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“Jasmine and I never met until I came to Pearl Lake,” Desi sighed. “I didn’t know they were brother and sister until a few minutes ago.”
Lane heard enough. “Luke, take Desi, Ava and the cat and get out of here.”
“What?!” Desi looked at him, shaking her head, she said, “No, I’m not leaving here without you!”
“Yes, you are.” Taking the gun from the waistband of his jeans, he handed it to his brother. “Use it if you need to.”
“Can I come too?” Jasmine asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.
“Me too, can I go too?” Ike looked to Lane.
Lane knew that neither of them belonged there, both innocents in a deadly game. He looked at Luke who shrugged his shoulders, then at Ava, she nodded but didn’t say a word.
“From what I’ve learned I know what kind of monster your brother is. If you both want to go, you’re leaving with them now with nothing but what you’re wearing,” Lane said.
Jasmine nodded. “I’m okay with that.”
“Here, you take these,” Ike handed Lane his walkie talkie and key ring. “I don’t want them anymore.”
“Ike I’m sorry about earlier,” Lane said, taking the items from him.
“It’s okay.” Ike patted Lane on the back. “You didn’t know.”
“Brian sleeps upstairs, the first door on the right,” Jasmine said, making her way over to stand by Ava.
Lane nodded his thanks for that tidbit while Luke moved the chair that Ava had stuck under the doorknob and opened it to the adjoining room. Taking the cat carrier, he, and everyone but Lane and Desi filed into the room.
Desi crossed her arms over her chest as she jutted her chin. Looking him in the face, she said, “I’m not leaving you.”
Lane took her by the shoulders and ran his hands down her arms to her elbows. Pulling her hands free, he took them in his and rubbed the back of each hand with his thumbs. “Yes, you are. You have your cat to worry about now and I have business that needs to be taken care of...”
Desi felt like stamping her feet and almost did, but then he pulled her into his arms. Without a word of warning, he took her mouth with a fierceness that promised he wasn’t finished with her yet, despite setting her back at arm’s length.
Luke poked his head into the room, “Everyone is outside waiting in the bushes. It’s starting to get light out. Desi you need to come now.”
Lane touched her jaw with a tenderness that she knew he was far from feeling, that it brought tears to her eyes. “Go. Get this looked at, you’re gonna need a stitch or two.”
There was no use, he didn’t want her there and he wouldn’t let her stay. A piece of her died when she turned blindly away as the tears flowed down her cheeks. She took a step into the room than stopped. Looking over her shoulder, one last time, she whispered, “You better come back to me.”
