Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 89763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89763 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 449(@200wpm)___ 359(@250wpm)___ 299(@300wpm)
“Hurt.” My brother gives a mirthless laugh. “That’s one way to put it. He got shot. By our father.”
29
The Minotaur
We make quite the trio as I lead Ariadne and Icarus through the back door and into the car I called. Doing so is a calculated risk, but I’m still bleeding, and the other two look dead on their feet. If the taxi driver tries to fuck with us, I’ll just kill them. I start to rattle off the address for my apartment, but Icarus laughs and interrupts me. He holds Ariadne’s hand in a white-knuckled grip, but his expression is relaxed. “Come now, Minotaur. My father has known about that apartment since the beginning. He allowed you to have that freedom, but don’t think for a second there aren’t people waiting for us there.”
I wasn’t trying to be overly secretive with the apartment, but I didn’t advertise it, either. It’s irritating as fuck that I didn’t realize how closely Minos was having me watched. “We have nowhere else to go.”
Ariadne stirs. “That’s not true.” She leans forward to catch the cab driver’s eye. “Do you want to earn a huge fare with one hundred percent tip?”
He laughs a little. “Sure, lady. Where are we headed?”
The address she gives doesn’t sound familiar, but from the driver’s response, it’s some distance. He holds out his hand. “Listen, if you want to go there, I’m going to need half up front.”
She sends me a pleading glance; I’m already pulling out my wallet. The amount the driver requests is absurd, but there’s no point fighting now. The longer we stay in one place, the easier we are to track. I still don’t breathe a sigh of relief as he pulls from the curb and enters into traffic. “Where are you taking us?” I murmur.
“Dionysus has no fewer than three houses in the country.” She speaks softly, matching my tone. “They’re going to expect us to scurry to your apartment or one of our allies in the upper city. It will take them longer to figure out we’ve gone outside the city proper. Long enough that we should be able to figure out our next steps and anticipate theirs.”
It’s hardly a foolproof plan, but it’s better than what I have. I lean back against the seat and hiss out a breath when my wound makes contact. The bleeding has slowed, but I’m pretty sure the bullet is still embedded in my muscles. It sure as fuck feels like it. My shirt is plastered to my back; it’s going to be a bitch to get off.
We’ve barely gone six blocks before my phone starts buzzing. I need Ariadne’s help to pull it out, and when I see the name flashing there, I curse. Hermes. “Now isn’t a good time.”
“That’s quite the hostile greeting, and when I come bearing gifts, too. How thoughtless.”
I almost hang up then and there, but our list of allies is rapidly shrinking, and while I would never be foolish enough to list Hermes among them, she’s the only chance I have to bring the barrier down. Or, more accurately, to bring it down on my schedule instead of Circe’s.
“Being shot puts some motherfuckers in a bad mood. You didn’t answer when I called earlier.”
“I was busy,” she says blithely. “But now isn’t a good time for you to leave the city. I need you here. I found the last component we need to bring down the barrier. We can do it. Tonight.”
Tonight.
I thought I wanted it to happen soon, but now that it’s on the horizon, I feel so unprepared. I don’t have my shit. I don’t have any weapons beyond a single gun with a single clip. I have an exhausted Ariadne and an Icarus who’s likely in shock with me. Bringing them is out of the question, but I have nowhere to put them, either. “It’s going to have to wait.”
“Can’t wait. This is our chance. I can probably do it myself, but you said you wanted in, and I’m not above using the tools available to me.”
Telling her why I’m hesitating means trusting her in a way I’m not prepared to do. But I don’t see how I have any other choice. “I have Ariadne and Icarus with me.”
“Ohhh.” She manages to stretch those two letters into three syllables. “Why didn’t you just say so? Easy-peasy answer there. They can hide out while we get this done. I’ll text you an address—or rather, two. One for you. One for them. See you in an hour.” She hangs up before I can think of an argument.
Within seconds, two texts come through. Two addresses, just like I was promised. One is on the north side of the theater district. The other is to the east, tucked in the outskirts of the shipyard. I stare at them for several beats too long and curse.