Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
I edged closer, my hand steady. “Come with me? Por favor?”
Jake darted in, grabbed a bag around me, and sprinted right back.
Cavers did the same from the other side of her, and by the time they were back for another trip, her hand was in mine and I had her out of the truck. We ran to the other one and climbed in.
After that, Cavers grabbed some gasoline. He went back and doused the other.
Raize and Abram were carrying the other guy with them, putting him into the back of ours and Cavers was dousing the car, too.
Blankets were pulled out, and spread out in the back. The guy was hoisted up.
Jake yelled at Raize, “Who do you want to drive?”
Raize was still bent over the guy, but looked up, checking out where we were.
He grimaced, then motioned for me. “You need to be on the outside. V on the inside.” He hopped off the truck and grabbed the keys Jake was holding out for him.
I motioned for her to step out. She did, barely reacting. As soon as my feet touched gravel, she was going around me and into the middle. I hopped up, shutting the door.
He came in, starting the engine. “Lock your door, Ash.”
I did.
V blinked again, looking between him and me.
I had no idea what was going on in her head.
Jake and Abram both hopped into the back, and Raize started edging forward.
Cavers had been waiting, but he lit a spark and tossed it into one car, then another.
Both were steadily smoking when he jumped in the back.
Raize hit the acceleration and we gunned forward.
We’d gone half a mile when the first car exploded.
A second one followed almost right after.
Then we were off, because who knew who that would attract.
57
Ash
We were off on the first exit, and driving as fast as we could down the back roads.
Once we hit the next big city, Raize pulled into a run-down motel. We got a room, and he pulled the truck to the back. No one said a word, Abram included. He was moving right along with everyone as bags were taken in. They brought the guy in, hands tied, duct-taped and a bag over his head, but he wasn’t moving. He was breathing so that meant he was still unconscious.
Jake was sent out to buy another cheap vehicle with cash. The faster the better, and once inside the room, Raize hit the showers first. I went with him, but we were all business. A few slips might’ve happened. He might’ve needed me to get a couple extra spots, and vice versa.
Both of us were grinning when we stepped outside, but then we were changing into new clothes.
Abram jumped in after.
V waited, sitting in the corner on one of the beds.
Cavers was after Abram.
I didn’t know the extent of how much English V might know. I was assuming she knew some since she understood me earlier, and also Raize, but still, I was going with what was the simplest action. I took out some extra clothes and handed them to her, giving her a nod and a small grin when she looked at them.
Raize rattled off something in Spanish.
She took the clothes from me, a returned smile back, then went to stand outside of the bathroom.
Cavers made quick work, and she slipped inside after.
Abram said something to Raize, and left the room.
“What was that?” I asked him.
He glanced at the closed bathroom door, but shook his head. “He’s just making sure.”
“What?” But I looked and … that didn’t make sense.
Make sure what?
Abram left…
A thought came to me and I almost gasped. “She’d leave?”
His words came out tight and clipped. “At this point, we don’t know what she’ll do.”
I touched his arm and moved in close, lowering my voice. “She knows you saved her.”
He paused, mid-packing his bag. “Did I, though?”
I squeezed his arm. “Yes.” Feeling his bicep bulge under my touch, I slid my hand down, touching his and sliding my fingers through his. “Give her a beat. She’ll come around.”
He moved into me. His hand went to the back of my neck before sliding up into my hair. He murmured, his words husky as his forehead bent to mine, “Not everyone’s you.” Then his lips touched mine before he stepped back.
Cavers had stopped whatever he was doing, staring behind us.
I whirled.
Raize lifted his head.
His sister was in the opened bathroom door, my clothes on her, and a towel wrapped around her hair. She was staring right at us, her eyes back to not blinking, but then she did and she lowered her towel. “Dónde está Abraham?”
The hotel door opened and Raize nodded toward it. “Aquí.”
Cavers took in the room and cleared his throat. “I’ll—uh—I’ll see if they have a vending machine.”
He started for the door.
Raize said, “Wait.” He bent, grabbed something from the bed, and tossed it to Cavers.