Among the Flames by Kim Vandel

Author:Kim Vandel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kim Vandel
Published: 2020-06-28T02:15:58+00:00

Pioneer Square was a blend of past and present located in the southwest corner of downtown Seattle. The wrought iron pergola along Yesler Way dated back to the Victorian era, as did many of the buildings. The century-old remains of Underground Seattle lay beneath streets lined with sports bars, art galleries, and nightclubs, like Riviera.

Rain from earlier in the day had left a damp chill over the city. Moisture clung to streets and buildings and hung in the air. Despite the winter weather, the girls standing in line outside Riviera’s red brick facade had plenty of skin on display.

Ty gawked through the window as we drove past. “If Jackson and Lexi need backup, I volunteer as tribute.”

Ty missed Hassan’s glare in the rearview mirror because he was fixated on the bodies crowding the sidewalk, but Jackson summed it up nicely. “The odds are not in your favor, dude.”

The “Sinking Ship” parking garage sat in the Y where James Street met Yesler Way, and it totally deserved its nickname. The triangle-shaped structure stuck out from the hillside like the bow of a ship, the last piece visible before the ship disappeared beneath the waves.

Hassan found a parking space close to the exit, and after everyone piled out, he gave a couple of final instructions to Lexi and Jackson before sending them off. He asked Nathan to circle around the building and scout the alley next to Riviera on his way to the coffee shop. When Nathan left, he took his computer bag with him. It would look like he was at the coffee shop to write, not stake out the club across the street.

Once Nathan was gone, Hassan held his door open, motioning me toward the driver’s seat.

“Wait,” Ty said. “Why does Kate get to drive?”

There was no missing Hassan’s glare this time. “Because I trust her to follow my instructions.”

“I can follow instructions.”

“Good. Get in the passenger seat.”

Ty’s mouth twisted into a sulk, but he went around to the passenger side and got in. He slumped down in the seat and muttered what sounded like “teacher’s pet.”

I slipped into the driver’s seat feeling less than enthusiastic about being trapped in the car with my brother for the rest of the evening.

Hassan stood with one hand on the door and one hand on the doorframe. “Watch the street, and let me know if you see Benny, if you see anything I need to know about.”

“Okay.”

For a moment our gazes held. I wanted to tell him to stay—so I’d feel safe, so I wouldn’t have to worry about him—but I didn’t. “Be careful, okay?”

“I will. Remember your promise to me.”

I gave him a nod. He shut the door, glanced around the parking garage, and disappeared.

“Holy—”

I spun and clamped a hand over my brother’s mouth. “Hassan’s radio still works when he’s in Stealth mode, so no swearing.”

Something warm and wet touched my fingers. I gasped and jerked my hand away. “Ty!” I groaned, scrubbing my hand on my jeans. “That’s disgusting!”

“Then don’t touch me.

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