Page 104 of Red

“What about bumps?” I ask.

Kiya leans over the center console. “We might need to walk sooner than planned.”

“I’m down with that. I’d rather not explode,” Nikolas says.

Not wanting to risk any explosions, we roll a bit farther before stopping. With the engine shut off, Nikolas climbs out first.

“Stark told me you’d be staying put,” Kiya says.

“He isn’t here and will never know.”

“Aloka, we can’t disobey him.”

“You’re not disobeying him. I am. And I’m not risking this going wrong just because he’s overprotective. I know where we have to go.” I leap out, avoiding the mud the best I can. She follows and eyes me at the trunk, I don’t want to argue anymore.

“You two good?” Nikolas looks at me with concern.

“Of course,” I say.

“Let’s get moving then.” Kiya opens the hatch. I pull out the three sticks I added at the last minute and tuck them under my arm. She hands us each a wooden box with wires hanging out of them. “Now, you should know not to drop them. It’s better to be slow and not fall.”

I nod. Good to know. Amputation is certainly beyond my healing skills.

I adjust my grip, hugging the large box against my torso, and step into the woods. We’re coming in from the city side, where they don’t station any lookouts. All their guards are lined up facing our territory.

I watch my step in the limited moonlight as Kiya leads and Nikolas follows behind. I keep tuned in for any sign of werewolf connection. I might not be able to say anything, but I don’t want to miss important details. The ground sinks in most places, and as we reach a fallen tree, I’m forced to go around so I don’t drop the wooden box.

We weave through the trees. I check the stars a few times to make sure we haven’t gone off course. In the distance, the camp comes to view with a haze of light in the sky, and I stop. “Here,” I say.

Kiya turns and comes back to me. We shift behind the biggest cluster of trees nearby. I rest the box on the flattest part of ground and shrink down.

“The building we’re looking for is on the edge, right ahead of us. It’s not guarded, though we still need to be cautious. There are often others walking around, even before daylight. Especially on the inside of the camp, near the bar a few doors down. We will stand out without guns on our backs. These might be enough to throw someone off from a distance.” I hand them each a large stick with a rope tied around it. “Toss it over your shoulder so it crosses your back.”

“You thought this out well,” Kiya says while she adjusts the rope across her chest.

“We have no choice. If we fail, then this is all for nothing.” I pull in a breath of the damp air and crouch down over the boxes. “Go over it one more time, then we’ll move in.”

Kiya bends to sort through wires. “I can connect a few more things now if you and I can stay next to each other.”

“Okay,” I say.

She pulls out a pair pliers and twists wires together in the dark. I hope she knows what she’s doing. “We can leave the boxes here once everything’s set up. We want to move quickly. If someone sees the wires or us and we’re too close, we will get hurt.”

“Then you two turn and run. I’ll stay and light it,” I volunteer.

“No, Alo. I can’t leave you.” Nikolas places his arm on my shoulder.

“You have to. I blend in for real, and I might get away with being found. The second it’s done, you two turn and go far enough not to be seen by the scopes. Go help the others. They might need it.”

Kiya’s eyes find mine in the dark. “I agree with her.”

“Fine, but I’m not telling Stark this happened,” Nikolas says.

“Good. That’s probably for the best.” I start to tremble from the nerves crawling into my chest and stand.

Kiya finishes her part, and we start walking again. This time, Kiya and I are side by side. Nikolas follows us with the large spool of wire now out of its box, running along the forest floor.

“Another bust, man.”