Page 20 of Break Out the Girl

“He doesn’t seem bothered about his ‘fiancees’ name being out there,” Tally growls, as he finally pulls his eyes away from the screen. “What’s with that?”

François sighs. “She wasn’t exactly low-profile when she stabbed Thomas in front of every important Elite in Havengard. Not something that can be swept away.”

Good.

I want everyone to remember that I’m not to be messed with.

“I’d forgotten my surname was ‘Finch’,” London says, trying to take a bite out of a plastic apple.

Tally snatches it out of his hand as Rex walks back into the kitchen, dumping a plastic laundry basket right onto the table. It wobbles dangerously.

“Alright,” Rex says, wiping a hand across his forehead which leaves a smudge of grease. “The truck now has a couple of gallons. Help yourself to clothes. I’ll figure out food.”

“Shit, we can’t thank you enough, Rex,” I tell him. “Seriously.”

He flicks his eyes in my direction. “This is for Taliesin, not you.”

Right.

I’m the hated Elite. Forgot about that for a moment.

London dives into the pile of clothing, pulling out an overstretched cable-knit cardigan with flowers embroidered around the neckline and pockets. “Ooh, I like this! Whatcha think, Shane?”

François ignores him, and using two fingers, removes a blue sweatshirt with a faded logo. For a minute I’m sure he’s going to sneer and say something cutting, but he doesn’t. Instead he looks at Rex. “Thank you.”

The older man shrugs, pulling some cans from a cupboard.

Tally catches my eye and jerks his head toward the narrow, shadowed hallway near the bathroom.

I follow him three paces down the threadbare carpet until we’re standing almost out of sight. “Rory,” he murmurs, his voice low. “I don’t want to keep secrets from you.”

That’s good but also gets me worried. What is he about to tell me?

“Go on,” I say, gulping.

Tally’s amber eyes fix on mine. “Last night, those jackal creatures? Turned out to be Ashgrave kids. They were out in the forest trying to track a missing person.”

“OK?”

“That person is Layla's dad. Jim.”

My chest tightens, my mind instantly flashing to my hard-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside friend. Shit.

I slump against Taliesin and he brings his arms around me. “Why do things keep getting worse?” I moan. “We look for him at the same time as searching for Sky? Is that what you’re thinking?”

Tally’s embrace tightens and I allow myself a moment just to enjoy his warmth, his scent, him.

“No, he went missing months ago. Charlie thinks a feral took him.”

“A feral?”

“Some people went mad after the Great Awakening. Lost their humanity to the inner beast.”

“Well, that’s awful.”

“We’re going to concentrate on Sky. She’s our priority, but I wanted to let you know about Jim. I’ll never keep secrets from you, Rory. You can trust me.”

The fierce loyalty radiating off him makes my heart thud. I wind my arms around his neck. “I do trust you, I really do.” Before I can second guess myself, I stand on my toes and press my lips to his. The next second, he drags my body flush against his and I can’t stifle a moan as he takes control of my mouth. The world around us dissolves into something exquisite.