Page 67

The man smirks. “For now.”

We’re on the road back home within minutes. Boone hasn’t said more than a handful of words since we left.

It doesn’t matter what I say to him, he already knows he fucked up. Rehashing it again isn’t going to change that fact.

He’s staring out the passenger-side window, one arm folded, his jaw locked. Every so often, I glance over to check if he’s fallen asleep. But he’s still awake—just completely silent.

I’m certain they're going to follow us back. But they’ll need time to prepare. Which gives us time to fortify and protect what’s ours.

Eventually, we round the bend and there it is. The motel. Or what’s left of it anyway.

It’s mostly ash and rubble now, the walls collapsed, the roof blackened and half-missing. What’s surprising is the number of people gathered in the parking lot.

Two vans with TV station logos are parked on the grass just off the shoulder. One crew is mid-interview. The reporter has a mic in her hand and concern on her face.

I’m wondering why a motel fire is such big news when I notice all the flyers plastered to the motel’s crumbling sign. There’s a photo displayed on each one.

It’s Ani.

Fuck.

Boone sits up straighter when he sees it. I fight the urge to slam on the brakes. That would only draw more attention to us and we’ve done enough of that already thanks to Boone.

This isn’t a news story anymore. It’s a campaign. A message to anyone who’s listening.

They’re coming.

And they’re rewriting the truth before they even knock on the door.

I don’t say anything for a while. The silence stretches. Boone shifts in his seat, but he stays quiet too. He’s trying to keep himself under control but I can feel the tension coming off of him.

“We need to talk about next steps,” I say finally.

He doesn’t answer right away.

So I keep going. “What if we leave? All of us. Pack up, disappear for a while. Go somewhere completely remote. Just long enough to figure out what to do next.”

Boone turns slowly, and when he speaks, his voice is deceptively calm. “You want to rip Mae out of her home? After everything she’s just started to rebuild?”

“I don’t want to,” I say. “But I’m watching the world close in around us, and I’m wondering if staying put makes us brave or just stupid.”

Chapter 19

Boone

My heart rate still hasn’t settled by the time we pull into our driveway. If anything, it’s picked up the pace.

My mind should be calculating our next move and planning for every contingency. But it’s not. It’s stuck on one thing and one thing only. Ani.

Jonah kills the engine and we just sit there for a moment, not speaking. He grabs his bag and disappears through the front door, giving me space.

I lost my composure back in LA. I didn’t just show our hand—I threw it face-up on the table and dared them to make a move.

I’ve been in tighter spots than this. But this is different. I’m not worried about myself.

I’m worried about Ani and Mae.

I get out of the car and slam the door. My mind keeps looping as I walk up the gravel path. All I see is that smug bastard’s face. All I hear is what he said about Ani. I wanted to fucking kill him.