Page 3

“R—” it’s all he gets out. Just the sound of an R.

“Tiger, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I—”

My words cut off when I hear voices outside. I jump up to my feet and see two men’s shadows passing by the back window. The curtains are drawn, so I can’t make out any features, but their voices don’t sound friendly.

“Run—” Tiger finally gets out.

My gaze snaps to him, and then I finally do what I should have done from the beginning. I run. Out of the kitchen and around the corner just as the back door opens. If I open the front door, they’ll here it. I have to hide. I look around frantically for a place I’ll fit.

I duck into the bedroom and squeeze under the bed. There isn’t much room. I can’t even take a deep breath. My body is shaking, which doesn’t help matters. I need to relax so I can be quiet. If they find me… I don’t even want to think about what that will mean for me.

The men’s voices carry into this room, muffled from being so far away so I don’t understand what they’re saying. I put my hand over my mouth to quiet the heavy breathing that I can’t get a hold of. The men walk into the living room, and I hold my breath, too afraid to even breathe. They’re tall. One has brown hair and a thick beard, while the other is a bit older with greying hair and a clean-shaved face. Both of them are in suits and shiny shoes—with badges on their belts.

Cops!

They’re cops!

But then… are they here to help? Did someone call them already?

I stay and watch, not sure I understand what’s going on here.

Tiger is dead. There are two cops here but they’re just letting him die?

“I don’t know where it is, but I don’t have time to toss the house,” the dark-haired one says. “We need to get back to the precinct. Xavier is on his way. He’ll find it after he takes care of the body.”

“He fucking better,” the other one says. “I don’t have time for this shit.”

I hear them rummaging through some drawers, dumping the contents onto the floor and stepping over it like it’s meaningless. One of them curses and then their footsteps fade off as they leave. The back door opens and closes.

I don’t know how long I stay under the bed, but it’s been quiet for a long time. All I can hear is my own heartbeat and the blood rushing in my ears.

Those two men left. But they said another one is coming. I need to get out of here while I can. It sounded like the man coming will be going through the house, meaning he will definitely find me in here.

I scramble out from under the bed, and hurry into the kitchen.

Tiger is pale. A sickly grey color that no human should be. He’s no longer moving, and I just know… I know he’s gone.

“I’m sorry,” I rasp out, my eyes blurring with tears. “I’m so sorry.”

I kiss my fingertips and press them to his forehead. And then I get out of there as fast as I can.

Chapter Two

Forge

I hold the door open for Pierce so he can walk into the precinct.

“Thanks,” he says with a bright smile. His light hair is a mess, as usual, and I can already tell he's going to spend half the morning pushing it out of his face and grumbling about a haircut he won’t get for another three weeks. He steps past me and into the building, and I fall into step beside him as we head toward the elevators. He's still smiling, but when he glances at me again, it disappears. “What's wrong?”

The tone he uses is one I’m familiar with. The one that borders annoyance, even though he’s never been annoyed with me a day in his life. I’m not sure he’s capable of being annoyed with anyone. Pierce is the definition of sunshine and roses. It’s a miracle he’s as good a cop as he is, though I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s good at everything he does.

We walk down the hallway that leads to the elevators, passing empty conference rooms. I stab the UP button when we get to the elevator. The thing takes forever, despite the building being only a few years old.

“Nothing,” I grunt, shoving my hands into my pockets.

Pierce sighs. “We both know how this is going to go.” I glance at him as if to say, oh yeah? How? “I’m going to bug you until you tell me, so you should save us both the breath and time because it could go on for hours. All day, maybe. Just say it.”

I narrow my eyes slightly. The doors open and we step onto the cart. I press the button for floor seven, which is where our office is.