Chapter 8

• Gia sat in the open door of the van with her knees drawn up with her feet on the bumper. This was not turning out to be the day she had envisioned at all. She felt a slight bit better, that the van dying hadn’t been her fault, but then the realization that it had been messed with sunk in.
• Amari hadn’t been joking when she said as a female every minute on the road was a risk. She’d known others that had gone missing and heard stories, but to live it was something completely different. She chewed on the inside of her cheek as she watched the four men standing there talking. That was like a symbol of her life right there, four large males talking, not including her. Not that she had anything to add, what did she know about planning and organizing something like this? Nothing. She couldn’t offer ideas because her whole life had kept her sheltered from what was going on. Aside from lurking and listening in on conversations, she wasn’t part of that.
• Jesse was beyond agitated right now and she didn’t blame him, his mate could have walked into a trap, or that’s what she heard him say to someone on the other end of the phone. They didn’t know if the safe house all of them were supposed to be going to was safe now. So here they waited until new plans were formed.
• She watched her brother nod like his opinion was necessary. Of course, he would, he wielded his privileged status like a neon sign. The big guy, Webb, stood off to the side, listening to what was being said, but offered no opinions. She liked him, he exuded calmness, if not a little too cavalier emotion.
• The big man, Deacon, she knew him. It had taken a moment to realize, but once she saw those steel-blue eyes—they were the kind of eyes you never forgot. Looking at him now, she couldn’t believe how he’d changed. They’d met once at a gathering she was competing at and then he’d been this scrawny jerk with a rude mouth. Now, from looking at him, she would say he’d spent the last few years adding muscle to his muscle and that muscle in turn had sculpted even more bulges under his clothes. He’d found her though and for that she was thankful. She hadn’t considered that her decoy trail would confuse the people sent to rescue her.
• As if he knew she was thinking about him, he turned and looked right at her. Despite the bill of his ball cap shadowing his eyes, she could still feel his intense stare. They were focused and hard, which made his kind words seem strange earlier.
• So far, he hadn’t offered his thoughts on this predicament, he spent more time watching the road, checking for cars. His hand never strayed far from the gun strapped to his leg. Next to her brother, who had his vest undone and arms crossed, he looked like a super-soldier and not just one of the guys.
• Jesse’s phone ringing brought an abrupt halt to all conversation. Nox and Webb watched him as he talked, he seemed calmer now. Deacon turned his back to them and looked down the road again, he rolled his big shoulders as if the tension of the world was resting on them. He was good at his job, that much she knew already.
• Sliding until her feet touched the ground, she stood up and adjusted her hat, so the sun wouldn’t touch her face. She wanted to be that good at her job, she decided. Focused and not distracted by outside elements and events.
• Jesse tucked his phone into his pocket. “Truck will be here in ten.” He turned to Nox, “you’re to stay with the van and ride with them back to the location,” he looked at the van, then back to Nox, “so no one can mess with it until we find out what’s been done to it.”
• Nox glanced at her, and she could see he wasn’t happy with not being able to stick with her and nag at her some more about why she should be at home.
• “Deacon, you follow in your van, once you get there, leave it and load up into a rental that will be waiting, Zain will give you the new location where we’re meeting.” Jesse glanced at his phone, “it’s more remote than we’d hoped, which will mean more travel time, but it’s not on any lists.”
• Deacon nodded, then looked down the road again.
• “Webb, Gia, you’re with me. We’re going to a second location and picking up two new vehicles.” Jesse shook his head, “this is a pain in the ass, but we can’t take a chance until the Alliance vehicles have all been checked.”
• Gia nodded. “Is everything all right with your mate?”
• Jesse looked surprised she’d asked, “yeah, Calum rarely uses Alliance vehicles, and no one would mess with his car.”
• She smiled. “That’s good.” She knew Calum and was inclined to agree, that no one would ever touch his car and survive it. “How many of us are going to be at this house?”
• Jesse raised his eyebrows and blew out a breath, “too many, which is why we’re trying to find a second one right now.”
• “Some of us could crash outside,” Deacon offered.
• Gia had to hide the smirk Nox’s reaction caused. The idea of sleeping outside looked like he’d just been given a death sentence.
• Jesse cleared his throat, “if it were summer, I’d agree, but it’s getting a little cool for that.” He motioned to the vans. “Let’s get going. I want to get to the house before Blair does—he’s going to be on edge and impatient.”
• Gia looked from him to Webb, who nodded. She didn’t know what was going on. Who was Blair and why was he going to be impatient? Closing the door, she took out her phone and messaged Amari. Are you going to be where I am? She had no idea how many this operation was going to involve.
• She was getting into the back of Jesse’s van when the reply came. No, I’m still on a quest. Happy and Broody are going to be there. Should be a blast. So, that was—Asher and Webb? Gia grinned, wondering if the team knew she had nicknames for all of them. Another message came in. You’ve got this.
• Closing the door, she replied quickly, Thanks.
• Jesse glanced back at her and then to the phone in her hand.
• “Amari,” she said quietly hoping this wasn’t breaking any rules. Her phone vibrated again before he could say anything. Can you believe this shit? It’s going to add hours to my trip. She looked to see him still watching her, “I guess she just found out about the vehicles.”
• Webb chuckled, “glad I wasn’t the one to mess with her timeline. She hates delays.”
• Jesse smirked and turned back to start the van.
• She typed quickly, filtering what she wanted to say, just to be careful. She trusted nothing now after learning about her van. I know. I think I’m the reason they figured it out.
• I’ll call you later when I’m back on track. Stay safe.
• You too. Gia turned off the screen and sat holding the phone and looking straight ahead. You can do this. She chanted her lifelong mantra in her head. If you quit, you make your father and brothers right. She smirked, that always worked when she had doubts.
• “You did great today, Gia.” Jesse glanced at her in the mirror.
• She pasted a cordial smile on her face. “Thanks.”
• “Your brother wants me to send you somewhere else.”
• She connected with his reflection in the mirror, holding her breath, biting her tongue so she wouldn’t say something rude she’d regret.
• “He’s not happy I denied his request,” Jesse smirked. His phone ringing ended that conversation. Instead of putting it on speaker, he put it to his ear. “I’m fine, babe. How was the trip?” He grinned, “I prefer the jeep too.” He sobered, “how’s Leah?” He listened and focused on the road. “I’ll be there in about an hour, maybe a bit more.” He nodded, “me too.” He hung up and glanced at Webb, “Cal’s car, Cal’s driving.”
• Webb laughed, “you couldn’t pay me to wedge my ass in the back of that tiny car.”