Page 5

When we reach the outskirts of town, I pull onto the highway. The miles tick past, and I still don’t have a clue about where I’m going.

“Can I have a snack?” Max asks.

“Are you hungry?”

“I always get a snack after school. Even my dad gives me a snack sometimes.”

“I could go for something, too.” It’s probably the nerves, but I’m suddenly famished.

A wooden sign catches my attention. “Big Hog’s Bar and Grill.” I jerk the wheel and drive off the highway into the parking lot, where I park behind a row of motorcycles. The place doesn’t seem too busy. The porch is empty, but people are sitting inside near the windows. It looks like a biker bar. I consider leaving, but I spot a boy about Max’s age sipping a milkshake. If there’s another kid inside, then it must be family-friendly.

“Okay, Max, before we go in, if anyone asks, I’m your aunt.”

“But you’re the nurse.”

“I know, but we can’t tell anyone that. Okay?”

“I have to lie? Mom said I can’t ever lie about anything, or monsters will come and get me.”

I bite back what I want to say about his mother. She was completely useless during the trial. It was almost as if she didn’t want to deal with her son or her abusive ex. I still can’t understand it. If I were a mother, I’d kill anyone who laid a hand on my child.

“Monsters won’t come. I promise.” I might be making promises I can’t keep, but I don’t know what else to do.

“Okay.”

“Who am I?” I ask, checking to be sure he understands.

“My auntie.”

“Right! Perfect! Okay, let’s go get a milkshake. How does that sound?”

“Awesome!” He perks back up and smiles.

I haven’t had a milkshake in years, but I’m going to need one to get through the rest of the day. I thought it would be an easy day, the last one before summer break. Boy, was I wrong.

Inside, a wooden sign on a post directs us to pick any open seat, and I find a booth away from the windows. Once seated, I grab a regular menu for myself and a kid’s paper menu for Max. A box of six crayons sits next to the menus. When Max flips over his menu to look for more food options, he finds a picture of a bear to color.

“Pick what you want to eat first, then you can color.”

“O-kay,” he says slowly, watching me carefully. “I want a cheeseburger, french fries, and a strawberry milkshake.” He’s holding his breath as if I’m about to tell him he can’t have any of it.

“That sounds great. I’m going to get the same thing, but a chocolate milkshake instead.” I close the menu.

A petite blonde waitress sashays across the room and stops at our table. I note her name tag, which reads Holly.

“What can I get you folks?” Holly asks.

I tell her the order, impressed that she doesn’t have to write any of it down. I could never have been a waitress. I’d forget anything other than the simplest orders. Granted, ours is relatively easy to remember, but still.

“Got it. I’ll bring you a couple of waters, too,” she says before walking away.

Max colors the bear while we wait for our food. We left the school less than an hour ago, and I’m still struggling to figure out a plan. I can’t kidnap him to protect him. I have no idea what I’m going to do, but I know I can’t take him to his father’s house. That’s not going to happen. It has to be something else.

“Wow! That guy is huge!” Max’s eyes saucer as a man who must be over six feet tall and three hundred plus pounds barrels into the bar. A snake tattoo slithering up his neck is partially hidden by stringy black hair. His scarlet aura vibrates with rage.

“Where’s Scar?” the man bellows.

Several men playing poker near the far wall look up. They don’t move, but they’re watching the loud newcomer.