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There was a muffled cry, but it was too hard to tell whose voice it was. I almost didn’t want to know.
“And Jake… don’t get any ideas about trying to call for help. We all know how well that turned out for you the last time.”
Jake’s fingers tightened even more on mine, and I quickly covered his hand with my free one. As badly as I wanted to tell him Peter’s death hadn’t been his fault, now wasn’t the time.
“You now have twenty-nine minutes.”
Instead of giving us time to ask for proof Bennett, Lucky, and Zoey were still alive and well, the call cut off. We all stared at each other for a beat before the room erupted into chaos.
“We need to move,” Xander boomed. “It’ll take us the entire time to get to that shed. We can talk once we’re moving.”
Jake gathered up the medical supplies and shoved them all back in his backpack while Xander and Zach grabbed the handgun and rifle lying on the kitchen table. Jake still had his gun, but I had no clue if he had any bullets.
I gave Boo a quick kiss and set her on the couch next to Bear. “Daddy will be back soon,” I whispered to her, though I knew there was a good chance I’d just lied to my little girl. I knew Xander’s aunt would come check the apartment if she didn’t hear from Xander, so she’d find Boo and Bear if the worst happened. Xander had briefly mentioned bringing the bigger dog, but Zach had said the dog’s protective instincts could cause the animal to become a wild card if separated from his owner in such a highly charged environment. There was just no way to be sure that Wade or anyone else would be able to control Bear once Xander was out of the dog’s sight. Safer to leave him behind with Boo.
“Zach, talk to me. What do we do?” Jake asked as he closed his fingers around mine and led me to the car. “Do we risk calling the cops?”
“No,” Zach said. “Xander, your phone,” Zach urged. Xander handed it to him as we all piled into Xander’s vehicle. I only half-listened as Zach began talking to Wade on Xander’s phone. I heard him mention needing more guys, but my brain was having trouble getting caught up.
Jake pulled me up against his side. “It’ll be okay,” he said. “They just want me… I’ll figure out a way to get you guys out of there.”
I let out a hoarse laugh at that.
“Even if I believed that, is that supposed to make me feel better?” I whispered.
“No,” he murmured, then shook his head. “Truth?” he asked.
I nodded.
“I’m scared shitless.” He turned on the back seat so he was facing me. “Look, I’ll tell Barton I’ve got some information on him… that’s why he’s doing this. He wants to know if I told anyone about him or have evidence out there that could put him behind bars for the rest of his life. I’ll let him believe I do, and I’ll use that to get you guys out of there. But, Oz, I need you to promise me something.”
“No,” I cut in before he could finish.
“Oz.”
“No!” I snapped. “I’m not leaving you behind. Don’t you fucking ask me to, Jake Prescott.”
His fingers came up to trail down my cheek. “Warner,” he said softly.
“What?”
“It’s Warner. That’s my real last name.”
“Jake Warner,” I said with a nod as I tested the name. “It suits you.”
He smiled and pressed his lips against my forehead, then said, “The minute you see a chance to run, you run. Promise me.” Before I could argue, he added, “I won’t survive it if I lose you, Oz. Please, please, please do this one last thing for me.”
I felt tears sting my eyes at the way he’d phrased the request, and I wanted to both kiss him and hit him. The last thing I wanted to do was agree, but the fear in his eyes had me holding my tongue. He needed me to do this. And if he had to spend even one second worrying about protecting me in a situation when I’d had the chance to run… no, I couldn’t risk that. So I somehow managed a nod and got out a whispered, “I love you.”
A huff of breath escaped him as he grabbed me by the back of my neck and slammed his lips on mine for a hard, fast, god please not final kiss.
“I love you more than you’ll ever know, Oz.”
“Okay, guys, here’s the plan,” Zach said from the front seat. He was no longer on the phone with Wade. As badly as part of me wanted to shut down and pretend none of this was really happening, I knew I needed to focus. As helpless as I was feeling, maybe, just maybe, there was something I could do to make sure all of us got out of this nightmare alive.
