“Then let’s get Ruby back, finish the job, and celebrate with a glass of whiskey.”
“Make it five glasses, and you have a deal.”
They walked on, Roman still leaning on Tan. Neither of them speaking again until someone strode into view, a hundred yards ahead. Someone short, with arms too long for their body. Someone who glowed blue.
Roman stopped, paralyzed.
It was Sparks.
“Oh, shit.”
21
Even in the dark and the rain, Sparks recognized Roman’s heavy frame and Tan’s thin, lanky one. Ruby wasn’t with them. Sparks’ looked around, scanning the shadows, knowing just how stealthy she could be when she wanted. No sign of her. Good.
Sparks charged towards them. He heard himself yelling, not words, just a howl of rage.
Roman clung to Tan with one arm and he slowly raised the other. Sparks tensed, ready to dodge a bullet. But Roman’s hand was empty. “Sparks, wait!” he called.
“Shut up!” Sparks roared. “You lied to me!” They were only a dozen steps away now. Roman looked like shit, half his face a gruesome shade of purple. Tan stepped in Sparks way — he didn’t look much better.
Sparks shoved Tan aside and grabbed Roman by his coat, lifting him off the ground and throwing him into the air. He flew six yards, landing hard on the footpath. “You lied to me,” Sparks repeated, breathless, both hearts hammering. “You fucking asshole.”
Tan grabbed Sparks’ shoulder. “Calm down, he didn’t—”
Sparks pushed him away. “Stay out of this, Tan.”
Roman had crawled onto his knees, his hand reaching into his jacket. Sparks closed the distance in two leaps. He snatched the gun out of Roman’s hand and tossed it into the gutter. “I’ve already been shot once tonight. It won’t happen again.”
“Sparks, I—”
“So now you remember my name?” Sparks shoved his boot against Roman’s chest and pushed him flat against the pavement. “Not just a ‘kid’ anymore, am I?”
“No. You’re not. But—”
“Tell me you’re a liar.” Sparks moved his foot so it rested on the base of Roman’s neck. “Say it to my face.”
Roman scowled. “Fine. I lied to you. I was never going to let you have your own needle.”
“Well guess what? I took one anyway!”
“I don’t care, not anymore. Gavin has Ruby.”
Sparks blinked. “What?”
“He’s going to kill her if we don’t bring him Candle. You have to help us. Please. It’s me you’re mad at, not her. She always defended you.”
“I…” Sparks’ head spun. Ruby. She had always been nice to him, hadn’t she? And he had seen how Gavin could torture people. It wasn’t pleasant. Ruby didn’t deserve that.
No. He’s lying to me. That’s what Roman does.
“Why should I believe you?” Sparks demanded.
“You have to.”
Sparks shook his head. He wasn’t going to be fooled by Roman’s bullshit. Not again. “You can’t pretend you care about her,” he said. “You’re a heartless fucker. And I’m done with you.” He pressed his boot down harder.
“Please…”
Footsteps behind him. “Sparks, stop!”
Without turning, Sparks reached behind him and grabbed Tan. “Don’t tell me what to do.” He hurled Tan away. His shoulder flared with pain as the stitches in his bicep tore loose. Damn it, what was the point in putting them in when they came out so easily?
“Please.” Roman’s voice was so quiet it could hardly be heard over the rain. “Ruby—”
Sparks’ chest thumped a mad pulse, demanding blood. Roman’s blood. But he recalled the man that he had killed, not even an hour before, and the way his lifeless eyes had looked. He thought of the bitter taste that still lingered in his mouth.
Killing someone in a fight was one thing. Killing someone who was defenceless was completely different. Tonight, Sparks had done both. He knew which one made him feel alive, and which one made him feel like shit.
Sparks lifted his foot off Roman’s neck.
Gasping, Roman rubbed his bruised throat. Strangely, it was now that he looked afraid. As he should — he deserved to die. But Sparks wasn’t going to do it, not like this. Not without a proper fight.
“Why?” Roman’s voice was a hollow croak. Lying there, he looked so pathetic, so weak.
Sparks spat on him. “Despite what you think, I’m not a monster,” he said, turned, and walked away.
After that, he trudged through the deserted streets for a long time with no destination in mind, just the urge to get as far away from Roman as he could.
22
The next hour felt like the longest of Ruby’s life.
She had assumed the two thugs, Mark and Higgs, would have made a move on her as soon as Gavin left, but they just stood against the wall in an uncomfortable silence. Higgs had lit one cigarette after another and now the room reeked of rado-weed. Ruby’s rage at Gavin had dulled, leaving behind a constant anxiety that kept her awake and alert, even though she knew she should be exhausted.
It was Higgs who really scared her. The size of him, and the way he stared at her like a hungry dog.
Ruby glanced at the knife strapped to his belt. If he was stupid enough not to remove it before approaching her, she would snatch it and shove it through his revolting face.
A part of her wished he would come over now. The tension of waiting was killing her. Besides, she couldn’t afford to stay here long. Roman was probably already planning a suicidal mission to capture Candle. If she escaped and he was already dead…
She couldn’t let herself think about that.
“I need to piss,” she said, only half lying.
“Then piss,” Higgs responded.
Ruby scowled.
Five minutes later, she tried a different approach. “I’m still hungry.”
Mark glanced at Higgs. “I’m starving myself, to be honest.”
Higgs grunted. “Fine. Stay here.” He left.
Ruby couldn’t believe her luck. Now it was just her and Mark, and she was confident she could take him out if he got close. Of course, the machete in his hand was a threat. But she wouldn’t give him a chance to use it. Judging by Higgs’ last trip, Ruby only had about five minutes before he returned. And unfortunately, that chance was going to be wasted unless Mark made a move on her.
Hating herself, she said, “Just get it over with.”
“What?”
“I know what you’re going to do. So do it.”
Mark frowned at her.
“Well? What are you waiting for, your big friend to come and watch?”
“You can bugger yourself for all I care,” Mark said. “Just because I’m a mercenary doesn’t mean I’m a rapist.” He turned away and Ruby could almost believe she had offended him.
The one time a man in this cursed city shows any chivalry, and it’s him? Damn.
“Well, if you’re such a gentleman,” Ruby spat the last word, “then why aren’t you giving me the decency to at least piss outside?”
She saw the hesitation on his face.
“Do you like seeing me wet myself?” she mocked. “Is that what gets you off?”
He sighed. “Fine. But I’m not untying you. And you’re not leaving my sight.”
“So you are a pervert.”
“Shut your mouth. Now get up before I change my mind.”
Ruby awkwardly climbed to her feet. She took a deep breath to calm herself. Mark held his machete defensively as he opened the door, motioning for her to go first.