BooksBarbecue
Back Unleashed Save as PDF
Chapters (56)
  1. Front Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Part One
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. Part Two
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. Part Three
  28. 21
  29. 22
  30. 23
  31. 24
  32. 25
  33. 26
  34. Part Four
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. 35
  44. Part Five
  45. 36
  46. 37
  47. 38
  48. 39
  49. 40
  50. 41
  51. 42
  52. 43
  53. Epilogue
  54. Acknowledgments
  55. About the Author
  56. Back Cover

I can’t understand her change in attitude. Maybe something happened to her… Maybe she had another visit from Eric Smith’s security team and got spooked? I almost turn around and go back to ask her. But surely if it was something like that, she would have just said.

Rather than pretend like none of it matters at all.

It still matters to me.

And if Mom isn’t going to help me, I’m going to need my friends more than ever.

9

Top’s Bubble Tea is a long way downtown, and I follow the directions laid out for me by Slick. I bury my hands deep in my coat pocket, huffing my breath out in front of me. I can’t believe Mom’s change in attitude, and I want Jinx more than ever.

A tiny mewl attracts my attention as I pass a deserted alleyway. I pause for a moment, squinting into the shadows. My heart leaps as I spot a pair of shining eyes staring back at me out of the dark. Could it be?

But as I step closer, the tiny fur ball darts away from me—a little ginger tomcat, not my rogue baku. I smile.

I hope you’re living wild and free. It’s my wish to Jinx. He wanted a life that was as close to real as possible—not chained to my side as a companion, not destroyed by Eric Smith at Moncha Corp. That’s all I ever wanted for him.

My heart rate slows to a normal level for the first time since leaving the apartment. Now I just need the remaining gaps in my memory to be filled in, and I’ll feel like myself again.

>>We’re a bit early to Top’s Bubble Tea & Baku Café.

I look up, surprised to see that we’re outside already. I peer in through the window, but can’t see my friends.

>>I’ve connected to the table reservation inside—we can go in and wait.

“Oh great!” I reply to Slick. When I get inside, I squeal with delight. I’d forgotten how cute it was in here. There are bakus everywhere—all specifically baby varieties such as kittens, puppies, lambs, and baby rabbits. Originally it was modeled after cat cafés in Japan, where people could come and play with cute furry felines—perfect for those who weren’t allowed pets in their high-rise apartments. There’s a wide-open space in the middle of the café for bakus to play in and booths around the perimeter.