Page 11 of Capture of Capricorn (The Thirteenth Zodiac #3)

They ditched the stolen car and hiked to the motel his friend rented for them.

Capricorn went inside the office and returned with a single key.

Guess they’d be sharing, not that she’d complain.

Let him handle this part of her escape since Zora dreaded calling her mama and trying to explain what happened.

She’d likely show up with a sandal in hand to throw at Crius.

The woman had excellent aim but not much spare cash.

Zora usually sent her mama a bit each month to help her get by.

The room actually came with two double beds covered in comforters made to look like the night sky.

“Dibs on the shower,” Zora crowed, heading for the bathroom.

He chuckled. “Go ahead. I’ll be back in a few. I’m going to wrangle us some food and clothing.”

Apparently, a lack of wallet didn’t impede his plan.

By the time she emerged in a thin towel, which she clutched tight over her ample chest, showing a little too much cleavage and thigh, he had a paper bag on the table that emitted a delicious smell, a tray of waxed paper cups, and a pile of fabric sat on one of the beds.

“Burgers and fries,” he pointed. “And since I wasn’t sure what you liked to drink, I’ve got Coke, water, iced tea, and coffee. The clothing isn’t stylish but better than what we’ve got. Oh, and I got a bag to carry the relic.”

She grabbed a T-shirt and snickered at the message on it. “I survived being probed.” She arched a brow. “Guess we both did.”

His lips quirked. “At least now we’ll fit in until we get out of here.”

“Which is when?” she asked.

“Soon. Before we go anywhere, I need some tools to get these bracelets off. I’m worried they might have a tracking device.”

Her eyes widened. “Shit. I never even thought of that. Do you think they’re already closing in on us?”

“Possible. But given the clusterfuck we left behind, I’m hoping we have a few hours before we have to worry. Just in case, though, keep an eye outside while I rinse off.”

She quickly dressed in the shirt and track pants, even slid on the flip-flips he’d managed to acquire before she parked herself in the window, burger in one hand, the other stuffing the occasional heavenly greasy fry, sucking the straw of the cola. The food tasted divine.

Capricorn didn’t take long. He emerged with a towel slung around his hips, showing off those insane abs. She stared, longer than was polite. He noticed judging by the sudden lift of the fabric in his groin area. She forced herself to glance away.

“Spot anything suspicious?” he asked as he rifled through the pile of garments.

“A few folks dressed as aliens and a man wearing an intricate tin foil hat, but nobody that seems to be looking for us.”

“Good. Once I’ve eaten, I’m going to track down a hardware store.”

She eyed the bracelet on her wrist. “Gonna be tough snipping these off, given how snug they fit.”

“I’m aware, but we have to do something about them.”

“Agreed.” Her head tilted and lips pursed. “You know, if you grab me a torch, we can probably melt them off.

“Or, at the very least, fuck them up so they can’t be used against us. Good thinking.”

“We’ll have to grab some gloves and try to shimmy them under these bands to protect the skin,” she stated, wiping her greasy fingers on a napkin. Only an idiot would try to melt metal, while wearing it, without protection. “I’ll come with you.”

“Worried they’ll come while I’m gone?”

“No, more that you’ll get cheap on the gloves and I’ll end up getting burned. This is one time when we need quality.” She learned her lesson early on in her welding career.

“Money is no object,” he mentioned as they left the room, Capricorn having devoured his meal even faster than her.

“You rob a bank?” She only half-joked.

“No need. My buddy Venmo’d some dough to the clerk, who was more than happy to hand over some bills in exchange for a generous cut. Speaking of whom, Bobby can probably tell us where the nearest hardware store is.”

Bobby did indeed know. “Yeah, I know a place, but it’s too far to walk. I can give you a lift, though, since I’m finished with my shift in like five minutes. Just cost you a few bucks for gas.”

“Sold.” Capricorn pulled out a few bills and handed them over with a murmured, “Thanks for your help.”

As they waited outside for Bobby to trade spots with his replacement, she asked, “Why do I get the impression this isn’t the first time your friend has bailed you of trouble?”

“Who me?” He chuckled. “Let’s just say in my line of work, you need people you can trust. Aquarius isn’t just my friend. He’s my coworker, and this kind of thing isn’t new to him.”

“Aquarius?” She snorted. “Are all your friends named after the Zodiac?”

“They are. You’ll probably meet a few of them of them soon.”

“Why would I meet them?” she bluntly asked.

“I assumed you’d want us to stick together until we know you’re clear of trouble, or would you rather part ways?”

Her hand rested on the satchel by her side, knowing without asking she wouldn’t be allowed to keep it once he hooked up with his friends. “Your buddies as handy as you in a fight?”

“Very.” His lips quirked. “Honestly, you’re probably safest hanging with us for the next bit until we get Adam and Cetus sorted out.”

“They won’t mind me crashing your sausage fest?” Given his alpha-male vibe, she assumed his friends were guys.

He chuckled. “I do believe you’ll get on quite well with them.”

“Sure. Why not? Guess I can’t really go home until Crius is behind bars or six feet under, but I will need to call my mama. She’s probably worried sick about me. I usually call her every Sunday.”

“We’ll figure something out, but speaking of your mama, if you’re close, and if Adam is looking for you, she could be a target.”

Her eyes widened before narrowing as she spat, “That fucker better not lay a hand on my mama.”

“More likely he’ll have her phone tapped and his goons watching her place to see if you show. On my next call to Aquarius, I’ll be sure to have him surveil and set up protection for your mom to make sure nobody tries shit.”

“Thanks.”

Bobby emerged, swinging his keys. “Ready to go?” he asked.

She took the backseat of his Honda Civic, the space cramped, forcing her to sit sideways.

Her lip curled at the garbage filling it, food wrappers and empty pop cans needing to be shoved aside to make room for her to sit.

In the front seat, Capricorn questioned Bobby, asking him about the Area 51 base, of which the young man knew little other than it was a popular tourist spot.

The motel clerk dropped them at a hardware store, along with his number written on a French fry paper sleeve saying, “Call me if you need a ride back to the motel.”

As Bobby drove off, Zora glanced at Capricorn. “We’re not going back, are we?”

“Until we get these bracelets off, we have to keep moving lest Adam’s thugs catch up to us.”

“How far a range do you think they have?” she asked, eyeing the band of seemingly seamless metal.

“Depends. Could be they only emit a Bluetooth or Wi-fi signal, which would mean a short range. But if they’re satellite-linked?—”

“Then they could track us anywhere in the world,” she muttered. The bracelets had to come off.

The store had exactly what she needed: acetylene can, torch head, igniter, and safety glasses, although the welding gloves weren’t as nice as she’d like. Since money was no object, she splurged and bought a welding apron instead. It would be easier to wrap around the flesh on their wrists.

“Where should we go to remove them?” she asked as they exited with her purchase.

“There’s an alley right here,” he indicated. As good a place as any.

Zora wedged the apron between her flesh and the band on her wrist but also wrapped as much of her arm and hand as possible to protect them.

A good thing they’d put the bracelet on her right one, because she so happened to be lefthanded.

Or as Nana used to call her, the devil’s child.

Old-school superstitions that Mama often huffed about whenever they’d visit Nana, who would do things to try to force Zora to use her right hand instead.

The torch ignited quickly, the blue flame a solid jet.

She wore didymium glasses as she worked to melt her bracelet, a tad bit worried it would prove to be impenetrable like the sphere.

However, the metal of it heated and softened.

In under a minute, she managed to peel the thing off and then kept heating it until it was a puddle of slag.

“My turn.” Capricorn held out both his hands since he had one on each wrist. She wrapped them one at a time, the torch making quick work of the bracelets. She melted them into unrecognizable lumps before turning off her torch.

“Try and find us now, motherfucker!” she crowed.

“Good job,” he praised.

“Now what? I guess we should relocate since they might have already pinged our current spot.”

“We are definitely moving.”

“Where? We still don’t have a car.”

“Don’t need one to get to my place.”

“You live in the area?” Her brow scrunched.

“Nope. Not even close. But don’t worry, it won’t take long to reach.”

“You’re not making any sense,” she complained, his oblique answers annoying.

“Easier to show than explain.” He held out his hand. “Ready to go?”

She slid her fingers against his, a slight tingling thrill going through her. He drew her close, and she tilted her head. “I thought we were leaving.”

“We are, but I don’t want you to panic.”

“Why would I panic?”

“Because we won’t be travelling by car.”

“Then how? Bus? Train? Helicopter?” She threw out the last on a lark, and it emerged breathless as his arm snaked around her waist.

“Starbeaming,” he murmured. Then, before she could ask him what he meant, his lips pressed against hers, infusing with her heat.

A heat that suddenly turned to intense cold.

What the fuck?

She knew her eyes were open, and yet darkness filled her vision, along with streaks of light, then…

It felt as if her world tilted. At first, she thought the lingering kiss left her breathless and trembling.

But no. She literally had her world moved.

As Zora took stock of the room she now stood in—room, not the dirty and hot alley—she couldn’t help but screech, “What the fuck?”