Keeping secrets from Ellie had been one of the hardest things Gina had ever done. Telling her best friend she’d been lying by omission all these years had been even harder, but it was good to finally clear the air between them. Gina just hoped Ellie could forgive her when this was all over.
“You think any of them will give us away?” Her father’s voice was gruff.
“Not Ellie. I trust her with my life. Cade tried to convince me that we were needed in the Clan, but I think he understood that was a decision for us to make—not for him to force us to make. I don’t think he’ll tell anyone anytime soon. He was focused on his Nyx. Someone is after her in a big way.”
“They you’re better off out of the city.”
“I thought so too. Cade arranged for an escort to meet us at the city limits. Since the Nyx is in transit too, they’re stretched pretty thin. There was only one car with one pantera noir Guard in it as escort and we had to split up at the last rest stop on the interstate. He suspected we might have a tail and he thought the only chance we had of making it through to the house in secret was if he peeled off and took the tail with him.” She tried not to let her anxiety about the entire situation come through in her tone. “He called a little bit ago to tell me the tail had taken the bait and he was leading him well away from us. He was really sorry there wasn’t anybody else available to escort us, but he thought we would be okay.”
“Did this escort know who you are?” her father demanded.
“No. Cade kept his word and kept me out of it. All the escort knew was that I was a shifter doctor transporting their injured Royal Guard.”
Her father grunted. “Then I might forgive them for deserting you, but if anything happens—”
She cut into his angry words, wanting to calm him. “We’re almost home and there’s nobody on this road for miles. I don’t think we’re being followed, but Mitch’s condition worries me. I’m sorry for bringing this problem to you, but the only place I could think of where he could heal in safety is at home. He’s way too vulnerable right now.”
“He can’t come to the house,” her father was quick to say, crushing her hopes. “Take him to the old line cabin off Miller Road. I’ll call the Millers and tell them you’re coming. They’ll help you get to the cabin. It’s stocked and defensible. Nobody can get to you there except on foot. We’ll come to you when you get there.”
Relief surged through her at his ready offer of help. “Thanks, Dad.”
“Drive safely, kitten.”
Gina was bone weary when she finally pulled into the dusty drive near Miller Road, named for the tigre d’or family who lived there and had built the road. They were loyal to her father. Mr. and Mrs. Miller were both former Royal Guards who understood better than most why her father had chosen exile over the danger of ruling the Clan that was his by right.
Gina’s car would be left behind at the Miller homestead, hidden in one of their barns. Mr. Miller greeted her as she drove up beside the house and she saw he’d gotten two big snowmobiles ready. At this time of year, they would be the easiest way of getting out to the old cabin that straddled the edge of her parents’ land and the Miller’s homestead.
“I laid in some perishables at the cabin,” Mr. Miller let her know. “Your father said you had a wounded man with you.” He looked toward the passenger side of the car, where Mitch was slouched, unconscious.
“I’m going to need a little help getting him out of the car. He’s a big Alpha.”
They walked together around the car.
“Royal Guard, your father said. Do you think it’s wise to bring him here?”
“It’s the only place I could think of where we’d be safe. When we left the city there was a concentrated effort to kill the pantera Nyx. This Guard’s partner thought it would be safer for me to get out of Dodge, just in case, and I agreed.”
“He knew about you?” Mr. Miller frowned in concern.
“There was no way to hide it.”
She opened the passenger-side door and they spent the next few minutes wrestling with Mitch’s unconscious form. Mr. Miller maneuvered one of the snowmobiles over and they got Mitch onto it. Gina would have to ride behind him to keep him on the machine. They would have to go slow, but it would work.
“Joan will stash your car while we go to the cabin. She’s on surveillance right now. Or she’d have come out to greet you.” Gina knew the Millers had cameras and sensors hidden all over their property—just like her father had—and a bank of screens in a hidden room, which could show live feeds from every inch of their land. “You need anything else?”