Page 130 of Penny For Your Thoughts
The man shouted after him. An instant later, the car door slammed. Tires squealed as he hit the gas and shot off down the road in the direction of Darcy’s flapping, slapping escape.
“D—”
“I know.” Or at least I suspected. “Come on. Move it.”
I gave the car fifteen seconds to ensure there was enough distance between us before wrenching the locker door high enough that we could both leave quickly. The time for clandestine adventures was over.
I dropped the door once we were out, and it clattered to the ground with a rattling bang.
Tallus snagged the chain and wrapped it as fast as he could while I got the new lock open and secured it through two links. The instant the lock clicked, Tallus’s phone buzzed.
He answered, and a frantic Darcy screamed on the other end of the line. “Where’s Diem? Get Diem.”
Tallus handed me the device as we raced toward the fence with our heads down.
“Darcy?”
“He’s after me. It’s him. It’s him it’s him it’s him. I’m fucked.”
“You’re not fucked. He’s in a car, and you’re on foot. You can lose him.”
“News flash. He’s not in his car anymore. He’s chasing me.”
“Come on, kid. You got away last time. Piece of cake, right? Get to the Jeep, and everything will be fine. We’re on our way.”
“The Jeep is outside the fence, and I’m inside the fence, and I can’t climb fast. I have a freaking broken arm. Oh my god, he’s going to get me.”
“You’ve got this. Stay calm.”
“I can’t be fucking calm when I’m being chased.”
I ground to a halt at our section of fence. I needed two hands to climb, but I didn’t want to disconnect the call and leave Darcy alone. Shooing Tallus over first, I continued to coach Darcy, offering him reassurance and praise, things that I had never been particularly good at in the past. But the kid was unraveling, and I didn’t have time to feel awkward.
Once Tallus landed on the other side, I tossed the phone over and scaled at record speed. The instant I landed on my feet, I shoved Tallus toward the side street. “Get to the Jeep, start it, and be ready to fly.”
“I get to drive?” His eyes lit up behind his glasses.
“Yes. Mark your calendar. Now go. I have to find Darcy.”
“I’m at the fence,” the kid hollered. “Hurry. I’m not fast with my cast, and he’s right behind me.” His voice, drenched in fear, broke. “Diem!”
“You can do it, kid. Stay calm. I’m not leaving you behind. Where are you? What part of the fence?”
The sound muffled, and for a moment, I thought I lost him.
“Darcy? Darcy, what part of the fence?”
“N-near the gate.” His voice was distant, less audible, like he’d shoved the phone inside a pocket, which made sense since he’d need two hands to climb. “About three rows down. I’m facing the main road.”
I ran. My skin buzzed with a release of adrenaline. My blood boiled. Twice, I’d put this kid in danger. I would not let him get hurt again. I should have left him at the apartment.
I aimed for the main road and got there in under a minute, rounding the corner in a sprint. Darcy clung to the top of the fence about fifty yards away. The man was beneath him, clasping an ankle and trying to tug him down. I’d only seen the guy from a distance through the café window, but it was Lukyan.
Darcy thrashed and kicked, his grip precarious. The casted arm was looped over the top, the other flailed, batting at Lukyan. His screams filled the night.
I saw red and closed the distance in a blur of rage. I was up the fence before I registered climbing it, heaving Darcy to the other side in a maneuver that probably hurt him. He scrambled, unable to gain purchase on the fence, and clung to me instead. I braced him in one arm but couldn’t hold on for long.
“I’m dropping you. Ready?”
