Chapter 21

Oaklyn looked in the mirror. Two cars back was the same vehicle she saw at the gas station. She glanced at Zain; he was checking the rearview mirror again. He saw them. “Maybe we should pull into the next shop for a moment?” They had both hoped they were just paranoid before, but now it was looking like the gut reflex had been right on the money.

His jaw tightened. He nodded.

If they were following them, the big question was, which one of them was being followed? It had been eight months since she’d spotted one of Horace’s idiot friends. She’d managed to get away without being spotted but had also lost some of her things in the process because she was afraid to go back to the hotel to get them. After that she’d gone straight back to the little place Calum let her stay and hadn’t left the area again. Until now. She started to turn and look out the back window.

“Don’t turn around.” She looked at him. “If they are following us and think we noticed, they could back off, and then we’ll lose track of them.

She nodded. “If they are, how did they find us?”

“I don’t know. But I do know a lot of crazy things have happened lately. Members of teams are being found, and no one can figure out how—even after they found the ones at headquarters. Even after the tech guys figured out how they hacked into our system and stopped it.”

“So there’s more working among you all that isn’t on the up and up.”

“Has to be.” He looked in the mirror again. “The problem is, now it’s people we all know and have been with a long time.”

“It’s always hard when someone close to you betrays you.” She watched the car in the side mirror.

“You sound like you know from experience.”

She inhaled slowly through her nose and then blew it out. “My own mother.”

“Really?”

Oaklyn turned and looked at him. His forehead was creased, and she could see the compassion in his eyes. “Really. She thought Horace was the pick of the liter and I couldn’t do no better than him.”

“She didn’t understand about real mates?” He shook his head. “Also, you have to avoid saying his name. When you do, I think of that cartoon character…”

“I know.” She laughed.

“Let’s refer to him as pylon from now on, okay?”

Oaklyn grinned. “Deal.” She blew out a breath. “To answer your question, we’d have to associate with other like clans for that to happen, and that clan hasn’t done that in the last sixty years, at least.”

“Sounds like they’re hiding from the Tomas’ organization.”

“That’s a possibility. I didn’t know the name until I met Calum, but we stayed close to home and never took chances.” She’d hated every minute of it. Not a day went by where she felt like there was something missing out there.

“Yours isn’t the only clan like that. I don’t know who dropped the ball back then or if it was just too hard to communicate long distance, but the Alliance is working to clean up the mess.”

He had a lot of faith in the Alliance—considering he was on the run right now. Zain slowed their speed and then turned into a parking lot for a large building center store. She turned as they did so she could catch sight of that other vehicle if they kept driving. She didn’t see it.

“They turned with us.” He whispered it.

Oaklyn looked over at him. “What do you want to do?”

“First thing, we’ll park right in front of the entrance, so we’re very visible, and then I’ll think of the next thing.”

She smiled, even though it wasn’t funny. He was so truthful, it struck her in an amusing way. “Maybe we can check the map and see if there are roads we can lose them on?”

“We can, but at this time of year, there’s no guarantee that the roads are cleared enough to outmaneuver anyone.”

“Oh.” Just one more reason not to like the snow, she decided.

“Grab the map.” He stopped the car and put it into park and then held out his hand for the map. “I’m going to hold it up, make it look like we’re lost.”

She opened the map and handed it to him. “So they’ll let their guard down?”

Zain shrugged. “Easier to tail idiots, right?” He held the map up, turning in his seat so it was visible from any direction.

She looked out the window and saw that the car had parked to their right, facing them. There were two inside it. “There’s two of them.” She said it quietly.

The map crinkled as he dropped his hands. “How did they find us?” He closed his eyes. “My phones are untraceable.” He looked at her. “You’re not part of the Alliance, so they wouldn’t be tracking you. How?” He murmured.

Oaklyn looked into the back seat. When they were putting her things in the back, she’d noticed a few cases. “What are in the cases? Anything useful?”

Zain glanced in the back. “Probably supplies, tranq gun, med kit. It’s standard in all Alliance vehicles.

“Where’s your gun?” She undid her seatbelt and flipped the seat down, so she could climb into the back seat and reach the cases. A tranq gun wouldn’t stop them for good, but they’d be out long enough for them to be somewhere else.

“In my bag. Grab it.”

“I’m going to get the tranq one too.”

“Good idea.” He mumbled something and then swore in a very audible voice. “Dammit.”

She turned to see him with his head on the steering wheel. “Are you…”

“My laptop.” He lifted his head and looked at her. “It’s got to be my laptop.” His face contorted. “Shit.” He turned back and looked around. “Where’s your phone? I don’t dare use one of mine right now.”

Oaklyn leaned to her left so she could get it out of her jacket pocket. She held it out to him. “What do you mean it’s your laptop?”

He took the phone. “I used it when we picked this up and again at the house. It’s the only thing I can think of.”

“They’re tracking your laptop?” She sat on her heels and watched him. His emotions were practically a scrolling sign on his face. He was upset, and angry, and she could see self-loathing as well.

“Grab the tranq gun and anything else that looks like a weapon, and then get buckled in. I’m calling Calum for help.”

“Calum? He’s not near here.” She leaned over and opened the first case. Medical supplies, drinks, and protein bars. With a look of disgust, she closed it back up and opened the next one. There were two knives, the tranq gun, binoculars, and a few other things. She pulled out the gun, binoculars, and the knives and set them beside her knees on the seat.

“Shit.”

She heard him dial the phone.

“No, it’s Zain. Can you reach Illias?”

She set the items in her seat and then slid down the back to get into it. Sitting it upright, she put the tranq gun in the cup holder. The knives she put in the door compartment. She looked around and then set the binoculars on the floor. She needed to get some supplies boxes from the Alliance.

“Oh. Okay.” He tapped the screen of her phone and set it on the dash.

“Zain? What are you…”

“Illias. It’s my laptop.” He picked up the phone and held it by his face. “My laptop. They’re tracking me on my laptop.”

“What? Who is? Where the hell are you?”

Zain shook his head. “On my way to the factory. Calum knew, but now I’ve got a tail. The only thing I’ve used is my laptop.”

“That’s—you used that at your office, didn’t you? Is that program on it? Did someone check it?”

Zain was nodding. “Yes, Dane went through it when you guys found the breach…”

“Where is the laptop now?”

“In my bag.”

“Is it turned off or just shut?”

“It’s off.”

“Okay. Okay. Leave it that way. Where are you?”

Oaklyn grabbed the map from his lap and opened it up.

“Zain, it’s Calum. Considering shifter hearing, don’t say it. Have Oaklyn text it to me when you hang up.”

Oaklyn cocked her head to the side. She’d never considered that the men in that car could have heard them at the house or the restaurant when they picked up food. She frowned at the phone in his hand.

“Okay. What do we do?”

“Are you in Oaklyn’s car?” Calum sounded anxious.

“No. No, we stopped and grabbed an Alliance ride.” Zain looked past her shoulder out the window in the direction the other car was parked.

“Good. You’re going to keep driving. When Oaklyn sends us your location, I’ll have a plan in minutes and let you know.”

“Just keep driving?” Zain’s eyebrows went up.

“Yes. Oaklyn?”

“I’m here Calum,” She leaned closer and closed her eyes so she could focus on what he said and not the smell of the man with her.

“What have you got with you? For weapons?”

She blew out a breath and leaned back. “Zain’s gun, some knives, a taser, and tranq gun.”

“Confrontation isn’t an option,” Calum said but sounded like he was talking to someone with him and not to them on the phone.

“Zain. Drive. Just keep going until we call.” The man Illias said. “You have fuel?”

Zain looked at the dash. “Over half a tank.”

“Okay. That’s good.”

“I can’t believe it’s my…”

“Let’s not worry about that now.” Calum interrupted. “Right now, you need to get moving. Oaklyn, pinpoint the road you’re on, the last town you were in, and the next one you’ll see, and send it to me.”

Oaklyn nodded and opened the map. “Okay.”

“Go now, Zain,” Calum said in a calm tone. Did that man ever sound frazzled? She didn’t think so.

Zain hung up the phone and handed it to her. “Put your seat belt on.” His tone was filled with disgust, and she knew it was directed at himself and not her.

“How are they going to help us?” She pointed to the map. “We’re still hours from the factory.”

Zain nodded, put the car in reverse, and started backing up. “There’s allies and Alliance members all over this area. Calum will find a way.”

She glanced out the window to see the other car hadn’t moved yet. Maybe they were panicking for no reason, she thought. Just as he started to go forward, she saw that the other car was creeping across the parking lot. Dang it. So much for that fantasy. She looked down at the map and focused on the information Calum needed.