“I wouldn’t normally ask this, but are these men kidnapping you?” Slate had a sudden desire to yell “Yes!” and throw herself into the bandit-leader’s arms—he really did have lovely eyes—but she suspected that nothing would be left alive on the roadway by the time that had finished playing out. Plus the tattoo would eat me. “I’m beyond help at this point,” she said instead. “But you’re sweet to ask.”
