I was going to throw up again, but I had nothing left. “I didn’t do it on purpose.” My hand shook as I wiped off the cold sweat beading on my forehead.

“Not on purpose? How the fuck do you beat the shit out of someone by accident? This is serious. You could die. I could die! Fuck, Maité. What—”

“I know!” It was as if he’d parked his Tykson on my chest. My breath was shallow, and I couldn’t get enough air in as the panic slowly strangled me.

“He’s a Murtagh, Maité. A Murtagh!” Roan was pissed and with good reason.

I couldn’t believe this was happening. This was a nightmare. It had to be a nightmare.

“I don’t even know if Declan can help you now. Do you have a way to call him?”

“No.” Gray dots peppered my vision.

“He said he was keeping an eye on things. So he’ll fix this. Right?”

“I don’t know.” I wasn’t sure anyone could fix this. My hands shook so badly, it took me three tries to slide my helmet back on.

I’d known fear my whole life, but I’d never known fear like I felt in that second. Every part of me screamed to run as far and as fast as I could. But I had to think it through first. I couldn’t mess this up any worse than I already had.

“I need a plan. I’m going to have to figure out how to hide my trail and run.” Except I couldn’t figure out anything through my panic.

And then I remembered something. “Damn it. I had a go-bag in the diner. I had money. Laundered, clean money. I had tech. I had clean clothes. And I didn’t even think to take it with me.” Fear was making me dumb. I climbed back on the Tykson, and Roan followed. “We need to go. I have to get out of sight of the cameras. And I’m going to need to go get my backup bag at the abandoned depot. Head there first.”

“I can’t fucking believe this…” Roan muttered as he sped into traffic again, cutting off another Tykson. Horns blared and tires screeched behind us, but that didn’t slow him down. He knew what was at stake.

I leaned my helmet-clad head against his back. I’d seriously stepped in it this time. I had a sickening feeling I’d be seeing Jason Murtagh again soon. I just hoped that didn’t mean I was sentencing everyone else to die, too.

Chapter Nine