“So.” She lifts her chin. “Don’t you think it’s a little fishy? That out of everyone in this whole valley, he’s the one calling in a tip on Derek, tonight.”
Fishy.My thoughts exactly, out of her mouth. I feel it the same second she says it, the certainty threading bright up the bond, the two of us landing in the same place at once.
She catches my eye. She knows I’m already there.
“Okay.” Luna pulls in a breath, and something rides up the bond with it, low and steady. “Guys. Hear me out—”
49
Luna
The loading bay is dark, the only light coming from the moonlight and my laptop as it throws a blue rectangle across my lap.
The wind cuts across the open concrete, and I bring my knuckles to my mouth, blowing a hot breath into my hands to chase away the bite.
Bram’s truck tore out of the driveway twenty minutes ago with Ash and Reed’s with him. But deep in my chest, the bond vibrates, and I don’t feel alone. This is my plan anyway, so I’m doing this.
Gravel crunches and my spine goes rigid, my breath catching in my throat as slow steps approach.
“Hi, sweetheart,” a voice says.
Derek steps into the moonlight, wearing a dark jacket, his hair perfectly neat. He looks at me sitting on the crates, and a slow smile spreads across his face.
“Derek,” I croak, unable to hide the tremor in my hands.
“Working late?” He stops five feet away, just out of arm’s reach. “Seems dangerous. Specially since your boyfriends peeled out of here, leaving you all unguarded.”
I swallow hard. “How did you—”
“Why I hid and waited, Luna,” he says, spreading his hands. “These alphas are predictable. Wave a threat in front of them, and they go running.”
My chest goes tight as the panic tries to take over, the old instinct to freeze, to drop my eyes and make myself small.
Down,I tell the panic.Cool head.
“What do you want?” I ask, lifting my chin.
He lets out a short, ugly laugh. “What do I want? You humiliated me, Luna. So you’re going to make it right by coming with me and never, ever leaving again.”
He pauses, his eyes dropping to the blue light spilling across my lap. “What are you doing anyway?”
“Cameras,” I say, looking at the screen. “I’m checking the side fence cameras that are wired here.”
“Nerdy.” He takes a step closer. “And a bit late. Now, you’re coming with me.”
“I’m not,” I say, meeting his gaze.
“You are.” His smile drops. “It’s not like you have a choice now that it’s just you and me. Nobody knows I’m here, and nobody is coming to help you.”
I look up at him, letting the fear drop out of my face completely. “You’re gonna have to catch me first, fucker.”
I drop the laptop on the crates and bolt, my body moving before my brain can catch up. I scramble off the concrete and hit the gravel, running full out toward the dark line of outbuildings.
Run, hide.
The old instinct flares up hot and desperate, my heart hammering against my ribs.
“Luna!”
