Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
I’m at the very back, so it won’t be long until he reaches me.
Pulling on my sunglasses, I lower the scarf, and fix my hair out of my hat to make it look like a short bob cut instead of longer hair that is being hidden.
“Shit,” Demetri growls. “Stay on the phone with me.”
“She’s your girlfriend, so I doubt she’ll mind the chance to see you if I crash at her place instead of bus hopping just to get across town,” I go on as Snake huffs, glancing this way and flicking his gaze all over.
His gaze hesitates on me, but I continue faking my southern drawl and carry on with the faux conversation.
“Yeah. I will. I’ll also tell her happy birthday for you,” I go on, running out of improv material.
Snake turns around without going all the way to me, and I shudder out a breath as he hurriedly walks back through the rows. He nods at the driver before hopping off, and he boards his bike, driving off.
“He’s gone,” I whisper, my entire body turning to rubber as the bus starts moving again.
“Meet me at the Karina two towns north. It’s a pay-with-cash place and stay there until I get there. You hear me?”
“You need to go too. You were trying to help and now your life is at stake.”
“I’m the one who approached you with my theories and got you to start collecting all the evidence from the inside, Kara. I’m the one who dragged you into this. And for that, I’m sorry. Because of my arrogance, you’re a fifteen-year-old kid whose life is in my hands now. Meet me there. It’s two towns over, okay?”
“Tomorrow,” I tell him. “It’s too hot to get out tonight. By tomorrow, the impatience will get to Herrin and he’ll start expanding his search to Mexico. It’s the obvious thing for me to do instead of going north. I even planted a brochure under my mattress. All his guys will be pulled off the north city exits then, and I can get out.”
“Fine. But hurry. Halo is no longer a safe place for you or me. I’m getting out tonight. I’m almost out now. I’ll call you later.”
Hanging up, I stare out the window, my entire body shaking. I thought I was stronger than this. I thought nothing could scare me, not even Herrin. I was so certain that I bet my life on it.
But I never took into account that I’d be alone.
I was always sure I’d have Rush at my back from the day this all started, back when Demetri approached me three months ago at school while he posed as a substitute teacher just to get close to me.
Now it’s all going to hell, and I’m facing it alone.
And I don’t even know what will happen to him now that I’m gone, but I know he’ll be safe as long as he keeps his mouth shut about being with me.
I don’t have to worry about Rush.
He’s a survivor.
A much better survivor than me.
Because I bit the devil thinking he wouldn’t bite back.
****
After two hours, I start panicking, because Demetri was close to being out of town, swore he’d call, and now he’s not answering his phone.
A loud pounding at the door causes me to squeal as I drop the phone from my hands, and I stare at the door with a thunderous heartbeat pummeling my ears and causing my eyes to twitch in time with the pulses.
“Kara, open the fucking door now!” Drex shouts.
I dart to the door and sling it open, my entire body shaking as Drex barges in and shuts the door behind him.
“How did you find me?” I ask on a rasp.
He cuts his furious eyes toward me. “Do you really think sunglasses and a fake accent fooled Snake? Pop has guys out everywhere looking for you, and you lucked up by being spotted by my guy who called me instead of Pop. Not everyone wants you dead. It took me this damn long just to get away without being suspicious,” he bites out.
“Why didn’t you call and warn me you were coming back early if you’re trying to keep me alive?” I volley, eyes narrowing.
He glares at me as he steps closer. “Pop had us start driving balls-to-the-wall nonstop a few days ago. Said we had to get back, but he didn’t say why. You think he’d risk spooking you? He told us to tell no one we were coming back early, because someone might try to ambush us.”
“And of course you guys never question what he says,” I bitterly point out.
“We didn’t find out until we were almost back in the town. Pop has spread men out all over to look for you the second two of the guys told him you’d left without an escort.”