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“Ann, I need you to drive.”
“No, I’m not leaving him.”
The passenger side window explodes, and the first bullet hits the car.
“Drive, Ann,drive!” yells Simon.
Glancing at my dad, I nod and run to the driver’s side. Putting the car in reverse, I floor it back the way we came. Dad and Simon slide further into the car as I accelerate.
He looks dead.
Simon is shaking his head, ripping open gauze with his teeth and stuffing it into his wound.
We lock eyes for a moment.
“Hold on,” I say with steely confidence.
Simon braces himself with one hand on the back of the passenger seat and the other on the ceiling. Turning the wheel, I ease off the accelerator, put the car in drive, and we lurch forward into the night. We bounce across the uneven earth, and when I think I’m far enough away, I turn on my headlights.
The sudden illumination reveals the dirt road we came in on. It gives me the confidence to accelerate more, and we speed away into the night. I’m so busy concentrating on the road that for a good thirty minutes, I forget about Dad.
It’s not until we hit the asphalt I remember where I am and what I’m doing.
“How is he?”
“He needs a hospital.”
“Not going to happen. Is he conscious?”
“No.” Simon sounds defeated.
“Give me his phone.”
Pulling the car over, I turn in my seat, and Simon hands me Dad’s cell phone. Opening it up, I go through his contacts. Everyone on his list isn’t who they seem. If it says doctor, you can be damned sure it isn’t a doctor. Could be a cleaner or a fixer, but definitely not someone you want to meet if you aren’t him. It’s something he taught me when he first found me. Never make it easy for them to find the ones you love. He blamed himself for what happened to me years ago, but it was never his fault. Dad was always away with his job, and Mom wasn’t exactly a reliable parent. I went looking for love or something like it and found Alex Petrov.
I thought I loved him, but it wasn’t love, not like I feel for Simon. Alex used me. I was nothing but a trophy, and I was too young to see it. He’s the reason I live in hiding. Well, him and Stonewall University. My dad rescued me, and I’ll be damned if he’s going to die on me now.
One of the phone numbers has a skull after the name. I tap it and wait as it rings. A woman answers the call.
“Yes?”
“I’m in need.”
“Who’s this?”
“A friend in need.”
“Where are you?”
Pausing, I glance at my dad. If this woman isn’t a friend, I could be signing our death warrants.
“Virginia.”
“Give me a sec.” I can hear typing on what I assume is a laptop. “There are two possible locations. Post Oak is the closest to you.”
“You’re tracking me?” I ask.
“Hey, you called me. Go to the Baptist Church, someone will be there.”
