“A little shaken, but I’ll be fine.” She lit up when she glanced at Luna in the car seat beside her. “Hey, baby girl.”
I flicked my attention to Agnes. “How’s Orion?”
After Tripp and I ran out of the house with Orion and Luna, Agnes had helped to secure them in the SUV, which was set up with two car seats for the babies.
“He’s fine. He’s sucking on his pacifier,” Agnes said.
I popped my head against the seat as I faced forward, holding my chest, willing my heart to calm the fuck down. Fear had dug its claws into my soul, and I’d never been more frightened in my life. I would like to believe Roman wouldn’t hurt a child, especially one who was too valuable to the genetic-altering program. But the fucker would probably do just about anything to save himself.
Tripp sped down the darkened two-lane road toward the city of Bismarck. “Dude, are you okay?”
“Not yet, man. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to erase that image of a gun being held to Orion’s head.” Truth. I would probably have nightmares for eons. With every death-defying event of the past few months, I swore I wouldn’t sleep for a hundred years.
“Momma’s here, baby girl. We’re going home,” Layla cooed to Luna.
Just hearing Layla’s soft, sweet voice was soothing my nerves. “Whatever you do, man, don’t stop. Keep driving as far from this fucking city as possible.”
A hand landed on my shoulder before Layla said, “I love you, vampire. We did it. We have our Orion and Luna. But I’m worried about Ellie and Rorie now.”
I briefly closed my eyes and touched her hand as my muscles tightened. “Where’s your phone, Tripp?”
He fished his cell out of his cargo pants pocket and tossed it to me. “Passcode is 9245. Call Kendra and see if she got a hold of your father.”
“I will, but first I want to call Cooper. We need to talk to someone on the compound.”
Tripp’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “He’s in my contacts.”
I found Cooper’s number and tapped on it. The line rang several times before his voice mail picked up. After I left him a detailed message, I noticed Tripp had a text. I opened up the app.
“Kendra texted. She spoke to my father and said to call her as soon as we see this,” I said, finding her name in his contacts. Once the line rang, I hit the speaker button.
She answered on the first ring. “Tripp.” She sounded worried.
“It’s Sam,” I said. “Layla, Orion, Luna, Tripp, and Layla’s grandmother are with me.”
She sighed. “Thank God. I’d been sick with worry. Anyway, I spoke to your father. He already knew Roman had men in the Catskills. Cooper Gray called your sister, Jo, and told her they were under attack.”
“No!” Layla cried. “Any word on my daughters or Jordyn?”
Tension, thick and soupy, stole the air from my lungs.
“I’m afraid not,” Kendra said. “Steven sent a team with Jo and Webb. They’re an hour from the shifter compound.”
I had no doubt my sister was frantic, as was Webb. Their adoptive daughter, Abbey, was with the shifters.
I banged my head against the seat.
“When will we catch a break?” Layla mumbled.
“Tripp, Steven is scrambling to find a pilot,” Kendra said.
A muscle ticked in Tripp’s jaw. “So the plane isn’t here?”
“Sorry,” Kendra said. “Steven will call you when he has an update. There’s a hotel not far from the jetport. I’ll secure a bank of rooms and text the address to you.” Then she hung up.
I punched the dashboard with the same hand I’d broken the bones in earlier. “I need blood.” My gums throbbed, and my throat was bone-dry.
I also needed to run or fuck or bash a punching bag until it exploded.
