Istormedintothestore,runningpastPeytaandacustomerattop speed.Ungracefully,Islammedthroughthedoortothebackroomand mypurse,yankingmycelloutbeforeturningaroundtofranticallyexit.
AllPeytagotwasawarninglookfromme.We'dlearnedtocommunicate withoutwordsduringperiloustimes.Iknewshegotthemessage.
DialingasItookthestairstwoatatime,IhadSeanontheline beforeIevenhearditring.
“Ihopethisisasocialcall.”
“It'snot.We'vegotasituation.”
“Define'we',”hedemanded,hisbusinesstoneinfullbore.
Idecidedtocuttothechase.Therewasnopointintryingtopretty itup.
“Tobiascalled...”
Thenamewasmetwithagrowl.
“Andwhatdidhesay?”
“Well,that'swhatwe'regoingtofindoutrightnow,”Itoldhim, crestingthefinalsteptothethirdfloorwhereJannerstoodwiththe others.“Jannerspoketohim.Ididn't,buthe'srighthere.I'mputtingyou onspeaker.”
Ihittheappropriatebuttonandadjustedthevolumeasloudasit wouldgoformybenefit.Iknewtheboyswouldhearhimregardless.
“Okay,Janner,”Iprompted.“Justspillit.”
Hesighedheavily,shootingmeanuncomfortableglance.Heclearly fearedmorethanjustTobias.Seanwasnotgoingtotakekindlytohis suspicionsofdangercomingourwaybecauseoftheboys.Iftheythought Cooperwasoverprotective,theywereabouttogetschooledbySean.
“Hewashisusualpompousselfonthephone,makingagameof threateningme.Threatening us.”
“What.Did.He.Say?”Seangroundout.Icouldpracticallyhearhis jawflexing,knowinghowhardhewastryingtocomposehimself.He wantedtofindasolutiontotheproblemfirst.He'dfigureouthowto makethempaylater.
“HelaughedwhenIansweredandthenquicklypointedouthow irresponsibleitwasformetonothavegottenanotherphone,likeIhad madethegametooeasyforhim.”
“Youhavethesamephone?”Seanroared.
“Weleftwithnexttonothing.Wetookwhateverwecouldthrowin abagandthecashIhadstashedawayinacontingencyfund.Our accountswerepaidfortheyear.Ihadothermorepressingthingstodeal withwhenwefled.Itneverdawnedonmeseeifthenumberscouldbe changed,notthatchangingthenumberswouldhavebeenenough,really.
Tobiasissmart.Mostlikely,wewouldhavehadtodisposeofthem entirely,”hesaid,tryingtoexplainwhytheyhadn'tgottenridofthat connectiontotheirpast.Itseemedthatcarelessnesswasthetruereason.
“Asitstandsnow,Isoonwouldhavetohaverenewedthepolicyand wouldnotbeabletodoit.Pleaseunderstand,Sean,weleftinchaos.We werenotinMainelongbeforewehappeneduponRuby.Wehaven'thad muchtimetoregroup.Ihadnoideathathewouldcomeforusthis quickly.”
“Andnowhe'sgoingtofollowthatphonerighttoRuby'sdoorstep.”
Seanwasseething―Icouldsenseitthroughthephone.
“Perhapsithasn'tcometothatyet,”Jannercountered.“Hesaidhe wassendingoutasearchparty.Hewouldn'thavetosearchhardifhe knewwherewewere.”
“Sean,”Iinterjected,thinkingbacktoaconversationwe'dhadwhen hehadofferedtolocatemyphoneforme.“Maybenoteveryonehas accesstothetechnologyyou'reusedtoworkingwith.It'spossiblethat theycouldknowroughlywheretheboysare...maybeusingthecelltower totracetheirlocation,buttheymightnotbeabletodowhatTreycan.
Maybewestillhaveachancetofixthis.”
“Oh,itcanbefixed.”Hisvoicewaslowandcalm.Seanwasathis scariestwhendevoidofemotionentirely.
“Sean...”
“Iwon'tbebackthereintimetodealwiththismyself,sofollowmy instructionstotheletter,understood?”
“Goahead.”
“YouaregoingtodrivedowntoBoston.You'regoingtofindTrey, andhe'sgoingtomakethisgoaway,inasense.Nobodyistogetridof thosephones,isthatclear?”
Wealllookedateachotherwithutterconfusion.Knowingthatthe otherthreeweretoosmarttoaskquestions,Iservedmyselfupand addressedtheobvious.
“Whyaren'twegettingridofthem?Imean,ifhe'sgoingtotrack them,whywouldwekeepthem?”
“Hewon'tbeabletotrackthemonceTreyisfinished,buthe'll think hecan.Besides,heseemstohavegoneundergroundforthemoment.Jay andtheLondonboysseemtobehavingtroubletrackinghim.That's whereIamnow.IwantTobiastobeabletoreachtheminthefuture.
Treywillbeabletolocatehimoncehe'sworkedhismagiconthephones.
We'llflipthesituationonhimandgettheupperhand.”
IlikedSean'splanimmensely,butitallhingeduponTobiasnot beingabletodirectlytraceJanner,oranyoftheboys'phones,andI wasn'toverlyoptimisticaboutthat.Luckrarelyseemedtobeonmyside.
“WhereisCooper?”heasked,finallyrealizingthathehadn'theard himpipeupyet.
“He'snotbackyet.”
“Andheleftyouhomealonewiththem?”Seanstartedwithalow rumblingaccentinghiswords.“ApparentlyheandIneedtohaveachat.”
Seandidn'tdochats.Hiseuphemismfoolednoone.Cooperwas goingtogethisasshandedtohimonaplatterwhenSeangotback.
Damagecontrolagain...
“Sean,I'llexplainlater,butdon'tfreakoutonCooper,”Ipleaded, knowingitwaslikelyinvain.Todistracthim,Ithrewthemorepressing CFbackinhisface.“Sowherearewegoing?”
“Youaren'tgoinganywhereuntilCoopergetsback.”
“Sean―”
“I'msendingyoudirectionsnow,butyouarenottogo anywhere withoutCooper,”hedictated,bitingoffhiswordsforeffect.“Nowhere.
Understood?”
Isigheddramatically.
“Yes.Weunderstand.”
“No.Ineed youtounderstand,”hecountered.“Ineed themtoget verycomfortablewiththerealitythattheirliveswillbeshort-livedif anything,andImean anything,happenstoyoubeforeIreturn.”
TheyalllookedtomeandIshrugged.IhadnocontroloverSean, andtheyknewthat.Mateornot,Iwas sonotinthedriver'sseatofour relationship.
“Youareunderstood,”Jannerrepliedonbehalfoftheboys.
“Good.I'monmywaynow,”hesaidasthewindaroundhim garbledhiswordsslightly.“AndRuby,Iloveyou.Don'tmakemeliveto regretyourjudgment.”
HehungupbeforeIcouldrespond.Ijustsmiledatthephone instead.
MysmiledroppedthesecondCooperwalkedthroughthemaindoor downstairs.
“Rubes?”hecalled.“Areyouupstairs?”
“Yeah,I'muphere.Don'tbothercomingup.We'vegottagoto Boston.Now.”
Westarteddownthestairs,meetinghimonthelandingbymy apartmentdoor.Andhedidnotlookpleased.
“Idon'tknowhowcloselyyouthreeliketoplaywithdeath,butI amtellingyou―”
“Seriously,Cooper.Nowisn'tthetime.Youcantearthetrioanew setofassholesallthewaydowntowherewe'regoing,ifyouwantto,but wehavetogo.Seansaidtoleavethesecondyougothome.”
“Hencehissubtletextmessage:'gohomenow'.”
“Yep.Thatsoundsaboutright.”
“Boston?Christ,Ruby,Iwasgoneforhalfanhour.Howmuchshit didyoumanagetostirupinthirtyminutes?”Igavehimasheepishlook thattoldhimeverythingheneededtoknow.Knowingmygifts,he scowledinreturn.“Worstcasescenario?”heasked,leadingtheway downtothecar.
“Tobiasmightbehere.”Hestoppeddeadinhistracksonthestairs.
“Thecar,remember?”Icried,shovinghimonwardtothedoor.“Youcan flipoutinthecar.SeansentmedirectionstoTrey'sinBoston.We'vegot togetsomethingdonetotheirphones,”Itoldhim,hedgingslightly.I'd hopedtonotwastetimeexplainingthingsuntilwewerei
nthecar.
“Why?”heasked,thattimewithoutstopping.“Doyouwanttogive metheabridgedversionofwhatinthehellisgoingon?”
“TobiascalledJanner.Theystillhavetheiroldphones...wethinkhe tracedthemsomehow.”Iflinched,steppinginfrontoftheboysso Coopercouldn'tkillthemwithoutharmingmeintheprocess―oratleast toslowhimdownslightly.
“Mother.Fucker.”
“Heprobablyis,”Alistairquippedfrombehindme.
“Seanthinkswecanthrowthemoff,butwehavetogettoTrey ASAP.Canweputaholdontheasskickingsuntilafterweknowwe'reon therightsideofawar?”
Cooperstaredtheboysdownovertopofmyheadaswestood outsidethebuilding.Hewasbreathinghardandfurious,butforonce,I didn'tthinkhewasgoingtokillthem.Notyetanyway.Ihopedfortheir sakesnothingeventfulcameofTobias'threats.
“Youthree,intheNavigator.Now,”heordered.Theboyscomplied withoutaword.“You,”hesaid,goldeneyesflaring,“youneedtoget PeytahomeorsendhertoRonnie'sshop,butIdon'twantheranywhere nearhereuntilwehaveabetterideaofjusthowpressingthisdangeris.”
“Iwasgoingtodothat,”Ireplied,openingthedoortotheshop.
“SeanthinkswecanusethistofindTobias.Jayhasn'tbeenabletofind himoverthere.”
“Well,Isureashellhopethatdoesn'tmeanhe'salreadyhere,”he snarled,beforesofteninghistone.“Thiscouldbebad,Ruby.Reallybad.”
Hiseyesheldasadnessthatwaseasilyread.Myquestionablyhuman statusmademevulnerable,andifharmcamelookingforus,Iwasgoing tobeacasualtyforsure.Therewasnoprettyingupthatreality.
“Itwon'tbe,”Itoldhim,forcingawansmile.“Itrustyou,Cooper.I trustSeantoo.It'llbeokay.”
Iturnedtopushthedooropenandheardhimmuttersomething underhisbreathashewalkedtothecar.
Ihaveabadfeelingaboutthis, he'dsaid,shuttingthecardoor behindhim.
Hewasn'ttheonlyone.
IttookmeawhiletoconvincePeytatolistentomeandleavethe store.Shenolongerhadherconstantguardianathersidetokeepher safe,thoughIdidn'tbothertopointthatout.Shewasmorethanawareof hisabsence.Ipromisedtofillherinlater,whenIknewwewereallgoing tobesafe.Sheacceptedthatforthetimebeingandfiledoutofthestore, leavingmebehindtolockup.
Iwatchedherwalktohermom'scarwhileIturnedoffthelights andplacedthe'CLOSED'signinthewindow.ShewavedtoCooper,who yelledsomethingatherfromtheSUV.Herfacebecameserious,andshe gaveabrisknodinresponsebeforejumpingintothevehicleandspeeding offdownthestreet.
Apparently,Ineededtohaveachatwithheraboutthedangersof havingaleadfoot.
Ihopedtolivelongenoughtohavethattalk.
24
“Thanksfordriving,Coop,”IsaidasIbuckledmyselfin.“Myeyesare allwhackedouttoday,andit'sgivingmeaheadache.Ireallyneedtoget somequalitysleepsoon.”
“Yeah,”hegrunted,havinggonebacktofumingaboutthesituation.
Hewaslessthanimpressedbytheboys'oversight.HeandSeanboth.
“Pleaseexplaintomeagainwhywearen'tjustdestroyingthephonesand gettingnewones?”Hisirritationwasplain.
“SeansaidhewantedthemtobeincontactwithTobias,ifneedbe,”
Iexplainedforthesecondtime.“Seanhasapurposeforeverythinghe does,Cooper.Youknowthat.”
“Doesn'tmeanIhavetoagreewithhim.”
“Youneverdo.WhywouldIexpectthattochange?”Iasked, lookingoutthepassengerwindow.Theboysquietlysatintheback, tryingtokeepthemselvesoffofCooper'shostileradar.
“Sowhereexactlyareweheaded?”
“Seangavemeexplicitinstructions,butI'mnotreallyfamiliarwith thearea.Don'tworry―youdrive,I'llnavigate.”
Heshotmeadubiouslookfromthedriver'sseatbeforefiringupthe vehicle.Hewasinamoodofgrandproportions.Thehourinthecarwas destinedtobeunbearableforallifsomethingdidn'tlightenthingsup,and quickly.
“What?WegotbackfromUtahjustfine.”
“Yeah,becauseyouwereunconsciousforthebetterpartofthe trip!”heexclaimed,pullingontotheonramp.
“Ihelped!”Iretorted.
“Yes,Ruby, technicallyyoudidhelp.Yougotmefromthehighway toyourhouse.Itwasacrucialpartofthetrip.”
“OneofthesedaysI'mjustgoingtopunchyourightintheface,”I saidasIfoldedmyarmsovermychestandsunkdownintomyseatlikea petulantchild.“Youwon'tevenseeitcoming.Just BAM,andyou'reout forthecount.”
Helaughed.ItwasnottheresponseIwaslookingfor.
“Ilookforwardtoit,Rubes.”
“Yes,”weshoutedinunisonrightbeforethecarfellsilent.
ItstayedsilentuntilwehitBoston.
“SowheredoIneedtogo?”Cooperasked,tryingtosoundless irritatedthanheactuallywas.
“Takearightuphere,Ithink,”Icalledout,pointingtothe upcomingintersectionasIsquintedatthestreetsignabove.“Doesthat sayMassachusettsAve?”
“Jesus,Ruby,”Cooperlamented.“No,that'snotwhatitsaysatall.
Notevenclose.GivethephonetoJannerandlethimnavigate.Havea napuntilwegetthere.”
“Sorry,”Iwhined,rubbingmyeyes.“Youtrysurvivingonacouple hoursofsleepanightandseehowgoodyourvisualacuityis.”Frustrated, ItossedthecelltoJanner,whowasseateddirectlybehindme.“The directionsarehighlightedontheGooglemap.Seanassuredmethey'dget usthereeasily.”
“Gotit,”hechirpedbeforetellingCoopertotakearight.
Fifteenminuteswentbyandwestillweren'tthere.Iturnedtosee Jannereyeingthemapwithabewilderedexpression.Itwasclearthathe'd goofedupsomewherealongthewayandwastryingtofindasolution beforelettingCooperinonit.Notwantingtorathimout,Igavehima fewminutestosortthingsoutbeforeaddressingtheissue.
“Cooper,”hesaidinhisstrangeaccent.“Pullinupherefora minute.Thephonelostreceptionforamomentbackthere,andIthink I'vemissedsomethingintheprocess.Ijustneedtogetmybearings,and thenwecanproceed.”
“IwonderedifIshouldcountonsomeoneusedtodrivingonthe wrongsideoftheroadfordirections,”Coopersneered.
AsAlistairlaunchedintoarantaboutAmericanarrogance,Cooper pulledintoanabandonedwarehouseparkinglot.Ihadn'tbeenpaying attentionduringthedrive,takingCooper'sadviceandtryingtorestmy sleep-deprivedeyes,soIhadn'trealizedjusthowshadytheneighborhood weweredrivinginwas,untilwestopped.
Mydancestudiowasinanareathatskirtedthelessrefinedareasof town,butitwasnothinglikewherewehadstopped.Theareawas destitute,ominous,andfilledwithanefariousenergy.
Isoonfoundoutwhy.
Whilethefourofthembickeredlikespoiledhousewives,Istared outofthefrontwindowtoseefiveformidablemenexitingatankofa vehicleandheadingourway. Menwasabitofamisnomer. Werewolves wasfarmoreaccurategiventhewallofviolent,supernaturalenergythat slammedagainstme.
Thesunshonethroughacrackintheclouds,castingablinding golden-orangeaurabehindthemasthoughtheywereencasedinthefiery glowofhell.Ihadafeelingthat,asfaraswewereconcerned,that's exactlywheretheywerefrom.
“Cooper,”Icallednervously,tuggingonhissleeve.“Ithinkwe haveasituation.”
Thefourofthemsnappedtoattentionimmediately,theircollective gazefallingontherapidlyapproachinggroup.Cooperturnedthecaron, preparingtoescape,butitwasalreadytoolate.Thefivedescendedonus inaflash,surroundingtheSUV.Cooperhammeredthegas,butwewent nowherethankstoone
ofthemjackinguptherearbumperwithonehand.
“Fuckingrearwheeldrive,”Coopermuttered,hisaggressionrising.
ThesecondIknewthattherewasnowaytomakeacleangetaway,I knewthatshitwasabouttogetreal.
“Janner,”oneofthemcalledtauntinglyinapristineBritishaccent whilehetappedlightlyontherearpassengerwindow.“Timetopaythe piper.”
“Youknowthem?”Cooperasked,moretoconfirmhissuspicions thananything.
“Theyarefromourformerpack,”Jannerspatthroughclenched teeth.“Theyarethe cleaningcrew.”
AlookofunderstandingflashedthroughCooper'sface.Ididmy bestnottopanic,butmyfearpollutedtheairinthecar,sendingCooper's protectiveinstinctsintohighgear.Theyellowofhiseyesnearly fluorescedasthegrowlcamelowandwarningfromdeepinhischest.
Thesoundwasmatchedbythreeothers,rattlingtheinteriorofthe vehicle.
Themenoutsidebackedupastepinresponse.
“Ruby,”Coopersaid,pinninghiseyesonme.“Iwantyoutogetthe fuckoutofhererightnow.Doyouunderstandme?Assoonaswegetout, Iwantyouinthisdriver'sseatandpeelingoutofhere,tiredeyesandall.”
“Butyou'reoutnumbered―”
“Drivethefuckingcar,Ruby.It'snotagoddamnrequest!”
“Weneedher,”Alistairprotested.Ilookedbackathimtoseea confusedanddisappointedlookonhisface.Tohim,thesaviorhehad beencountingonwasn'tunavailable;shewasdeserting.
“Don'tlikeitwhentheoddsareunfavorable,Alice?”Cooperasked inatauntingvoice.“Don'tquestionmymotiveseveragain...ifyouliveto seetomorrow.Let'sdothis.”
Theboysturnedtheirattentionbacktotheassailantswhoawaited thempatiently.Iwassurprisedthattheyhadn'tjustrippedthedoorsoff thecarandstartedpickingusoffonebyone,butinstead,theyhadbacked offslightly,allowingtheboysspacetoexitasiftherewasacodeof ethicstofollowinashowdownofthistype.Anexterminationmission witharulebook.