I forced myself not to laugh.
“Everything affects your life, kit. Every day in every way affects who you are and what you are.” He pointed the stick at Lisa. “What if she wakes up one day and gets all pissy ’cause you forgot to make the bed and throws the frying pan at your head ’cause you got Chandler blood in your veins?”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Lisa answered, almost too quickly. “I love him.”
Red put the rest of the jerky in his mouth. He picked up one of the steel cups on the ground and blew in it, dislodging dust before reaching for the coffeepot. “You sure ’bout that? Sure enough to turn your back on your heritage? Say goodbye to your family and friends, everyone you knew up there?”
She nodded slowly.
Red smiled. “Good. It’s hard enough to love yourself some days, much less love someone else. If you can do that, you’re halfway to winning in this life.” He filled the cup halfway and passed it to me before turning to Evan. “Drink?”
“Yes please,” Evan answered, as polite as could be. He was still trying to figure out what Red was all about.
Red passed a mug to Evan and another to Lisa without asking. They both grimaced, sniffing the strong coffee, but said nothing.
“So what’s your plan?” Red looked at me. “I’m thinking you didn’t bring ’em here for me to tell stories to.” He winked at Lisa. “Not that I don’t got a few, mostly dealing with fishing and hunting.”
“I need them to stay safe while I work out something.” I sipped the coffee, thankful for the caffeinated rush through my system. “I don’t want them dragged off by their family enforcers. That’s not what I agreed to do.”
“You’re a funny one, Suz.” Red turned his head to the side and spat. “Most people would take the money and run, flip these kits for the cash.” He studied my face. “You’re trying to stop something that’s been going on long before you got birthed.”
“I’m not trying to stop it. I’m just trying to save these two from being caught up in it for another generation.” I handed him the half-empty cup. “Please keep them safe until I get back.” A smile tweaked my lips. “Maybe teach them a little about living off the grid here. If they want to stay on the streets they’ll need to know how to survive.”
Red gave me a knowing look. It was one thing for these kids to swing in the trees and play at being runaways, another to deal with the harsh truth. They’d done well for the few days so far but I wasn’t sure they were built for doing this long-term, staying under the radar and away from their hunters.
“You two. Please don’t leave this area.” I stood up. “Stay here until I come for you.”
“What about the enforcers?” Lisa got to her feet as well, rubbing her forearms. “Won’t they find us here?”
Red chuckled. “Little chance of that. No one comes here but old men. It’s an old man’s camp.” He eyed the couple. “You got cell phones?”
I mentally smacked myself in the forehead. If they had and they were GPS capable it’d be like sending up flares to announce our location.
Red had more smarts than he was letting on.
“No sir,” Evan answered. “Left all that at home when we split. Knew it’d be too tempting to call someone and tip our hand as to where we were. Made a clean break.”
The kid had smarts.
“Good. I hate those damned ring tones. If I wanna sing, I just sing.” Red gestured toward the tent set up to one side. “Girl gets the tent, you and I sit out here and enjoy the night air.” He took a deep breath. “Smell those diesel fumes.”
It was time for me to go and let them figure out the arrangements, although I was tempted to wait until he explained where the bathroom was.
“Don’t leave,” I repeated. “If I don’t come back in three days get to a phone and contact Jess Hammersmythe. Tell her everything that’s happened. She’ll know what to do.”
Lisa drew a sharp breath. It was reassuring in a way to see their reaction—Jess’s reputation as a hard-nosed woman still had clout.
The unspoken assumption that I’d be dead or too injured to return hung in the air.
I turned and made my way back through the camp. A few sets of eyes followed me but no one said anything. It was obvious that Red had their respect and they wouldn’t be poking around his newest visitors.
It took me two hours to get back to the park, most of which was taken up doubling back on my tracks and making sure I wasn’t being followed. The cab drivers must have thought I was a little crazy, taking the ride for a block or two before hopping out. I wasn’t worried as much for myself as for the kids and Red—if Longstand or McCallister backtracked my route they’d find the camp and I had no doubt they’d plow through it to get to their charges, despite the possible consequences.
My Jeep sat where we’d parked it, ignored and alone on the street. I checked the car for any obvious tracking devices before getting in. The park was deserted and empty, the party dissolved away in the early morning leaving no sign anything had happened other than a few discarded streamers blowing down the street.
I made a mental note to give Hank a call and see if they’d actually arrested anyone or just chased them all out of the park. I’d feel guilty if a kid ended up in lockup because he’d gotten an invite to a wild party to inadvertently provide us with a diversion.
The Jeep grumbled but turned over on the second try, coughing as I yanked the wheels away from the curb. She and I weren’t morning folk.
I was delaying the inevitable confrontation. If the enforcers wanted to find me all they had to do was wait at my front door—it wasn’t like I had a secret Felis cave I worked out of. Since Bran had given up his condo there was no place for me to hide unless I went onto the streets the same as Evan and Lisa.
Besides, I’d never run from a fight in my life.
Heart of a warrior, mind of a fool.
Within the hour I pulled into the narrow driveway and parked behind my house, sliding the Jeep into the empty slot with practiced ease. The skyline was streaked with light blues and pinks and I felt quite old, which I put down to the aches and pains running through me.
Not to mention the growling in my belly. I should have taken the beef jerky.
With visions of tea and toast I walked around the rose bushes and opened the gate to my front yard.
Two angry Felis enforcers stared at each other, each man standing on opposite sides of my lawn.
Neither man spoke at first, too busy focused on each other in a classic macho standoff. I wondered for a brief second if I retraced my steps if they’d even notice my leaving.
Eddie’s head snapped to the side even as I pondered my chances. His eyes locked with mine and I knew I didn’t have a chance if I ran.
Instead I strolled up to the front door and worked the key in the lock, concentrating on not letting them see my hands shake.
At least the bastards hadn’t broken in.
“Can I offer you boys some tea?”
I didn’t turn around, knowing they’d follow.
McCallister slipped in behind me without saying a word, taking up a spot on the couch where he could watch the entire room.
I walked by him and tossed my coat on my desk chair. Jazz was nowhere in sight. She’d probably picked up on the negative vibes and was upstairs under the bed.
I considered joining her. Instead I decided to follow through with my original plan of tea and toast, letting the routine carry me along.
I couldn’t think of anything else to do.
Eddie followed me into the kitchen and watched while I filled the kettle halfway with water and plugged it in.
“Been waiting long?” I asked.
“A bit,” he answered. “Nathan figured this would be the best place to find you after that little stunt.” The restrained anger in his voice sent shivers down my aching back. “That human bastard of yours, he can hit hard. I’m luckier than Nathan—he got a black eye from one of those little punks.”