Page 53 of Same Thing

“Nory,” Delta said in a gravelly voice that sounded more demon than human. “Call Liam.”

“I’ve already tried—”

“Try again,” she said as she rested her arm on the back of Nory’s headrest and began maneuvering the truck backward in the direction they’d come from.

Body shaking, Nory did as Delta asked and connected a call to Liam.

No answer.

“Shoot,” she whispered. She connected another call to him.

Nothing.

She hung up before the voicemail came on and texted,Aro is here. Four SUVs that I can see. Trapped.Send.

“It’s going to be okay, Nory. All right?” Delta said in a calm, growly voice. “You just stay right with me, and don’t look anyone in the eyes. Do you understand?”

“Y-yes.”

“Tell me what I just said.”

“Don’t look them in the eyes.”

“No matter what. Only look at the ground, and keep your head tilted like this.” Delta cocked her head to the side.

“Okay.”

“Show me.”

Nory cast her gaze down and tilted her head to the right, just like Delta had showed her.

“Good. Try to call Liam again. Hey Siri? Call Nate.” Delta’s phone started ringing. It went to voicemail. “Nate, I need you. The Elders are here.”

She reversed the pickup all the way back up the road and over the small hill that led them back to the clearing. Bridger was standing at the mouth of the clearing and followed the truck to the house. Twice he cast a dark look at the white SUVs that were filtering into the yard.

“Bridger,” Delta said, panicked as he opened her door.

“I’ve already texted the guys. I heard them coming. Get out. Nory, don’t say a fuckin’ word. They can hear lies. If they ask about Liam, you go mute, do you understand?”

“Yes.” Eyes down. Head cocked to the side. No talking.

Liam, where are you?She couldn’t shake the feeling that something awful had happened to him.

Her throat was getting tight, and she tried to convince her nervous system to relax. She couldn’t have a panic attack right now!

Bridger stood in front of Nory and Delta as men piled out of the white SUVs. A quick headcount revealed twelve, and that was with the last two SUV’s staying inside.

Nory wrung her hands as a tall, silver-haired man approached with a strong, graceful gate that said he wasn’t human.

“Aro,” Bridger greeted him.

Aro huffed a harsh sound and shook his head. “Why is it that you in particular are always right in the middle of it?”

Bridger shrugged. “Just lucky, I guess.”

The empty smile faded from Aro’s lips, and his eyes flashed white as they landed on Nory.

With a gasp, she looked at the ground and exposed the side of her throat.