"Hm?"She leaned closer."I couldn't hear you."
His heart pounded.It was hard to tell how loud or soft he was talking, so he tried to keep his voice lower.
He repeated himself and walked back out to check in with Kodiak, making sure everything was going smoothly.
The plan was simple, and simple is what keeps people alive.Move fast, move clean, get inside the clubhouse, then breathe.
Annie gathered all the clothes Roma had collected for them, shoving everything into a black garbage bag.He carried it out to the truck once Cruz pulled into the driveway.
Inside, the women gathered, both uneasy about walking out in the open.But they had to go now.They needed better security, and the only place he could guarantee their safety was at the clubhouse.
Even staying here, guarding the house, wouldn't work.While his eyes were working fine, he needed his hearing to protect them.Anyone could walk or drive a car up to the house without him hearing.
At the clubhouse, the others could be his ears.
He'd made his choice to Kodiak.From here on out, the women belonged to him.
Chapter 14
Hunter's room at theclubhouse was louder than the quiet house they'd left behind, but it wasn't home.It was temporary.
The heavy scent of smoke hung in the air.The constant hum of voices beyond the door reminded her that they weren't alone.Annie inhaled deeply.Hunter had brought them dinner, set it down without fuss, and told them he'd be back sometime in the early morning.If they needed anything, they were to open the door and yell for a man named Rocco.
Annie had nodded, but the moment the door closed, she felt lost without him.
Leigh lay stretched across the bed.Her spirit had taken a downturn once they left the house.Her usually athletic sister looked fragile.She was unsure of what she could do to help her.
Always the caregiver, she took Leigh's discomfort onto herself.If she had done more, her sister wouldn't be fighting for her life.
She sat in the chair, knees tucked up, staring at the burner phone Hunter had left them.
"Maybe I should ask him to drive us far away when he comes back," she said softly, almost to herself."Since the train and every other mode of travel are no longer available to us, maybe Hunter could drive us in that truck."
Leigh turned her head, her eyes sharp despite the exhaustion."We're never going to be able to pay him back.You've been off work, taking care of mom, and it took all the money she had saved to pay for her cremation."
"I'll find work."She sighed."I don't know.Maybe it's too much to ask."
