Page 37 of Sheltering You

“I mean, I’m only gonna get paid to bring you here, so…”

Derrick wrangled his wallet out of his back pocket and pulled out two fifties. Holding them between the seats, he asked, “This enough to get us back to DC?”

The kid eyed the cash. “You got it. Where abouts?”

“They’re following us!” Jasmine had twisted and was watching out the rear window. “Isn’t that the car from earlier?”

Derrick turned and saw the SUV. It was a good seventy yards behind but gaining on them.

“How did they find us?” Jasmine’s voice was shrill.

As if he knew. He was tempted to tell her to calm down—because that always worked. To Kyle, he said, “There’s an extra fifty in it for you if you can lose that SUV.”

“Not cops, right? I can’t⁠—”

“Not cops.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “My friend’s ex. I’m trying to help her get somewhere safe. The guy thinks he owns her and her kid. You know what I mean?”

“Gotcha. No problem.” Kyle floored his little sedan, the sudden acceleration pressing Derrick back against the seat. He whipped around slower cars, never staying in the same lane more than a minute or two.

If Derrick were watching from another vehicle, he’d call the guy a maniac. He was a bit of a maniac, but Derrick wasn’t going to complain.

Jasmine was still looking behind them. “They’re falling back.”

Between them, Rabie held his backpack on his lap, arms wrapped around it like it contained his most valuable possessions. His eyes were wide. Unfortunately, in the middle seat, he had a great view of Kyle’s Mario Andretti driving. As if the kid wasn’t scared enough.

Jasmine gave updates every few seconds.

“I think we lost… No, he’s speeding up.”

A moment later, “He’s stuck behind a bus.” And then, “He’s way back there.”

It seemed Kyle was losing their pursuers.

Derrick clasped Rabie’s shoulder. “It’s going to be okay, son.”

The boy gaped at him, terror clear in his expression, and Derrick’s heart cracked just a little.

This was his fault. He’d taken this child away from his sister and his aunt and uncle. He’d taken him away from his security and safety. And maybe it would be better for Rabie in the long run, but right now, the kid had every right to be terrified.

Obviously, Basma hadn’t told her brother about her plan for them to escape, much less about Jasmine and Derrick. Frankly, the kid was holding it together incredibly well.

Derrick hated to think how he’d be acting if someone had snatched him away from his family when he was nine years old.

He shifted to face Rabie, lowering his voice so Kyle wouldn’t hear. “I’m sure you’re scared, son. If I were you, I’d be terrified. I promise that Jasmine”—he nodded toward her and switched to her Iraqi name—“Yasamin and I aren’t going to hurt you. We’re going to do everything we can to reunite you with your sister. Do you know what that word means? Reunite?”

His face scrunched in confusion.

“It means get back together. Your sister asked us to take you away, even if she couldn’t come. Jasmine can show you her email when we’re someplace safe. We are only trying to do what she asked. You understand that?”

He nodded, but his eyes filled with tears. “I want Basma.”

“I know, buddy. I bet you do.”

“Are we gonna get to fly on your plane?”

“Not today.” Derrick leaned back and met Jasmine’s eyes over Rabie’s head.

She relaxed against the seat. “They’re gone.”