Page 92 of Lost Lyrebird

With her help and some extra research, I learned various breathing and relaxation techniques.Yoga, multi-vitamins, and minimizing my caffeine intake also helped.

I essentially learned enough to fight off some attacks without medication.But try convincing my brain of that—when it knows that if I lose my shit, my quick fix, my fucking pacifier, is nowhere to be found.That kind of panic?It doesn’t listen to logic.

My anxiety is still sky-high, but I work through it, and slowly but surely, my breathing begins to ease.

Goose pulls to the curb two blocks down the road.Even though the lighting here is sparse, I check my wig and smooth some bangs over my forehead.I keep driving and take the next left, then rapidly turn once I’m out of his sight and circle back until the Jeeps in view.

I turn off my lights and creep forward along the curb.After shutting off the car, I grab my binoculars.

The next hour is spent watching Goose sit idly in the Jeep.

Movement in an alleyway is what draws my attention away from him.A girl with short curly brown hair stands there in a gold mini dress and a black raincoat.She’s looking up and down the street.One arm is tucked close to her body, and it’s held in a sling.Her gaze pauses on the Jeep.She ducks back into the alley, and a couple of minutes go by before she peeks out again.After a quick look around, she takes off with a burst of speed towards the Jeep.She opens the back door and slips quickly inside and out of sight.

The light inside the vehicle doesn’t illuminate as she gets in, and this sends flutters through my stomach.

I recognize this.Not the girl.Not the Jeep.But the scenario.The pick-up.The shady arrangement.

My heart fucking plummets.

I’ve been that girl.Back then, Veno trusted me to do as I was told.The threat of his retaliation kept me in line.This was before I’d learned that certain Johns could be just as brutal as Veno.When I tried to escape and failed, any freedom I had was taken away.From then on, I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere outside the hotel without an escort.

Goose pulls away from the curb.I throw the binoculars into the passenger seat and quickly follow.They get on the freeway heading north.I do my best to keep a reasonable distance behind.All the while, my mind is racing, trying to make sense of this.

He drives on and on.My gas gauge gets dangerously close to the E.Thankfully, Goose pulls off the freeway and stops at a gas station before I run completely out.The woman stays inside the vehicle.She doesn’t even pop her head up, which seems odd.Where he’s taking her is anyone’s guess, but you can bet your ass I’m going to keep an eye on him until I find out.

I spy older cars in the parking lot of a strip mall across the street.I pull in.I can’t tail him in the same vehicle.Not without blowing my cover.I contemplate which will be easiest to hotwire.Popping the glovebox open, I pull out my Hellcat.A gift from Deeds on my last birthday.It’s a beautiful silver handgun with the name “Gypsy” inscribed on the handle, and an arrow engraved along the right side of the barrel.I slide it, along with the rest of the shit I dumped out, into my purse.

Grabbing my phone, I take a deep breath before pulling up the contact name and number I need and hitting the call button.

“Who this?”A familiar drawl greets me after a few rings.

“Is that how you greet your favorite drinkin’ buddy?”I ask, voice low and urgent.

A gasp.“Gypsy, holy fuck!Is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me.Look, I’m in a situation here and need your expertise.”

“Name it.”

“I need a refresher on how to hotwire a car.And fast.”

“What kind of car?”

“Hmmm.There’s a couple here to choose from.”I relay the older models here because I know those are going to be the best to choose from.

With Bones walking me through it, I go through the motions, and when the older sedan roars to life, I let out a whoop of joy.“Bones, you’re a genius!”

“You gonna wear my name on your ass as a thank you?”

I smirk, despite the tension coursing through me.“You wish.”

He chuckles.“Can’t blame a man for trying.Take care, Gypsy Girl.Don’t be a stranger.Sure nice to hear that sweet voice of yours.”

“You got it.”

With that, I hang up and drive north.I have to play catch-up and hope against hope that Goose stays on the same route.

After opening the motel room door, I let Larissa enter first.Then I follow her inside and drop my duffle on the bed, before walking to the windows and closing the curtains.