I couldn’t dispute the results.
“Okay, we’re out of the danger zone. Where to?” Angie asked as we spun around a corner and out onto Queen Street.
I looked behind me. It was unlikely either McCallister or Longstrand had been able to get to their cars in time to follow us.
But they didn’t have to. I’d eventually pop up somewhere and the chase would start again. I had to figure out a way to take this out of their hands and let me start calling the shots.
“Head for the lake,” I said.
Bran frowned. “What’s down there?”
I turned and looked at the pair in the back seat. “Sanctuary.”
It took a few extra twists and turns to get close to where Red lived, not so much about us being lost than me being sure that no one was following us. I was sure that the enforcers wouldn’t be on our tail but I couldn’t lay bets they were working alone. I wouldn’t put it past Eddie or Nathan to hedge their bets with backup.
Angie didn’t say anything as I directed her down and up the streets, doubling back a few times. Angie was smart and fast at the wheel but the less she knew about what we were doing the better. Thankfully she kept her mouth shut and I suspected she figured she’d get the truth out of Bran later.
I wasn’t worried about that. I couldn’t afford to be worried about that, not right now.
“Trade with me.” I tugged at Bran’s arm. “I’ll need to get out.”
He frowned but allowed me to crawl over his lap, copping a gentle feel as I slid down beside him next to the passenger door.
“Okay. This is how it’s going to roll,” I said to the kids. “We’re going to slow down and we’re going to hop out—the three of us. Keep an eye on me and move quick.”
“Hey.” Bran poked my arm. “What about me?”
“You and Angie keep on driving. If anyone’s following us hopefully they’ll stay on your tail. Go north, east, whatever for about another hour before heading home.”
Angie nodded, her attention moving toward Bran. “Home?” It was a neutral statement without any intent in her voice.
Bran shot me a warning glare, just enough to allay any fears I might have had. “We’ll split up when we get near your place. I’ll head home on my own via taxi, transit, whatever.” He held up his cell. “Text me if you need anything.”
I turned my attention to the outside. The fence I’d discovered the hole in ran alongside us, rusted and broken in spots. A fast look behind showed no traffic around us in either direction.
“Let’s go.”
The car slowed down to a crawl. Without looking to see if Evan and Lisa were following I flung the passenger door open and jumped out.
Chapter Eight
It wasn’t my best landing. I lost my footing, spun around and slammed into the fence, my spine thwacking against the steel diamonds with enough force to rattle my fillings.
I scrambled to my feet and limped toward the hole in the fence. I could sense the two kids behind me, sliding into the darkness to join me in the makeshift camp.
We made it inside before the worst of the pain began. The pounding pressure behind my eyes expanded to shoot down my spine in a series of tiny painful explosions.
I needed a drink and a massage.
I was definitely in the wrong place for that.
We made our way into the maze of half-constructed shelters and barriers. I didn’t have to look back to see the confusion on the kids’ faces. We’d fallen down the rabbit hole even farther.
“Suz!” Red sprang out of the shadows to pull me into a deep hug. The tight squeeze choked the air from my lungs and boosted the daggerlike pain shooting up my back. “Good to see you again.”
Evan and Lisa jumped back but thankfully didn’t Change. They sensed Red was family but weren’t sure what to make of him.
I couldn’t blame them. I wasn’t sure myself.
It took a concentrated effort but I finally disentangled myself from his arms. “Glad you’re doing fine.” I took a step back, trying to casually grab some fresh air. Red was in desperate need of his own washing fountain. “We need a place to stay.”
The two teenagers stepped forward, both with unsure expressions. Evan held out his hand while Lisa hung back just a bit, moving a step behind him.
Red grabbed his hand and pumped it as if trying to draw water from an unseen well. The loose sloppy motion had me smiling despite the pain. “You play guitar? Good, good. I just made some fresh coffee. Come, come.” He released Evan’s hand and trotted off through the camp without looking back to see if we were following.
Lisa let out a nervous giggle and headed down the trail with Evan close behind her.
I brought up the rear of our little troupe, more out of exhaustion than trying to keep track of them. My left ankle ached and I suspected this was not acceptable behavior for someone with a concussion.
Every once in a while a head would pop out from a tent or from under a tarp or folded cardboard box, check us out and then disappear back inside. As long as we weren’t police or an imminent threat I figured we’d be fine.
I kept taking deep breathes for two reasons—first to try and attempt to stifle the screaming pain in my back and second to make sure we were the only family around.
Red led us to his little area. Lisa immediately sat down on the nearest piece of driftwood and reached out to warm her hands at the small campfire. It might be July but we’d just had one hell of an evening.
Evan pulled off his pack, wincing as he inspected his guitar. His fingers danced along the strings, bringing up slightly warped notes. A deep gouge on the back of the guitar neck had him shaking his head.
Putting it down he turned to Lisa and tugged at her knapsack, finally pulling it off and dropping it beside her. He went back to his own pack and dug in a side pocket, coming up with a packet of beef jerky.
Lisa shook her head when he offered it to her. Evan paused before offering it to Red and me. I refused but Red dug in, grabbing a handful of the stringy snack.
“These the ones you were looking for?” Red asked between bites.
“Please allow me to introduce Lisa Middleston and Evan Chandler.” I used as formal a tone as I could, racking my brains to remember if there was some vague Pride protocol I’d forgotten.
They nodded at Red in turn, still trying to figure out what was going on. I’d dragged them from sleeping in the trees to digging in the dirt within an hour and they were still in shock.
Red, for his part, looked as if he took in strays every day.
“Ah. The lost souls.” He ripped at the burgundy-colored stick. “So you’re the ones causing all this trouble, eh?”
Evan puffed his chest out. “We’re not doing anything. We just want to be left alone.”
Red waved his hand around. “So do I. So do all these people. But it don’t work that way all the time.” He took another bite, talking around the dried beef. “We need each other. Dave over there forgets sometimes to eat and his blood sugar goes all haywire. Steven is pretty good at scavenging food. He’s good looking and the ladies love to give him stale bread and rolls.” He eyed the couple. “Figure you’re going to avoid all the bad blood by getting married and turning your back on it all? You think they won’t care about you when you’re married, hmm?”
“I don’t care about my family.” Lisa’s tone said otherwise.
“Sure you do,” Red replied. “We all care ’bout family. You there.” He gestured at Evan, who now sat next to Lisa, one arm protectively draped across her shoulders. “Your grandma was responsible for her grandma dying. How do you feel about it?”
Evan shrugged. “Means nothing to me. Doesn’t affect my life.”
Red reached over and rapped the end of the beef stick on Evan’s nose. The kid jerked back, almost falling off the log.