Ah.
A tragic but fitting end to an unremarkable life, and a meaningless farewell from a mother who never cared for me. She had no wisdom or apologies in life, so neither would I want toreceive them at her death. Let her merge with the dust and fade away. I’ll be the only good thing that came from her life.
Relief blooms cool and sweet through my chest, bursting out with a gasp.
Callisto jumps up and grabs me as I stagger back a step.
“She’s gone,” I mutter.
“Yeah. She can’t hurt you again,” he murmurs into my hair.
Sirens weave in and out among the fire’s roar as we lean into each other, watching the building collapse.
“Come on,” Callisto says, tugging me away as the growing heat threatens to scald my skin.
Lewis offers the keys to the service car. “If you’re okay to drive, I can take the other car.”
“Sounds good,” Callisto says. “We’ll stop whenever we reach the OCB, and they can deal with this mess.” He points over his shoulder at the body on the ground.
I slide into the backseat, and Red reaches for me, making my heart flip-flop like a beached fish. “Can’t go a day without a crisis around here,” I mutter, thoughts muddled.
Red wags her brows. “I was thinking the same thing, but I think I figured it out.”
I shoot her a questioning look, and she grins. “All the world’s a stage, right? Well, I just happen to be such a damn good actress that whoever or whatever’s up there watching—” she juts an ashy finger toward the roof. “—they don’t want the show to end.”
Fuck, I think she might be right. I choke as my love for her and her craziness overwhelms me. The tears held back by adrenaline burst loose and pour out of me in an uncontrollable torrent as Callisto turns the car in a tight circle and accelerates away from the fire.
“No more,” I declare. “I’m getting a security team, and an anti-theft tag and . . .” My blank mind won’t give me any moreoptions; I just know I have to protect her so this never happens again.
Red chuckles. “How about we start with staying home for a few days?”
I nod and swipe my tears. “I’m such a fucking crybaby,” I splutter when they won’t stop.
Red tugs me close, crushing my head to her bosom. “Yeah, but you’remyfucking crybaby.”
I chuckle wetly and cling to her, sobbing.
“White Mine cry for all of us,” Zack adds, patting my back. Yeah, maybe that’s why the tears won’t stop.
Callisto slows the car as fire trucks, local police cars, and the OCB all zoom down the road toward us in a colorful parade. He flashes our headlights and pulls over.
“We have Red,” he calls as agents swarm around us.
The firetruck rolls past, sirens wailing at top volume as it follows the flaming pillar in the dark night, but an ambulance pulls up beside us in its place.
“She’s got a neck injury,” I tell the paramedics as they get Red out of the car. Zack snarls at them but settles as Red explains they’re here to help.
“You’ve got some burns too,” Callisto says, pointing to my arms.
I look down in surprise, but the red patches don’t seem too serious. Nothing’s too serious compared to losing Red.
Red, draped in a blanket, turns back to us. “It’s not over yet. There’s one more thing we gotta deal with before we can rest.” The burning intensity in her eyes tells me it’s important.
Chapter sixty
Callisto
Red’s report about Giles Jones and the re-emerging trafficking ring sparks a nationwide manhunt. All roads close, the news outlets post the wanted photos, and the tech team take possession of the laptop to chase every lead.
