Page 120 of Road to Redemption

Leo was the last one standing between Bill and all of us. Like a brick house, the Major wasn’t going to move, not until she heard her orders.

“Let’s go, Doc.” Spencer roared.

In one swift motion, Leo turned away from Bill and hopped back on her Ducati. I wrapped my arms around her torso as she flipped up the kickstand. I got one last glimpse of Abi and Caleb’s face before we peeled off into the night.

Both of them were scared despite how procedural all of this felt. But I could read the anger and hatred on Caleb’s expression from a mile away. I’d felt it before, that call to violence.

As we drove off, I could hear Bill shout one more threat. “I’ll call the fucking cops!”

A jolt of fear moved through me.

But through her helmet, I saw Spencer shake her head. Something making her call his bluff. Maybe she knew he wouldn’t or maybe she didn’t care if it meant taking the kids somewhere safe for just a night.

One thing was certain, Caleb and Abi were better off on the back of these motorcycles than in that house. And whatever consequences came would be met with Spencer’s deluge of storage room files.

64

KIERA

The bikes pulled up to a huge gravel parking lot right off the road. Overhead, a massive neon sign read: Bennie’s Burgers and Fries. A cool blue light cast over the entire parking lot.

Hopping off the bike, my heart was still racing from Bill’s house.

Spencer threw off her helmet, helping Abi down and asking Leo to walk her inside. She marched off toward the road, still incensed by Bill’s behavior.

Following after her, Dom nodded toward Leo and I. “Get the kids inside and order food. We’ll be right in.”

Leo guided Abi toward the burger joint's front window while Caleb kicked rocks off to the side.

But as I looked at the single story restaurant, white paint and blue trim looking fresh, I scanned for cameras. “Is it safe? Why aren’t we going home.”

To Abi, Leo winked. “If you beat me inside, you can have my fries.”

Knowing Leo wanted a second alone, Abi rolled her eyes and walked ahead. Twelve was young but not so young that she didn’t know when the adults wanted a moment.

Leo turned back to me, grabbing my hand. “Abi loves this place. Dom probably just wanted to give us a place to cool off. The kids may want to go back home or they’ll want to come with us. But before we blow the mansion's cover, we should get them fed and thinking clearly.”

“But the cameras…” I looked around, trying to spot one.

“Still a deadzone, babe. They might be trying to watch every corner with their drones but there’s a lot of tree cover here.” Leo pointed toward the thick tree line just past Bennie’s.

At the service window, a young woman with a blue apron and a white uniform leaned over the sill. It was old school, a large glass window with small, slidable windows along the edge. The kitchen was just past the cash register and dozens of picnic benches sat in the lot.

There was seating inside, a few tables crammed into a small room.

“Don’t worry,” Leo’s voice was a low rumble. “The staff here are friends, we’re regulars. People around here don’t snitch easily.”

I knew what she meant. That these employees and this business were somehow connected to The Oracle. Whether I could understand it or not, this town was divided into two types of people: those that valued privacy and taking care of the weak; and those who wanted to exploit Valemont’s every corner.

“You’re sure?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at Leo.

A slight laugh came from Leo’s chest. “Yes, Princess. We already put ourselves in danger by going to save them. Might as well get some good food out of it.” Reaching into her pockets, Leo grabbed a wad of cash and placed it in my palm. “Take this and go order some food. Caleb knows what everyone likes.” She nodded toward the service window where Caleb stared up at the hand-drawn menu.

Leo gave my hand a squeeze before chasing after Abi who was just sitting down at an outdoor table.

Swallowing hard, I walked toward the teenage boy. “Alright, Caleb. What does everyone like?”

“Burgers.” His jaw flexed, still dealing with the anger.