“How is he?” Brock asked.
“His fever’s climbing,” Rena said. “The pain meds helped, but the buckshot’s still in there. He needs a hospital, Brock.”
“I know.” His jaw clenched.
“I’m good,” Sam croaked, flashing a wan grin. “I’m just lying here for the view.”
“You’re not good,” Rena snapped, brushing a strand of hair from his clammy face. “You’re playing tough, but it’s only going to get worse.”
Brock paced a few steps, stared out the window. The trees outside dipped under the weight of the increasing rain. He had to go, but he was nervous about leaving Rena and Sam here alone. What if someone else came to the house? What if that kid’s mother calls and no one answers?
This was all going south fast.
“Everyone’s tied up,” he said finally. “I just need to collect the last contract and deliver it to Robinson. Then I’ll call, you get Sam ready, and then we’re gone.”
Rena’s eyes narrowed. “What do we do about everyone here?” She motioned toward the door.
“They stay tied. Someone’ll be by tomorrow when the girl doesn’t come home. Cops, maybe. But by then, we’ll be far out of Texas.”
“We should leave now. Forget the contract. Forget the money. I don’t care anymore.”
Sam said, “We can’t, sis. I agree with Brock, we finish the job. I can go now. We don’t need to stay here. I’ll just lie down in the back—”
“No,” Brock said. “It’s too risky, and you’re better off here in bed. I know where I’m going, I’ll circle back here and get you both. One hour, ninety minutes, tops.”
Rena reached for his hand. “One hour. Promise me.”
He nodded. “If I call you, and Idon’tcome back, you take their truck and drive south. Get Sam to a clinic where nobody asks questions.”
“I’mnotleaving you behind.”
“Youwill. If it all goes sideways, I’ll give Robinson up, throw him to the wolves if I need to. But you don’t stay. I need to know that you and Sam are safe.”
A beat of silence.
“Rena, say it. Say you agree with the plan.”
Her lips trembled. Finally, she nodded.
He leaned in, kissed her on the lips. What he’d give to be home, with Rena in his arms. Or playing card games with Sam. He shouldneverhave taken this job. But the money… Damn, the money was so good. He’d worked for Robinson a few times over the years. Nothing like this had happened. The jobs had been simple, breezy, in and out, get paid.
Thisjob was supposed to be simple. It had been anything but.
“One more thing. The redhead—Avery? She’s smart. Dangerous-smart. Don’t trust her. Keep this door open. Listen. But don’t untie anyone. I mean it. No matter what happens, no matter what they say.”
Rena nodded again. “Hurry back,” she whispered as he walked out.
Bobby huddled in the hayloft, his damp hoodie clinging to his skin, breath shallow as he peered through the knothole in the barn wall. The rain had started as a drizzle. Now it drummed steadily on the barn roof.
He should have gone home. Heshouldhave left when Avery told him to go home. He had come to that conclusion after thinking hard about what he should do. He had been about to leave when he heard the stranger on the porch and, from Bobby’s vantage point in the barn, he watched as the angry man was talking about doing one more job or something like that. Then he’d leave.
As soon as the man left, Bobby could go inside, and find out what was really going on.
What if he hurt his sister? What if he took her?
Bobby didn’t want anything to happen to his sister.
The man had been on the phone for only a few minutes, then he went back inside and Bobby decided to wait it out. Heshouldgo home, but if the man really did leave, Bobby had to be here to help Avery and the Mendozas.
