Camden took a deep breath. “Okay. What are we waiting for then?”
“That’s my boy. But we have one more problem.”
“What’s that?”
Jared looked right at me. “You.”
“Me?” I took a step back, surprised.
“You’re a problem. You’re a liability, actually.”
“What are you talking about?” Camden said, stepping toward him.
“She doesn’t know how to fire a weapon, much less how to tactically breach a guarded building. She can’t come with us.”
I let out a breath and Camden relaxed.
“I’m coming with you,” I said simply.
“Lacey,” Camden replied. “I think he’s right.”
“No,” I said quickly, “he’s not. You guys think you’re the only ones risking your lives? They’re my parents too. I didn’t ask for any of this, but now I’m telling you I’m going to be there to help finish it.”
Jared laughed loudly. “I like her,” he said to Camden. “She’s like a Valkyrie ready to ride into battle.”
Camden ignored him. “Lace, he’s right. You don’t know how to shoot a gun.”
“You’ll get in the way,” Jared added.
“I don’t care. Find something for me to do, because I’m coming.”
I stood there, my arms crossed, ready to take all morning if I had to. It was easy for them. They both knew what they were doing. They had killed before and were ready to kill again. But I was useless, less than useless, and they expected me to sit by while Camden risked everything for me yet again. I hated that feeling, hated how useless I felt sitting in the car while Camden drove for miles and miles and how terrified and weak I felt while I watched him kill for me. I hated that he was the one always ready to sacrifice while I sat around on the sidelines. But I was done with that.
Maybe he should be out there fighting. Maybe it wasn’t my fight. But I was going to make it my fight. I wasn’t weak, and I wasn’t backing down.
Jared studied me with a big smile on his face for half a minute. Things felt tense as Camden looked between the two of us, a small frown on his otherwise perfect face.
Finally, Jared spoke. “Will you shoot to kill?”
“Yes.”
“Will you follow orders?”
I nodded emphatically. “Absolutely yes.”
“Okay, then,” Jared said. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
“Hold on,” Camden said, but Jared gave him this look. Something seemed to pass between them, and Camden sighed. “Fine. Let’s go.”
Triumphant, I piled into the Jeep. This time, I didn’t sit in Camden’s lap.
I felt elated and terrified as we pulled out onto the road, a trunk full of guns and cash our only means of saving our family.
I was ready. I was scared out of my mind, but after everything that had happened, I was ready. I wanted this to be over, and it would be soon. For better or for worse, we were going to finish it all.
I caught Camden’s eye and he smiled at me. We were in it together. We’d always be in it together.
Jared floored it and we shot off into the day, ready.
18
Camden
It was nearly dusk by the time Jared slowed down the car and stopped.
I looked around. There had been nothing but trees and more trees and snow as far as the eye could see all day long. Jared had been tight-lipped about our final destination, though he was following GPS directions and coordinates.
“This it?” I asked him.
“This is the end of the line, at least for the car.”
I nodded. “Makes sense.”
We climbed out. We were stopped on the side of an old, beat-up highway that continued far into the distance ahead and behind us.
“Are you sure?” Lacey asked, joining us near the back of the car.
“Sure as I can be.”
“How far of a walk is it?” I asked.
“Couple of hours. We’ll get there just after dark, which is what I wanted.”
I nodded. Since we were going in with only a few people, we needed every advantage we could get.
Jared looked at Lacey. “Still sure you want to come?”
She nodded fiercely. “Absolutely.”
“Okay then.” He reached into the back of the Jeep and pulled out a long gun with a heavy scope on the top. It had two folded-up legs on the bottom and a long, smooth circular barrel. “This is for you.”
“That looks huge.”
“It’s a sniper rifle. Ever shoot a gun before?”
She shook her head, looking intimidated. “Never.”
“Here.” He held the gun up, pointing as he went. “This is the safety. You flick it off to shoot. This is the magazine. You’ll have all your bullets there. This is the muzzle. It’s silenced and shouldn’t have too much of a kick, but make sure you brace it properly. I’ll show you how. These are tripod legs, to support it. Shouldn’t be any recoil.” He paused. “Still sure?”