I rolled over and sat in the same motion, grabbing up my revolver, aiming straight at the voice.
Standing just outside the open window with the rising light at his back was a familiar two-headed figure.
“Je-hellzus, Matilda,” Left Ned said, backing away from the window. “Put the damn gun down.”
“Did you get my message?” I set the gun on the quilt and pushed out of bed. I shoved feet into boots and crossed to the window.
“Yes,” Right Ned said. “And your brother . . . he’s not safe. But I have an idea on how to get to him.”
“Let me get Abraham. Hold on a second.”
“No,” Left Ned said. “You need to come with us. Now. You’re not safe here. Grab your stuff.”
“If I leave, I’ll lose my standing with House Gray. Some other House can claim me and my land, and Grandma might not be safe. Have you talked to Boston Sue?”
“Just”—Right Ned held out his hand—“trust me, Tilly. I promise you I can make this all right.”
I hesitated. Leaving wouldn’t go over well with House Gray. Or Abraham. But if Neds knew where Quinten was and how to help him, well. . . . I’d deal with the fallout after my brother was safe.
“Get in here.” I pushed the window open so he could step up into the room. “Let me change.” I grabbed my duffel and jogged into the bathroom to get into my pants and shirt.
This was a stupid idea. Oscar wasn’t going to be happy about it. But if Neds and I brought my brother back to House Gray, he’d take us in, wouldn’t he? Quinten was still claimed by House Gray.
If House Gray wouldn’t take me or Quinten, some other House would want us. Who would be powerful enough to claim us? Welton?
No, forget that. If my brother and I were together again, we’d just disappear. Fall so far off the radar even House Brown wouldn’t know where we were. We’d stayed hidden for years. We could do it again.
But what would happen to Grandma?
I finished getting dressed and strapped the duffel over my shoulder. “Okay,” I said, walking out of the bathroom. “Let’s?—”
Robert stood in the middle of the room. He had a gun in his hand. A gun pointed at Neds.
“What is this mutation doing here?” he said.
“Mutation?” Left Ned said.
“He’s a friend, remember?” They’d met in the parking garage. How could he forget that?
“That’s not Robert, Matilda,” Right Ned said quietly.
“What?”
Robert lifted the gun even with Right Ned’s head. “Leave. Immediately.”
“Tilly,” Right Ned said. “I promise you, I’m not crazy. Please listen to me.”
“You have made a very poor decision in coming here,” Robert said.
“Whoa, hold on,” I said. “Just settle down. We don’t need a discharge of weapons to settle this. I’m not going anywhere. Neds are leaving.”
I slowly walked over until I was standing between Neds and Robert.
Neds were holding very still but hadn’t raised his hands. If his habits remained true, he had a couple weapons stashed on his body.
This could go so very bad so very quickly.
“Tilly,” Ned said.
