The black car door clicked open, and Vane stepped onto the wet pavement of the alley.Rain drummed hard against the roof of the vehicle, but not a single drop touched his sharp suit. He stood there with his hands tucked neatly inside his coat pockets, watching us with that calm, sickening smile. Behind him, two men in heavy gray coats stepped out of the front seats, their faces hidden in the shadows of their hats.I took a step backward, my boots splashing in a puddle. My heart hammered hard against my ribs. We had just climbed all the way up from the deep underground tunnels, thinking we had finally escaped. We thought we were safe back in the normal streets of Chicago. But Vane was already waiting for us before we could even catch our breath."Did you really think a rusty ladder and a drainage pipe would be enough to lose me?" Vane asked, his voice smooth and quiet as he took a slow step toward the mouth of the alley.Mara did not hesitate. She dropped into a fighting stance, her ha