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“Dammit.” I tipped my head back, trying to rein in my temper. “For the last time, you are not going with me.” I peered down at her. “You are heading back home. End of story.”
“Vienna is not my home.”
“Don’t care,” I quipped dryly. “And unfortunately, there are no direct trains to America today.” I nodded to the man. “Ticket to Vienna.”
She held up her hand to the man, and he stopped instantly, looking between us nervously.
Her green eyes met mine, her head going to the side. What was it about women? They didn’t have to say a thing. They could slant their heads and look at you, and you felt as though you just stepped onto a landmine. Scared, unsure, and aware you were about to die.
I saw it all the time between Brexley and Warwick, though Kitty was the queen of it. Her staring down people had them pissing themselves. Except this girl meant nothing to me. She wasn’t a friend, girlfriend, or lover. Just some person who attached herself to me. And attachments weren’t something I was ever doing again.
I opened my mouth to tell her how it was going to be.
Her hand moved from him to me, stopping my words. “I know after all you’ve seen, knowing who is after me, you wouldn’t let a girl go back on her own to be kidnapped and murdered.”
“You don’t know me very well, then.” My words sounded as hollow as they felt.
Her mouth pinched. “I told you I have good instincts.”
Snorting, I shook my head. “Clearly you don’t.”
“When does the train leave for Bucharest?” she asked the ticket agent.
“Sixteen hundred.” Four o’clock.
“You’re not coming with me.” My voice rolled over the ground with grit.
“How about we get some food, a shower, and clothes, and we’ll talk then.” She patted my arm.
“It’s not going to cha—”
“Thank you so much,” she read his name tag. “Grego.” She smiled at the man with a dazzling graciousness, which lightened the room. “We’ll be back.”
“I’ll be here, miss.” He seemed bewildered by her charm, a slight pinkness staining his cheeks.
She nodded and headed out of the door.
What the fuck? I stared between them like I had just lost a game I didn’t know I was playing.
“Simply a little advice…” His eyes were still on her form walking out the door before they came to me. “Don’t let that one out of your sight for a second.” He nodded at me as though I better go catch up with her. “She’s too pretty. Trouble will find her.”
“You got it backward.” I exhaled, rubbing my brow. “Sheisthe trouble.”
Hands full of coffee andLángos, a fried flatbread we both added sausage to, I escorted Scarlet toward a tavern inn.
“Can I help you?” A heavyset blonde woman called out the moment we stepped inside the place, which was probably someone’s house at one time.
“Looking to shower and rest for a few hours.” I peered around the pub. A handful of people were at the bar drinking while a few families were eating at the small tables set around. The smell of stale beer and cabbage coiled in my nose.
“Seventeen thousand forints.” She waddled up, laying her palm out. “Cash.”
A knot weaved in my chest; the prices were robbery, but they knew we had no other choice. There weren’t a lot of options around here.
Laying the bills in her palm, anxiety over my dwindling funds dragged sourly down the back of my throat. I counted what was left in my wallet for travel, clothes, and what I really craved. I needed just a hit. A little dust to take the edge off.
“This way.” The woman panted as we went upstairs. “Bathroom is here.” She pointed to a closed door. “Showers are no more than five minutes. Get in and out. Be thankful we even have indoor plumbing now.” She eyed us, her gaze moving over our bloody, torn clothing. “Want to go in together, that’s fine, but you don’t get double time for that. Water turns off after five, so whatever you’re doing? Make it quick.”
“Oh...um...” Scarlet started to refute her notion, but the woman had already moved on, pushing a door open down the hall. “This is your room. You get two towels. Want more? You pay. Breakfast and dinner are separate. Extra fee for laundry,” she huffed, gesturing us in.
