“Thanks,” I reply. “I would appreciate that.”
We chat for a few more minutes about menial things but my mind is elsewhere. We are certainly fucking up this whole freedom thing quickly. If Ethan actually killed that guy, then it’s pretty unlikely The Watch will pass that by. If they weren’t coming already, they certainly will be now. I go to stand, placing my tea down on the table once more. I need to find Ax.
“So, Ana,” Ceyda asks. “Why did your friend kill Ali anyways?”
“Sammi,” I answer easily. “He’s in love with Sammi.”
Ceyda’s eyes widen slightly. “Well. I’ve always been a sucker for a good love story. You need anything else, you come back and let Ceyda know.”
I hesitate a moment before leaving.
“I know the value of keeping a secret,” she says. “I expect we’ll need each other soon enough.”
With a nod I make my way back out onto the street and back toward the tavern. I don’t think Ceyda means any ill will, and I certainly trust her over some of the people I’ve met on my journeys. My judgement of character has gotten me through a lot, and for the most part I do trust my gut. And that tells me that Ceyda is right, and we haven’t had our last interaction with the street walkers of Tekir yet.
Cramping in my stomach slows me down, a bit of nausea lingering, but my need to get back and find Ax is stronger.
When the chips are down, sometimes all you need or want is a good hug.
Chapter Ten
Ana
When I step outside, I’m a bit amazed at how late in the day it is already and take a moment to admire the sunset in the distance. I still haven’t found Sammi, and we still have no plan. At least I got a lot of information about Tekir today, but still it feels like we should be doing more. I want to get our friends and get the fuck out of here before The Watch comes back to fuck up the day again. After that, who the hell knows? As long as I’m with Ax and have my freedom, I can’t say I care too much.
A few people watch me as I pass but again, for the most part, ignore me. It occurs to me how long it’s been since I’ve been in a place like this not dressed as a man. Before Ax, that realization would have come very quickly. Something about him really does make me a better person though. More confident and cautious, both things all women need now.
I turn another corner and before the tavern comes into view, hollers and singing carry down the lane. My brow creases as I catch a few hints of familiar voices and I hurry the last of the way. My jaw drops as I enter the tavern. Ax, Luis and Papi are singing—loudly, and off tune—in what sounds like maybe Irish? The entire room is clapping along in some kind of frantic song that everyone seems to be adding to with random punctuated shouts.
I catch sight of Brutus whose standing against one of the walls closer to me slightly slumped. Frowning, I push my way through the crowd and over to him. As I approach, he squints before a giant shit-eating grin covers his face.
"A-hiccup-na!" he exclaims, almost falling over as he reaches for me. I move aside, using his weight to guide him back to the wall. The smell of liquor coming off of him is intense and the bile rises in my throat again.
"What the fuck happened?" I grunt as I release him.
"We-s- Ax got -hiccup- and the fires…."
I hold up one hand, bringing the other to the bridge of my nose. The singing behind me is getting even louder and I sigh before turning around to see the three of them finish the song with some kind of fuck off gesture. The crowd roars and I wonder if not for that, if the sound of me grinding my teeth would be audible.
My eyes follow Ax, the ridiculous grin on his face. I've never seen him so drunk before, probably because of how hard it was to get booze in The Tomb in large quantities. Even the watered-down tavern whiskey is probably better than most of the crap we got in there. I notice he's wearing new clothes, not the almost rags we arrived in, same as Luis and Papi. The two Spaniards continue singing in their home language and Ax stumbles away and toward the bar.
"There you are,tesoro!" he exclaims as I step in front of him. His grin only grows as I narrow my eyes at him. "I've been looking all over—"
I turn on my heel before I have to listen anymore and walk out the door.
Chapter Eleven
Axle
Ana turns before I finish talking and walks out of the tavern. My brow knits into a frown, head swimming with confusion and liquor as I try to figure her out. A few of the patrons smile at me and one even reaches out to try to pat my shoulder before I turn to glare at him. The man's eyes widen, and he stumbles the opposite way. My grin shifts and the small hit of fear actually calms and sobers me slightly.
I step outside and realize how late it is, the sky is orange with the first hints of blue and purple taking over the edges. I pause for just a moment, savoring the unique colors that the top of the sky can't really give you. For most of my life in The Tomb, a small cutout ceiling was the only bit of sky I knew.
It doesn't take me long to spot Ana sitting on a bench. The light hitting her is stunning and I have to stop for a moment to just stare. The bruises are starting to fade, the swelling finally gone to reveal the perfect lines of her face. My eyes trail down her body, imagining what she’ll look like screaming underneath me soon. I sit beside her, saying nothing. My mind is still fuddled with the whiskey and I know I'm not thinking as clearly as I should. Despite that knowledge though, ever present rage courses under my skin.
Tomorrow she can take out her words on me. Tonight, I want her claws.
"I have a room for us," I tell her. “In the tavern."