Chapter 33 · Traceless - Chapter 33: My Mother Says Run

The alley smells like piss and old grease. I'm three blocks from the safe house and my lungs are screaming.

Cole's footsteps echo behind me. Close. Too close.

"Layla, stop."

I don't. I can't. My mother's face is burned into my eyes—her warning, her fear. *Don't trust him. He's been working for HQ this whole time. His mission was always you.*

The street ahead splits into two directions. Left goes toward the market district, crowds, places to disappear. Right leads to the old freight tunnels. Dark. Empty. Dangerous.

I go right.

"Layla, for fuck's sake—"

His hand catches my elbow. I spin, slap him away, and my palm stings from the contact. His face is pale under the flickering streetlight. Blood from somewhere—his temple, maybe—runs down the side of his jaw.

"Let me go."

"Listen to me."

"No." I back up. My heel hits a drainage grate and I stumble. He moves forward, hands out like he's trying to calm a spooked animal. "You lied. You've been lying this whole time."

"I didn't lie."

"You said you'd protect me."

"I am."

"You're HQ. You've always been HQ." My voice cracks and I hate it. I hate that I'm crying again.