“Excuse me?” Ash said, startled by Leslie’s harsh tone.

“Why did you come back down here? Why the hell didn’t you stay away?”

“Mo wanted to explain what happened last night. I’m sorry about Eli… what he did to you,” Ash said.

The tough girl facade wasn’t a natural fit, and just like that it vanished. Leslie sank onto the subway seat, holding her head in her hands, her shoulders shaking, sobs racking her body. The train made two stops before she finally spoke. “Mo’s lying,” Leslie whispered.

“Leslie, it’s okay. I know what happened with Eli. I know all about guys like that.”

“Would you shut up and fucking listen to me? Eli didn’t do shit. Not to me or anyone else.”

That glimmer of doubt she’d felt about Mo and what they’d done came roaring back. “I don’t understand. Why would Mo want him hurt?”

“I don’t fucking know. Vic wouldn’t tell me exactly what happened. All he said was that Mo ordered the beatdown. Don’t you see how things work? Mo makes the rules and if she thinks you violated them, bad things happen,” Leslie said.

Ash took this in. “What about Eli? What happened to him?”

“He was in bad shape last night. Vic said he dumped him at the hospital, but he’s gone, Ash. Like fucking vanished.”

Ash shook her head. “Yeah, I know. Nate said he was moving down to Venice.”

“I went to every hospital. No sign of him. I even went down to Venice where he used to crash. I asked all over. No one’s seen him.”

“Then where is he?”

Leslie shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t…” She let out a shaky sigh. “What I do know is you showing up last night was a fucking mistake. Now you’re on Mo’s shit list. Also maybe should have mentioned your foster mom is a fucking cop.”

Ash went pale. Nate knew, but they’d both agreed not to mention it to the Tribe. Most street people hated law enforcement, and Nate didn’t want them to see her as an outsider.

“Becca’s not a cop. She’s a shrink.”

“If she works with the cops, she’s a fucking cop,” Leslie snapped.

“I don’t understand what’s happening. Nate said Mo wanted to talk. To explain what happened. Why else would she have me come down here?”

“It’s a test.”

“What kind of test?” Ash asked.

“To see how loyal you are.”

Ash’s eyes lingered on her tattooed wrist. She thought about Nate’s promise. Were they really in this together? Was she wrong to trust him?

Leslie was still talking. “In Mo’s mind, you’re bad news, a narc messing with Nate’s head. She’s planning something. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but I couldn’t… I mean, I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“What is she planning?”

“I don’t know.” The train rounded the corner, the next stop fast approaching. Leslie stood. “You want my advice? Stay the fuck away. From the Tribe. From Nate. That’s the only way to be safe.”