“What’s the difference?” Tan sat down beside Roman. “Can’t blame you for trying, though. One thing I’ve always liked about you: you’re damn good at trying stuff.”
“And failing.”
“That too.”
Roman took a deep breath. Finally, he asked the question on his mind. “Is Ruby here?”
“Nah. She disappeared early this morning.”
He wasn’t sure if he was disappointed or relieved. He would have to apologize to her sooner or later. But, if he had the option, he would choose later.
“I’m gonna be honest,” Tan said, “I get the feeling that you and her had a bit of an argument last night.”
“She mentioned Stevens. I got angry.”
After a few minutes of silence, Tan spoke again. “Have you tried… um… just telling her that you—”
“We’ve got a job to do,” Roman said firmly. “Let’s just focus on getting it done, and staying alive, okay? That’s what matters right now.”
“There’s always a job to do, isn’t there?”
“We’re in a tough business.”
“Life is tough, get over it.” Tan tossed his cigarette in the gutter. “I’ll give you some free advice. Not cause you’re my boss, but ‘cause you’re my friend.”
“I don’t need any—”
“You do. So shut up and listen. When it comes to fighting Adrenalites, you’re the bravest man I know. But when it comes to being honest — with yourself or with anybody else — you’re one cowardly motherfucker.”
“You always did have a way with words.”
“I’m a fucking poet.” Tan lit another cigarette and offered it to Roman, who refused. Tan shrugged before claiming it for himself. “I normally never say this, but you need to be more like me. I know that I’m a shit-talker who loves his whiskey a little too much, but at least I’m honest about it. Just like you need to be honest that you’re—”
“Don’t say it.”
“What was I about to say?”
“I don’t know.”
“That’s another lie,” Tan said. “Fine, I’ll keep my mouth shut, because it’s not me who needs to admit it. It’s you.”
Roman didn’t respond, lost in his thoughts, and the conversation ended. Sitting there, Roman wasn’t sure if he fell asleep. But with his eyes closed and fatigue in every limb, time slipped by in a blurry haze. He recalled a dog sniffing around near his feet. Then, later, he heard Tan’s voice, talking with someone else. It all sounded so distant.
He slipped back to consciousness to find a giant standing over him.
“Wake up,” Caleb rumbled. “You heard the news?”
“Huh?”
Caleb turned to Tan. “Did you know?”
Tan lowered his gaze guiltily. “I was… um… just about to tell him.”
Standing behind Caleb was Sparks. The boy bounced from foot to foot, practically shaking with excitement. That couldn’t be a good sign.
“What is it?” Roman asked groggily.
“Gavin is spreading the word — he’s hosting another fight,” Caleb said. “Tonight.”
“So?”
“He’s also announced that there’s going to be an execution after the fight.”
Roman groaned. There was no doubt who Gavin was planning to execute. Ashton Spencer. Gavin didn’t have the patience to wait for Candle to strike, so he was making an ultimatum, forcing Candle’s hand before he had time to prepare. And forcing Roman’s hand, too. One day was not nearly enough time to abduct Spencer. Not even if he had Juliette’s help.
So why the hell was he sitting here, sulking? What an idiot he had been. He dragged himself to his feet. “Come inside. We’ve got a lot to organize.”
He stumbled, nearly falling back to the ground. Caleb grabbed him and held him upright.
“I reckon you might need to rest a little longer.”
“No. I can do this.”
Sparks stepped forward, grinning, and Roman now realized why the boy looked so eager.
“Looks like you’re in a world of shit,” Sparks said, grinning. “Still think you don’t need my help?”
Roman’s heart sunk in his chest and an all-too-familiar headache returned inside his skull.
Damn it.
He really didn’t have a choice.
“Listen, Sparks,” he said, refusing to look the boy in the eye as he spoke. “I was wrong. I do need your help.”
“Of course you were. And of course you do.”
Roman forced his voice to remain calm as he asked, “Do you swear not to harm any one of us, or any civilian, while you’re activated?”
Sparks rolled his eyes. “Duh. And you swear that after this, you’ll let me carry my own activation needles, and to use them whenever I choose? You’ll finally trust me?”
Not in a hundred fucking years, Roman thought as he reached out a hand and Sparks shook it.
“I swear,” he lied.
Sparks smiled. Roman faked one in return.
Meanwhile, behind the boy, Caleb folded his arms and scowled. He pushed Sparks aside and stepped up to Roman. “Wait outside,” he told the boy. “Roman and I need to have a private discussion.”
Roman nodded. “We certainly do.”
12
“You want a smoke?” Tan offered Sparks a cigarette.
Sparks shook his head. What he wanted was to be inside, listening to whatever it was that Caleb and Roman were discussing. If it wasn’t for Tan watching, he would have his ear pressed against the door.
“Let’s go to a pub,” Tan said. “It’s nearly noon and I still haven’t wet my throat.”
“I didn’t know there was a pub near here.”
“There’s always a pub if you know where to look.”
Tan led Spark a hundred yards down the road, stopping outside a tall, square building. The windows were barred. The door was a steel plate, shut with three locks. Tan knocked. Nobody answered.
“I don’t think this is a bar,” Sparks said.
Tan shrugged. He glanced up and down the street, confirming it was empty, then pulled a pair of lock-picks from his pocket and began putting them to use. He whistled while he worked. Within a minute he had defeated all three locks and he motioned for Sparks to lead the way inside.
Whoever owned this place, they didn’t care much for cleanliness. Sparks pushed a handful of boxes off a chair, freeing space to sit. A huge table dominated the centre of the room, covered in hammers, saws, and other such appliances. A construction worker lived here, then.
Tan kept whistling — an upbeat, rhythmic melody, similar to the tune Sparks had learned at the haven — while he rampaged through a wall of cupboards. “Ah-ha!” He pulled out two glasses and a half-empty bottle of rum. He placed a glass on the table in front of Sparks and poured him a drink.
Sparks was about to refuse the offer but thought better of it. Today was worth celebrating — after all, tonight he would be fighting.
Tan sat across from Sparks and poured himself a much more generous drink. “You’re a lucky man, Sparks. Just like me.”
Sparks noticed and appreciated the use of the term ‘man.’ Not kid. Not boy. Not Adrenalite. In calling him a man, Tan showed Sparks far more respect than anyone else in this city ever had. “How so?”
“We were both given an opportunity when Roman hired us.”
Sparks snorted. “Opportunity? I didn’t have a choice.”
“Would you have chosen to stay living in a cell underground?”
Hard choice. Sparks did appreciate being able to go outside, and to live somewhere that wasn’t always cold, but there was no way he was going to admit that. “At least Gavin let me fight most days.”
“And that’s what matters, is it? Fighting?”
“Obviously.”
“Did you have any friends in the Haven?”