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“I don’t like this.” Wes sounds upset—panicked. It’s abnormal for him.
“I know,” I say calmly, hoping that he’ll actually listen to what I’m about to say. “But if we ever want her to forgive us, we have to respect her boundaries. She wants space, Wes.”
“Fuck.Fuck.Char called me with an assignment for tonight. We can’t complete it and find Athelia.”
“You’re not listening to me. Leave Athelia alone.”
“Cal, I can’t. I just… I can’t.”
“You can,” I tell him gently, “and it doesn’t look like you have much of a choice. Give her some time to process.”
The call ends, and I sigh, pulling up Athelia’s number in my phone. I call her, but she doesn’t pick up, so I type out a quick message with instructions on how to take care of her ribs. OnceI’ve sent it, I immediately send another one with symptoms that indicate she needs to get medical care ASAP.
Athelia doesn’t respond. Not that I was expecting her to. I just need to make sure she knows how to take care of her injury.
“She’ll be okay,” I tell Kellan.
He shrugs.“Iknow that.”
Both of us pace around the house restlessly until Wes shows up. I wasn’t sure if he’d listen to me, and I think Kellan was worried too, even if he hides it well.
Wes doesn’t even step all the way into the house. He stays in the entryway and says, “The guy we’re after is named Michael Huxley. He’s a serial killer who’s been making his way up the east coast, and we’ve tracked him to a cabin in Birchwood Lakes. Char wants him dead by midnight.”
Without any questions, Kellan moves for the front door. “Let’s do this.”
“Why’d Char tell you he’s a serial killer?” I ask. Normally, she doesn’t tell us our marks’ professions.
“Said he’s more dangerous than the usual fuckers she sends us after.”
Kellan places a hand over his heart. “Is Char looking out for us? I’m touched.”
Wes rolls his eyes and shoves him out the front door. He turns to me before following. “We’re looking for Athelia when we’re done. I don’t like not knowing where she is.”
“Fucking Christ, man, can’t you take a hint?”
“Not when it comes to her. She can suck it up.”
I’m about to protest, but Wes is already halfway down the front porch steps. With a sigh, I grab my keys, lock the door, and follow the guys into the garage.
. . .
The ride to the cabin doesn’t take long considering Birchwood Lakes isn’t that far from campus. It’s already dark out, not that we’re worried about anyone seeing us. This area is pretty deserted at this time of year.
When we pull up to the cabin, I narrow my eyes. Wes didn’t tell us there’d be anyone with Michael, but there are two people hanging out on the cabin’s front porch—a man and a young woman.
It’s too dark to see well, but it looks like they’re laughing and drinking together. Something about the woman seems familiar, but I can’t see well enough.
Until she turns toward us, that is. As I get off my bike, a glare I’ve seen hundreds of time falls over her face.
What the hell?
“I told you to leave me alone,” Athelia snaps.
Wes stops a few feet from his bike. “What’re you doing here?”
“Oh, don’t play stupid with me. I need space, Wes. Fuck off.”
Michael stands, hovering next to Athelia. His large frame dwarfs hers, and it sends a wave of unease through me. She doesn’t seem afraid, so I don’t think he’s holding her hostage—yet.
