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They leave shortly after, making sure to give us one last nod goodbye before shutting the door firmly behind them.
It’s time to move.
Raquel uses the key Anders slipped her to uncuff herself. She slips out of bed and releases me, then her father, moving quickly to grab her shoes and jacket off the back of the spare chair.
“We’re going now?” Odette asks me as I pick her up.
“That’s right, little lady,” Chet says with a wink. “Now, this goes against my usual policy that all members of the Red Ravens must be eighteen and older, but I’m going to make an exception for you.”
“I’m gonna be like you?” my daughter gasps, ecstatic.
“That’s right,” I tell her. “And since you’re one of us, you have to do exactly as we say. When we leave this room, you have to promise to besuperquiet. Can you do that for us, ma chérie?”
Odette nods, dragging an imaginary zipper over her lips.
Raquel is at my side, smiling up at me. “Are you sure you’re feeling well enough to be on the move?”
She places a hand on the small of my back. I’ve missed the feel of her body against mine. “I’m feeling right as rain.”
I dip down and kiss her quickly. “Then let’s get the hell out of here.”
* * *
It takes another hour before all of Paris is looking for us. I have to wonder if Klaus and Anders pulled a couple of strings to give us a head start.
It’s an easy enough task to sneak out of the hospital and find a clunky old minivan Raquel expertly breaks into and hotwires. It’s an ugly beater nobody will miss, but that’s kind of the point. It’s as discreet a getaway vehicle as we’re going to get, with plenty of space to carry the four of us.
“How much gas are we working with?” Chet asks as Raquel slips behind the wheel.
“About three quarters of a tank, give or take.”
“Think it’s enough to get us to Spain?”
“Probably not. I’ll likely need to make a pitstop halfway to refuel, but…” Raquel glances over her shoulder at me. “I guess the question is if you’re coming with us.”
I take a second to think. My peaceful, quiet, unassuming life in the south of France is over. Torn up by the roots and flipped on its head. I can’t return to Montpellier with Odette and expect things to return to normal, especially now that we’re on the run. At the end of the day, all I want for Odette is a safe, stable life…
But who says I can’t start over, reinvent myself?
I’ve done it once before, and this time, I’ll have Raquel and our new baby.
“We’re coming with you,” I tell her. “One big family.”
Raquel beams, her smile bright enough to rival the sun. “I like the sound of that.”
Chet clears his throat. “Look, this is sweet and all, but if the two of you are going to be this sappy the entire trip, warn me now so I can get out.”
Raquel laughs as she throws the minivan into drive. I have no idea where we’ll end up, but as long as I’m with her, I know I’m on the right path.
It’s time to start our lives over.
Chapter 41
Raquel
We have to stop for the night just outside of Toulouse. Even though we trade off driving duty between Dad, Gabriel, and me, there’s only so much sitting on my ass that I can handle. By the time we find an available hotel, I’m practically vibrating in my seat, looking forward to stretching my legs.
Dad offers to take Odette out for a quick bite to eat and grab some supplies.
