this girl for questioning.” One of the men swung a gun in my direction whilst the other manhandled Gina toward the door. When she fought back, he slapped her forcefully to get her to behave.
“Hey!” I barked, storming toward them.
Cass grabbed my arm, tugging me back.
“Nothing to worry about, sir. It's just protocol,” said the one with the gun in my face. “But we can always make this about you if you prefer?”
Cass's fingernails sank into my arm and I bit down on my tongue, holding back a retort, trying to regain my composure.
“We don't want any trouble,” Cass said firmly. How was she so goddamn calm?
“And we don't want to give you any, ma'am,” the guard said, lowering his gun. “But this girl was purchased by the man who died and his friend isn't giving us any information.”
“He fell,” I said. “I saw it.”
“We have reason to believe the girl pushed him,” the guard said, glancing at the man who had Gina locked under his arm. She struggled uselessly, sobbing into his bicep.
“She didn't,” I insisted.
“It's none of your concern now,” the guard said. “Go about your day. This is not to be questioned.”
I reluctantly gave in, knowing I couldn't do anything without risking our cover being blown. I shrugged casually, sliding an arm around Cass's waist. “I'm just pissed you've upset my wife,” I lied.
“Our apologies, sir. Another girl can be sent in this one's place if you wish?”
I pretended to consider it then shook my head. “Just go.”
He nodded, gesturing to his companion to leave. Gina's eyes were on mine, confused and desperate. There was no reason she wouldn't give us up now. None but loyalty. And I didn't think that would last very long if they hurt her.
I turned my back on her, a spear driving into my heart as I let them take her. The door snapped shut and I buried my fist in the nearest wall. Plaster crumbled uselessly to the floor as I tried to steady my breathing.
“There's nothing you could have done,” Cass said softly.
“I know,” I said through my teeth. “But what if she gives us up?”
Cass sighed and I felt her breath on the back of my neck. “I Charmed her this morning,” she revealed, her tone laced with guilt. I swung around and she frowned deeply. “Don't be mad,” she said quickly. “I thought it was best she forgot.”
The tension ran out of my body and I dragged her into a hug. “Thank God you did, Firefly.”
“But they're going to hurt her,” she said in a tiny voice, pressing her chin into my shoulder. “And she won't understand why.”
I held her close, shutting my eyes, trying to find a silver lining to this situation. “Once they realise she doesn't know anything, they'll let her go.”
Cass nodded, but I didn't think either of us really believed my words. Life was cheap in this place. I doubted they would spare Gina if they suspected she was involved in a spectator's death.
“We need to be prepared today.” I released her, heading to the wardrobe and throwing on some clothes. “I'm going to talk to Varick,” I told Cass, heading to the door.
“Wait.”
I turned, finding her holding my mask in her hand. I took it from her and her fingers grazed mine.
“Thanks.” I smiled, tying it in place. “Where would I be without you?”
“Probably deep in hell already,” she teased.
“The devil's been waiting for me for a long time, Firefly.” I gave her a wink as I stepped out the door. “And I plan on keeping him waiting.”