Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“So where do your mom and this guy live?” he asked.
That was the tricky part. “In Detroit.”
“Detroit?” Devon repeated, propping his head up on his elbow to watch me in surprise. “Why don’t we just give them a call?”
“We can’t,” I said hesitantly. “My mom cut off contact with me shortly after I joined the FEA. She even changed her phone number to make sure I couldn’t reach her.”
Devon couldn’t hide his shock.
I had to look away. “I know that’s a long drive, but I wouldn’t know who else we could ask.” Except for Major. He probably knew. I should have taken my mother’s file with me. Maybe it would have had her new phone number. It was sad that I had to rely on an ex of my mother to find out where she lived.
“Do we even have enough money to get there? I’ve got around fifty bucks in my pocket.”
I hesitated. “After paying the room, I have a hundred left. That makes a hundred fifty dollars between the two of us. That’s not enough. We need to get some money and find another ride, preferably a car. It’s a thirty-hour drive, so we’ll have to stop at a motel once, maybe twice.”
Devon cracked a grin. “Shouldn’t I have paid for the room? Being the guy and all. That’s how it usually works.” His dimples flashed and I felt myself smile back.
“Is that so, Mr. Casanova?”
“Definitely,” he said. Slowly the amusement disappeared from his face. “So how are we going to get a car and more money?”
I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know anyone who would help us. “If there’s no other way, we’ll have to steal.”
Devon sat up. He looked thoughtful. “We can’t drive to my parents. The drive’s over three hours and it’s too risky; that’s where Major would probably check first. But we could pay a very quick visit to Uncle Scott and Aunt Celia. You remember them, right?” His voice had gotten strange when he asked the question.
I nodded. Of course, I remembered them from my time in Livingston. That day when we’d barbecued with his entire family had been one of the happiest days of my life—if you ignored the fact that I had been there as an impostor.
“They live about one hour from here. I’m sure they’d help us. They even have a spare car we can probably borrow.”
“Won’t they ask questions?”
“I’m sure they will, but we’ll just have to give the right answers.”
“Okay,” I whispered. I was too tired to keep my eyes open. “Can you set the alarm for six?”
“That gives us only two hours of sleep,” Devon said, worry in his voice.
“We can’t afford more,” I mumbled. “We have to keep moving.” I didn’t bother to undress, just pulled the blankets over my body. The blankets smelled of mold and smoke and cheap detergent.
Devon extinguished the lights. I could hear his even breathing to my right.
“I’m sorry, you know,” I said in a small voice.
“What for?” he asked. His voice was calm and controlled.
“For everything.”
“Tessa, it’s okay.”
My heart broke at the sound of his words. How could I say what I wanted to say? How could I make him see?
“I think you apologized already,” he continued. Tension leaked from his voice.
“You did your job. It was a mission. I get that.”
I nodded, though he couldn’t see it in the dark. “Okay,” I whispered.
There was nothing left to add, nothing I could do to take the pain of losing his sister away from him—or his parents. A small part of me wanted to ask about them. But it wasn’t my place to do that, and this certainly wasn’t the time. I pressed my palm against the A over my ribcage. The events in Livingston had left scars on both of us—some were visible, others not.
“For a long time, I was sure you hated me, but…” I trailed off.
That got his attention. I could see the outline of his head shoot up.
“I don’t hate you.” His tone was gentle—just the way I remembered it.
I wished I could see his expression. “You don’t? But—”
“I don’t.”
“Okay,” I said quietly. I was tired but at the same time I was scared of falling asleep.
“Devon, why are you really here?” I whispered into the darkness.
He didn’t reply for a minute. Just when I was starting to think he’d fallen asleep, he answered.
“I need the distraction. And I want to help you and Holly.” He paused and I could hear him breathe. “I know I should return home, but I can’t stand it. It feels so empty and hopeless there. And I don’t feel like I belong in headquarters. I don’t think I belong anywhere. Not anymore.”
He hadn’t said it but I knew that Abel’s Army was another reason for why he was here. I’d noticed the way his eyes tightened whenever I mentioned them. They were the missing puzzle piece in his sister’s murder. He wasn’t just here to be helpful—he was after revenge.