Chapter 514 Chapter 514
Amari looked at the gas gauge and then in the mirror for the tenth time. Their catch of the day was still out cold. Had she been out that long? She didn’t think so. Her shifter metabolism burned faster, but this poor sap in the back seat had a lot of normal DNA in him.
She looked over at Tripp, “we need to get gas soon. How much further?” Her nerves were tight, they’d been driving for a little over an hour and Tomas’ people would come looking soon.
Tripp grabbed her phone from the cup holder and looked at it. He hadn’t talked much the entire drive. He tapped the screen and looked at it, “it’s around here.”
Amari leaned forward in the seat and looked around. “There is nothing here.” She glared out the windshield. Trees and fields as far as she could see. “Are they just going to land anywhere?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time.” He set the phone down and looked back out the window. His gun hadn’t left his hand the entire drive. “They have to know something is up by now.”
A moan from behind her had her eyes flicking to the mirror. “Errand boy is coming to.”
Tripp turned in his seat so he could look. “Morning sunshine,” he sounded happy, “welcome to the first day of your new life.”
“What’s happening?” He sounded groggy and out of it and she got it, that feeling of mud in your head and the throbbing pain made it hard to focus.
“We’ve arranged a fun ride for you, just sit tight.” Tripp leaned forward and looked to the sky.
“You have to let me go. He’ll find you and kill you.”
Amari looked at his reflection, he looked scared, and her gut was telling her it wasn’t because of this situation. “Don’t worry about us, worry about saving your own skin and remembering every little detail of your life.” She slowed so she could watch him and not drive them off the road. He gave his head a shake, trying to clear the fog. She winced, remembering the pain that went with even the slightest movement.
“No. You don’t understand.” He coughed and she slowed more afraid he was going to throw up and she’d wear it.
“We understand that your boss thinks he rules our world, but he’s learning that he’s wrong.” Tripp put up his hand, “slow down, there’s a chopper.”
Amari gripped the wheel tight and took her foot off the gas, “is it one of ours?”
Tripp made a deep rumbling sound, “good question.” He grabbed his phone and tapped the screen. Putting his window down, he leaned out it and looked at the sky. He put the phone against his ear, “yeah, we have a chopper, is it ours?” He nodded, “got it.” He patted his hand on the dash, “stop here.” He kept the phone to his ear.
“My brother won’t stop looking for me. Aiden doesn’t like to lose…”
Amari slammed on the brakes and turned in her seat before the Jeep was stopped. “Your brother?”
“Hold on,” Tripp lowered the phone, “you’re brother is Aiden Tomas?”
The scared man nodded, “half brother.”
“Shit,” Tripp opened the door and got out quickly, “tell them to get down—” he nodded, “you heard?”
Amari slammed the Jeep into park, and opened her door, reaching down beside the seat, she picked up the leather case her gun was in. Releasing the clasp, she pulled the small revolver free and got out. Tripp was watching the chopper come in, she wasn’t concerned with what was coming from the sky, she stepped away from the vehicle and started turning in a slow circle. Her heart was racing, her cat was in full alert mode. Aiden Tomas had a half-breed brother. Catch of the day didn’t cut it, this was the catch of a lifetime. She heard the helicopter clear the trees but continued to scan the area around them. She could hear Tripp talking on the phone but couldn’t make out what he was saying. “Come on. Get on the ground.” She whispered needing the machine to land as she turned to check the area in front of the Jeep.
Movement on her right had her glance that way, Tripp was opening the back door and three guys were running across the field. Two of them were carrying rifles and her heart settled a bit. She did a double-take, the one not carrying a visible weapon was Raymond Hardy, the director of Alliance Security. He glanced her way and gave her a quick once over, then nodded his head to her. He was a big son of a bitch and was probably one of the few people in her world that actually scared her. He had to be at least six foot seven and she’d never been able to conclude what clan he was from and was sure she didn’t want to know because whatever animal was inside him had to be a beast once it was out. He didn’t waste words, just went over to the Jeep and looked in the backseat. A slow, not pleasant smile formed on his hard face, and it sent a shiver through her. She almost pitied Aiden Tomas’ brother now. Almost.
He leaned in the door and reached out toward the man, she caught the glint of something in his hand, and then the bound captive slumped in the seat. She expected him to step back and let one of his men get him out, but he just leaned in the door and in a few short seconds was standing up with the man slung over his shoulder. That cinched it, not only was he the scariest man she’d ever seen, but he was hella strong.
“Get moving.” He said loud enough she could hear him over the chopper whirling.
Tripp nodded and slammed the back door.
Amari moved back to get in and watched him run across the field with the man flopping around over his shoulder. She jolted and got back in the Jeep and shut the door. With the gun still gripped in one hand, she put the vehicle into drive and watched as Tripp got in and closed the door. Gun still in hand, she white-knuckled the steering wheel and stepped on the gas.
Tripp watched out the window in the direction of the chopper, but she didn’t pause to even look that way. When Raymond Hardy said to get moving, you moved. The helicopter buzzed over them and then the sound started to fade.
“Fuck me.” Tripp huffed out a breath like he’d been holding it.
Amari nodded, “Aiden Tomas’ half-brother.” She kept her eyes on the road, “find me a direction.”
“We need to get my SUV and ditch this Jeep.” He leaned over and tapped the screen on the GPS.