The night was far from over. As I trudged back toward the safer part of the city, the adrenaline ebbed, leaving me painfully aware of how sore my body was. The bruises from Amelia's goons, the throbbing ache in my ribs, and the still-fresh sting of Speedy's parting wink all reminded me of just how precarious my situation had become.
The phone buzzed in my pocket again. Another text from Victoria.
"Felix, where are you? ANSWER ME."
My lips pressed into a thin line. How the hell was I supposed to explain this? Hey babe, I got kidnapped by your sister, almost assaulted, and then saved by a pint-sized lightning gremlin from Australia. That would go over well. I pocketed the phone and picked up my pace, heading toward a less conspicuous meeting point—an old café with a dimly lit back alley entrance. It wasn't my usual haunt, but it would suffice for now.
+
