Page 41 of Rogue’s Mark

Out on the street, I stay close to her, closer than I need to, and we maneuver through the quiet, worn city.

I've watched a lot of people come through hard things. Most of them bend. Some of them break. Very few of them do what Vi does, which is to keep moving forward no matter what obstacles fall in their path.

She catches me looking.

"What?"

"Nothing."

“You’re looking at me.”

“So?” I ask, taking her hand.

We’ve never held hands while walking. I could get used to this.

She rolls her eyes like she’s some kind of badass but grips my hand anyway. We head back through the streets of a city that did its damage and is somehow is still standing.

Like us.

24

ROGUE

We meet Sting at the corner of Calloway and Fifth at noon, as we agreed.

Armen isn't there, but Sting’s leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching the street. He looks at us when we round the corner, nods, and walks toward us.

"Armen went back," he says.

"Yeah? What happened?"

"Kade sent word. Fischer isn't where he should be. Hasn't been seen since this morning."

Vi looks at me. I look at Sting.

"He’s hiding," I say.

"Most likely."

"Sounds like he's scared."

Sting nods.

"Armen will find him," Vi says.

"Let's keep moving," I say. "Armen knows where we are."

Sting heads east toward another address, one of the shell company registrations that points to a different part of the city. He'll be gone an hour, maybe two.

This leaves Vi and me with the rest of the afternoon.

"Lunch," Vi says.

"What? Where?"

"I don't know but I'm starving."

"I saw a place on the way here. Two blocks back. You remember the old diner?"