“Need to make a call.”
“Is that a good idea?”
He shrugged. “Tony mentioned Greg. That means Tony knows about Greg, and I think they could be in trouble.”
“Shit,” I said softly.
“It’s okay. Greg can handle himself.”
“But their house. Their kid.”
“Greg can handle it. I just need to warn them.”
“Okay. Yeah.”
He pulled over the car, then collected some coins from his central console. He climbed out. I followed him over to the phone. He deposited the coins into the payphone then dialed Greg’s number.
It rang and rang. Finally, Gates perked up.
“Greg,” he said.
I couldn’t hear the other end of the conversation.
“Listen to me carefully,” Gates continued. “You’re in danger. I can’t talk long, but this isn’t a prank call or a joke. You need to go dark for a while. It’s about Tony. I’ll contact you through the base. Understand?” He paused. “I know, man. Please, just do as I say. I promise I’ll give you more info soon.” Another pause. “Okay, brother. Good luck. Stay safe.”
He hung up the phone and looked at me.
I frowned. “Well?”
“He’s unhappy. But I think he listened.”
“Good,” I said, feeling relieved.
“Now we need to get back on the road. I’m guessing Tony tracked that call.”
“You really think so?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know how many resources he has at his disposal. I think it’s best if we assume that he has the whole mob helping him.”
I shuddered. “That can’t be true.”
“It could be.”
We climbed back into the car and he started the engine. It roared to life.
“How long?” I asked him.
He grinned at me. “Like twelve hours. So get comfortable.”
My face fell. “Twelve hours?”
“Just be thankful we’re safe.”
I nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”
He put the car into gear and we pulled out into traffic. I leaned back into my seat, getting comfortable.
He was right. I’d trade twelve hours in a car for safety any day.
The ride was long, but it was uneventful. We drove straight through the night and the sun rose as we crossed through Indiana and into Michigan. Gates drank coffee after coffee, and although I offered to drive, he refused.
“Nobody drives her,” he said to me.
“Her?”
“My car.”
“Of course it’s a her.”
He grinned at me. “I can’t help it if I get all the ladies revved up.”
I rolled my eyes but his stupid joke did make me feel a little bit better. I looked back out the window and tried to imagine all the people we were passing. None of them had to worry about the mafia trying to kill them.
I must have closed my eyes, because one second I was imagining all those people, and the next I was sitting in a still car with sunlight streaming in through the windows. I sat up slowly, looking around, blinking away the confusion.
The windows were open, and Gates wasn’t in the driver’s seat. There were tall trees all around, and ahead there was a small cabin. I unbuckled my seatbelt and opened the door, climbing out.
My legs were stiff as I stretched the long trip from my sore muscles. I looked around and took a deep breath. This must be the cabin.
“Gates?” I called out and headed toward the front door.
It was pretty, but remote. There was nothing but woods all around. I felt like I was in the middle of a vast, deep forest and there was nobody nearby to save me if something went wrong.
Actually, that probably was the case.
“Gates?” I called out again, walking up the front steps. I suddenly felt a stab of fear and panic. I didn’t know where he was, and if he was gone then I was screwed. I didn’t know where I was or how I’d survive out here alone. Worse than that, if Gates was gone, that meant the mafia caught up to us.
“Gates?” I called one more time, really feeling the fear coat my stomach.
“Hey,” he said, pushing open the door. “You okay?”
I blinked at the gun at he was holding and the way his eyes scanned the tree line.
“Yeah,” I said. “I didn’t know where you were.”
He relaxed slightly. I could tell that he was still on high alert, though. “We got here maybe ten minutes ago. I was letting you sleep while I got this place in order.”
“Oh.” I paused, feeling silly. “Thanks.”
“Sure. Come on, come in.” He stepped aside and I walked past him.
It looked like any other cabin I’d ever seen in my life. There was a kitchen to the left, a small living room to the right, and a hallway leading toward the back. I assumed the bathroom and bedrooms were back there.