Page 97 of The Darkest Chase

“Go on,” he says.

Sighing, we go before Grandpa has another chance to embarrass me forever.

Once we’re up in the loft, I release his hand and stumble away from him.

I feel like I’m going to pass out if I blush any harder. I groan, scrubbing my hands over my face.

“Sorry about that,” I say. “He’s terrible with me making friends. You know, the sheltered childhood thing and all. I was never much good at it.”

“Didn’t mind. He seems pretty charming.” Micah glances back at the stairs with a discerning look. “He’s doing well today?”

“…yeah. Well enough. He’s lucid and living in the present.” I smile slightly. “The good days really are good.” But if I think about that too hard, my emotions will turn me into a wreck, and then I’ll end up blubbering all over Micah without even finding out why he’s here. So I gesture to the kitchen table, breezing past it to put the kettle on. “What did you come to talk about? I haven’t been back to see Xavier yet. We’re finalizing some concepts before there’s any need to stop by the house again.”

“It’s not about Xavier. Not exactly,” Micah says cryptically. He settles down at the raw wood table, lacing his hands together, his posture perfect. “I caught Ephraim Jacobin lurking around outside your shop.”

I blink at him.

His words don’t compute.

“…what?” I feel faint, dropping the kettle and moving to the window, looking out on the street. I tweak the pale-yellow curtains aside, trying not to be obvious.

I immediately bounce back with a strangled sound.

There’s no mistaking that lean scarecrow figure across the street.

Jesus, he’s right there.

Just staring up at the window from under the wide brim of his hat, plain as day.

I don’t think he saw me. I hope not.

But my slamming heart can’t be sure.

“Why?” I whisper. “Why’s he staring at the shop?”

“So you know they’re watching,” Micah says, his voice heavy. “Nothing good ever happens when the Jacobins get interested in a girl involved with the Arrendells. Before Ulysses and Culver were arrested, Ephraim and Culver weren’t shy about stalking Delilah Graves.”

I can feel my chest caving in.

So quick my fingers go numb.

I don’t even think to reach for my inhaler.

All I can do is stare at the closed curtains, feeling doom descending like a cloud.

No matter where I hide, that freaky beanstalk man is looking.

I remember reading the news about what Ulysses and Culver did before they were stopped, when they caught another man who tried to get in the way of their creepy business.

…could that be me?

Gutted like a farm animal?

“Grandpa—” It hits me so hard it almost knocks me over.

No, he can’t go out on errands today. He can’t go where Ephraim Jacobin can find him and hurt him.

“Talia, breathe.” Suddenly, there’s a tall body in my way and strong arms holding me in place. “Your grandfather’s going to be all right. They wouldn’t dare do anything in the middle of town. It’s safer to pretend you don’t notice them. If you or your grandfather start acting suspicious, they might wonder. If you react, they’ll know you know something.”