“Why do I smell pickles?” he asked.
Explaining my grocery store showdown was the furthest thing from my mind. All I wanted to do was run down the street, screaming at the top of my lungs. “Can’t you drive any faster?”
“No. If a cop pulls me over and finds all these bodies, what the hell am I gonna tell them? We don’t have Christian around to wipe their memories. And sometimes you gotta deal with those guys who listen to the scanner and show up with their cameras.”
I choked back a sob and covered my face.
“Sorry.” He patted my back, attempting to console me.
“What did Wyatt say?”
“He doesn’t know what’s going on. And Christian must have been annoying the fuck out of him, because he put his fingers in his ears and started singing the entire ride over. Spooky pulled a favor from a Vampire friend to scrub the workers at the gallery. Since you found two captives, we can probably put a spin on it and make it look like we raided the place for illegal activity. It’s a good thing Viktor’s on the scene to make that decision.”
Both of our phones vibrated simultaneously, indicating a group message was coming in.
I pulled out my phone and read the message. “It’s Viktor. They found Christian. He needs you at the house right away to set up the medical room. That’s good, right?”
“Unless someone else is hurt.”
I wanted to call, but I didn’t know their situation and if it would put them in danger, so I stared at the screen, hoping he would send more news.
Shepherd rubbed my back again. “I’m sure it’s fine.”
I gently knocked his arm away. “I drank the light of a Charmer, just so you know.”
“Oh shit. No wonder.Fuck.I thought something was wrong with me.”
I steered my gaze out the window. “Can you at least hurry a little?”
“I’m doing the best I can, honey.”
Another message came in, and I looked down. “Now Viktor wants us to meet them at the outpost. What the hell is that?”
Shepherd put his blinker on and turned left. “It’s code. We came up with a spot a few years back to meet at whenever we need to move cargo.”
“Cargo?”
“Bodies. It’s secluded. No cameras, no buildings within view, nestled right in the middle of the city. Tell him we’re on the way.”
I sent the message but received no further word.
It was the longest ride of my life. Had there not been snow, I would have gotten out and flashed the rest of the way. But it was really coming down. Shepherd had the wipers going and the heater keeping things warm.
Bodies.
That word rattled in my head like a snake. If Shepherd had all the bodies in the back, why were we meeting up? Christian’s body? Someone else on the team? I rubbed my forehead, eyes closed as the energy inside me amplified from my anxiety. I leveled it down—the last thing I needed to do right now was pass out.
Five minutes elapsed.
Then fifteen.
Shepherd finally slowed down. “There they are.”
I cracked my eyelids open and then snapped fully awake. We approached the side of Shepherd’s metallic-grey Jeep, headlights shining on everyone. The back door was open with someone halfway in. Viktor stepped away from the front, lowering his folded arms. When we parked, Claude ducked out from the back seat and bumped his head.
I hopped out and hurried toward them. “Where is he? What’s going on?”
Claude gripped my shoulders. “Brace yourself, female.”
