Gathering of Angels(17)
“Let me guess,” Claire said, moving to his side. “That’s your car.”
“What is that monstrosity?”
“A boot. It’s a portable, effective way to keep you from taking your car—anywhere.” She let out a sigh. “It looks like we’re walking.”
“This way,” Lea said, and pointed to an unpaved road behind the police station. “Not many locals drive it after dark. No streetlights. As a bonus, I live down this way. If we can make it to my house, we can take my car and get the hell out of here.”
Marcus looked down at Claire’s bare feet. “You will not get far without shoes—”
“I’ll be fine. We need to move, Marcus, before they wake up.”
Keeping close to the building, they made their way to the narrow road. Marcus had them form a chain, both women holding hands. He kept his right hand free, the revolver weighting his jacket pocket. Fully expecting to carry Claire sooner rather than later, he split his attention between her and their surroundings.
Tall, thick oak trees lined the road, blocking any ambient light. Walking along the rough, hard packed edge, he understood why the locals avoided it. A driver would be on top of someone, or something, before they saw it. Right now, he appreciated the darkness, the camouflage it offered.
A sharp gasp from Claire had him turning. Before she could argue or object, he lifted her into his arms and kept moving.
“Put me—”
“You will only slow us. Lea, hold on to my arm, so we do not lose you.”
“Marcus—”
“Save your strength, Claire.”
“Are you done?” she said. He glanced down at her, seeing only the outline of her face, the glint of eyes he knew would be clouded with exhaustion. “I never thanked you—for coming up here, standing for me and for Lea.”
“Did you think I would do anything else?”
He could just make out her smile. “Lose the indignation, Jinn. After what you did for me in June, I will never question you again.” With a sigh, she laid her head on his shoulder. “Was I really gone only three months? It felt like years.”
“As it did to us.” He kept his eyes on the road, wanting to press his lips to her forehead, explore the emotion that slipped through the widening cracks in his shield when he kissed her. “Lea, how far will we need to—”
Headlights splashed across the road, followed by a squeal of tires. Marcus lunged for the cover of the trees—and halted when he all but ran into a thick hedge that stretched at least a foot taller than him.
“Gods—Lea, get behind me, and stay there.”
He faced the road as the car—a dark van—skidded to a halt. Marcus eased Claire to the ground, pulled the revolved out of his jacket. The side door slid open. He stepped in front of Claire, aimed the revolver and braced himself for the attack.
SEVEN
“Stop fidgeting, Annie.” Eric leaned over the seat and laid his hand on her bouncing knee. He pitched his voice so it would be heard over the whine of the plane engine. “We’ll get there.”
“You know Marcus. He’ll go charging in, all arrogance and self-righteous anger.”
He forced down his laugher. “And you know he’s smarter than that, even if you would never admit it to his face.”
Annie slumped in the seat and crossed her arms, her knees all but bumping her chin, those gorgeous, denim clad legs were so long. God help him, he loved her; loved all of her moods, her wicked humor, and the gleam in her eye every time she prepared herself to work magic. His own witch. He still had a hard time wrapping his mind around that. Somehow, she made it easier.
“You know,” she said, pushing hair off her face. “I really hate it when you’re right. And don’t you dare tell him. Ever.”
“Hand to God, blondie. He’ll never know.”
The corner of her mouth twitched, her tell that she was pulling out of her funk. “How much longer?”
Eric glanced back at Jeff, who held up one finger. “About an hour.”
“The car better be there.” She looked out the window. “I don’t want to deal with any more delays—”
“Annie.” He cupped her chin, nudged until she met his eyes. “Who do you think is up there?”
“I don’t—it doesn’t matter. Whoever it is needs help, so we’re going to help.”
Eric studied her face. She swallowed, but her gaze didn’t waver. “Are you still having the dreams?”
“No. No. Not since she—” Closing her eyes, she continued in a whisper. “Not since Claire saw me, said my name. They just—stopped.”