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He bundled up the clothes and the cash and returned to his room. Gran was still at the kitchen table, talking on the phone—thank fuck she hadn’t thumped on the bathroom door and ruined the moment. The men would be around soon to take the cards. He intended to be in bed, if not asleep.

He shut the door, then hung up the suit; the shirt and everything else could go in the wash. He put a little of the cash into his school bag, then loosened the corner of the carpet near his bed and laid the money flat beneath the carpet and underlay. It wasn’t secure, but he wasn’t putting it all in one place again. He needed some cash to be able to disappear for a few months—he didn’t want them tracking him across the country—after exams.

The phone call ended, and Bailey got into bed, light off, pretending to be asleep. But he was wide awake, buzzing with energy and the lust that hadn’t faded. He wasn’t sure he should do that again; it was too weird sharing his private thoughts with the person they were about. Maybe actually having sex with Kass would be strange too. But he wanted to give it a go.

His body thought now was a good time to make that happen.

Gran shuffled to his door. For a few heartbeats she stood there, her feet a shadow in the slice of light that crept beneath. Was she listening for movement? His heartbeat? Bailey expected her to barge in to make sure he was in bed, but she didn’t. Another few seconds and she walked away. He released his held breath.

Not long after, the men arrived and took the haul. He strained to listen to their words, but they spoke too quiet, even for him. Then they were gone. Gran turned the lights off, and the house was dark and quiet.

And he was wide awake.

He blamed Kass. He kept having thoughts and flashes of images that were not the two of them in the shower. It was a room he’d never seen, a bed and Kass moving over him. If these were Kass’s thoughts, Bailey had a pretty good idea what Kass wanted. He shivered, torn between trying to sleep, wanting to jerk off again, or doing something to push the thoughts out of his mind.

Minutes slid by.

Bailey grabbed his notepad and by the light of his phone started writing.

Hi,

I don’t know what to say. I’m not sure what’s going on. But I guess I needed to say something. I know our history and it’s why I left.

He wantedto write about witches and shifters, but he figured since the letter was going to a military base, it would be read.

I don’t wantto repeat past mistakes. And I feel like I’m getting to know you, but I don’t want to rush. I guess I want to know a bit more, so I’m hoping you write back.

B

P.S. My favorite animal is a snow leopard.

That should be allthe clue Kass needed. It was a lame letter, but he couldn’t tell Kass everything on paper. He added his email address as an afterthought.

* * *

Bailey’s birthdaypassed with little fanfare. He paid in cash and sat the theory test for his learners driver’s license and passed. Now all he had to do was get some lessons, and he’d be on his way to driving. He’d use cash to pay for them too. The men he was running from would fund his escape.

For the first time the exit sign was drawing close.

Gran was waiting for him when he got home from school. She had a letter in front of her. “What is this?”

“What?” He dropped his bag on the ground. It was easier to study at school than at home. Exams started next week.

“This.” She showed the letter toward him. “It’s from the Government.”

He peered at the letter. “You’ve already opened it and read it, so why don’t you stop pretending?”

“How did you get a driver’s license?”

“I read the book and took the test.”

“They have your name, your photo…”

He picked up the envelope and pulled out the hard-plastic card. Yeah, he may not be able to drive yet, but he was another step closer to freedom.

“You don’t know what you’ve done.”

“I’m getting my life together, because I’ll be damned before I live the rest of my life ruled by your protection outfit.”