A Touch Menacing by Leah Clifford Page B

He nodded uncertainly. She took it from him and programmed her number in. Instead of a name, she hit the asterisk and handed it back. “Tell everyone you know to spread the word that the Siders are under attack. For protection, they should head to one of the territory leaders. Anyone who needs me, you give my number. I’ll be on the move so they won’t find me here. Have them call and I’ll meet them.” She pointed to the head of the alley, hoping her urgency would be enough for him to take her seriously. “Spread the word today and you can call me tomorrow.”
    He gaped at her, holding the phone. “Under attack by who ?”
    “Get your ass out of my alley,” she snapped. She watched him walk away before she turned back to the Sider left behind.
    “Hurry, Eden,” Jarrod said from a few yards away. Tension stiffened his stance, as he surveyed from one end of the alley to the other. Sullivan moved from her side to join him.
    The Sider in front of her watched in a mixture of reverence and respect. He held out a crumpled fifty-dollar bill. She shoved it into her pocket without thinking.
    “So, here’s the deal,” Eden started, her voice low enough not to carry beyond the two of them. She slid closer to him, her feet moving almost on their own. When she took in his Touch, it would make everything so much better. “You’re gonna keep spreading your Touch Upstairs, okay?” She didn’t know if he’d heard about the angels, if he’d remember any of this. “And when they catch you,” Eden went on, squeezing his cheeks, “you tell them to send me Az. Got it? Send me Az or I won’t stop.” She probably looked like a raving lunatic, but didn’t care. The boy breathed faster. She grabbed the collar of his coat. Pure need coursed through her veins.
    “Wait. I don’t think I want to—” His mouth pressed into a tight line, his head jerking. Eden exhaled in a steady stream. “Wait!” he cried, and then gasped.
    His last frightened cry echoed through the alley as his ashes scattered.
    “Send me Az back,” she said, her collarbones thrumming as his Touch settled into her.
    “Eden!” Jarrod called sharply. “What the hell?”
    She stared down at the freshly trampled snow at her feet. “He panicked at the last second.”
    “That was one long ‘last second.’”
    “I had to take him.” Eden snapped her neck to the side until it gave a satisfying pop. “I don’t need the guilt trip.”
    “When do I need to start doing this?” Sullivan asked.
    Eden walked them toward Milton’s. “I’d guess you’ve got another week or so before things get bad. The problem is, with the first Siders you send Downstairs, Luke’s gonna know you exist.”
    Jarrod kicked at a chunk of ice. “I don’t think we should wait until she’s sick, Eden.”
    Like me, she thought. Weak. A burden. He didn’t say it, but it was written all over his face.
    It was a miracle Luke didn’t seem to know about Sullivan already. It would only be a matter of time before he tracked her down once he did. He’d let Eden live because he’d thought her useful, and now because her Siders infected Upstairs. Because Luke had been the one to put an end to Sullivan’s mortal life, she was tied to him. Something he wasn’t going to be thrilled to find out. For now, their best bet was keeping Sullivan’s identity hidden, which meant she shouldn’t be taking Siders out until they had no other choice.
    “Jarrod, don’t push this,” Eden said when they got to the street. Her nerves ratcheted up. The Bound could be anywhere. Watching.
    Waiting.
    Had they seen Jarrod at the stairs? Were there angels waiting this moment for the three of them to come out onto the street? A surge of adrenaline quickened her steps.
    “Faster,” Eden said. The Bound wouldn’t attack them in front of mortals. If she could get to Milton’s, they’d be safe. She burst onto the sidewalk, jogging across the street. When she got to the door, she dove for it. The bell