Chapter 17. Fremont Canal

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I flick my eyes to Hunter in panic, as if asking, What do we do now? We haven't even discussed how we're going to catch them, or with what—nothing! He winks at me, as if saying, It's okay, I got it, just follow my lead.

"Hey girls. Long time no see," he says, squeezing my hand three times. "A bit too cold to go skinny dipping at night in September, don't you think? I like your hair, though, as always. Your hair looks awesome."

They giggle.

"Hunter Crossby, where have you been? We missed you. Oh, we missed you so much!" Ligeia says, tilting her head to the side, causing her wet locks to roll off her bare shoulders. No doubt a practiced movement.

"Shhh! Shut up, remember what Canosa said," Teles hisses into her ear, clasping the edge of the boat.

"So? What I say is none of your business, so get off me. Get your fingers off me! You're annoying," Ligeia says. They remind me of typical high school mean girls.

"What's up, Teles?" Hunter says.

"Oh, nothing, nothing in particular," she says, and lowers her head as if she's blushing.

Meanwhile, Canosa is quiet. Her stare is so demanding I can feel it on my skin. Her hair glistens in the moonlight, wet and braided with lust. I guess I expected something, anything; an acknowledgement about what she did, a nod that said she's sorry. There is none of that, only a self-indulgent gaze and egoistic demeanor. Like I owe her something, like it's my fault, like somehow I have wronged her and not the other way around.

"I'm waiting," she finally says.

I stare back. "Waiting for what?"

"For an apology," she says, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

All caution evaporates from my mind in one instant.

"Really? An apology. You're asking for an apology? You stinking traitor."

Hunter steps on my bare foot, but it's too late. The words escape me at an alarming rate.

"All this talk about siren family, all this bullshit you've been feeding me. For what? To serve your own purposes. You turned me into a siren for your sick little game with my father. I'm no more than a pawn to you, and as soon as you're done with me, you'll dispose of me.

"Well, fuck you! You're a traitor and a liar. You made a deal with my father and sold me out. Sold both of us out. Me and Hunter. And you weren't ever going to show me where my mom is, were you? In fact, I'm not even sure you were here when she jumped. It was just another lie, to get me going, to make me do stuff for you, wasn't it?" Hunter stomps on my foot again.

Canosa twirls a lock of silver-white hair around her finger, an amused expression on her face.

"Answer me!" I demand.

She ignores me, using the trick my father pulls all the time. She swims around the boat to the back of it.

"Hunter Crossby, still holding on to your catch, I see." She nods in my direction. "Nice one, I must say."

Hunter faces her.

"I don't know about that. She's a slippery little thing. Kind of hard to hold on to," he says with a significant glance. I don't know if he means it as a compliment or another joke.

"Splendid, ain't she? Not bad, not bad at all. Thank you for the show, it was mesmerizing to watch. Heartbreaking, in fact. My girls here almost gagged with desire."

Ligeia and Teles nod energetically.

"I'm glad you liked it," Hunter says.

"I'm hungry." Ligeia suddenly sticks out her lower lip like an upset toddler who's about to throw a fit. "Are you?" she asks Teles, grabbing her hand and drifting to where Hunter sits.

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