“Where’s Brooks?” Declan demands. “I don’t want him anywhere near her.”
My brows shoot up, and Hayden and I exchange a look.
“Bound and gagged in the back like a trussed-up pig,” Rory grins, shooting me a wink. “You good, Jelly-Bean?”
I nod as Nolan and Aidan wrap me in quick hugs, ruffling my hair as they go. Surprisingly, none of my guys make a peep. Maybe now that they’ve got a glimpse of Mabel, they have a better understanding of mine and Pack Gallagher’s dynamic.
I nod as Declan places my sister across the middle seat of the passenger van. He steps back, his hands on his hips. “Nolan, get your ass over here. Find a pillow or something.”
Aidan sits in the very back with Fuzzy and Helaena, his laptop on his lap, and Nolan slides into the seat Mabel is laying on, using one of those travel pillows to prop her head up against him.
Something inside me settles at the sight. Mabel will be in good hands. Besides me, nobody will treat her better than they will.
Declan steps in front of me, blocking my view of Mabel and pressing a phone into my hand. “Here’s that phone I was telling you about.” Then he hands a set of keys to Sam. “The GPS is pre-loaded with the location of the first safe-house, and the back of the van is full of more duffel bags with everything you’ll need. Go straight there. I’ll reach out when it’s time to move. We have contacts that can inform us when they start to catch on to your trail.”
“Thanks, Dec.” My throat is dry as I swallow and nod.
“Are you taking Turnip with you?” Declan asks, motioning to my pocket.
His nonchalance catches me off guard, and I find myself narrowing my eyes at him. “You don’t seem surprised that I suddenly have a rat-companion.”
“Because I’m the one who sent her to you, Princess.” He chuckles, shaking his head. “Her collar has a microphone. I found someone who trains rats, and figured it would come in handy. Don’t worry, from now on, the mic will be disabled. More for my sake than for yours..”
I unbutton my pocket, scooping my girl out and holding her to my face. “This whole time, it was a lie!” She chitters defiantly, and I laugh, feeling lighter than air. “I’m just pullin’ your tail, Turnip. How about—”
Out of nowhere, the sound of roaring engines fills the area, followed by the quick spray of gunfire, making my ears ring.
Time slows.
“Fuck!” Sam shouts, tackling me to the ground and shielding me with his body.
The impact forces my hands open. “Turnip!” I cry out as she flies from my grip, landing on the hard gravel. A little squeak leaves her, and my pulse thumps in my ears.
“Everybody move!” Declan roars, and before I can grab Turnip I’m being hoisted over a shoulder again. I see a flash of Nolan covering Mabel’s body with his own in the backseat, as well as Kole, who’s miraculously obtained an AK-47, taking cover behind our van. Two blacked out SUVs have parked behind the row of cars across from us and are open-firing.
Sam passes me to Hayden, who wraps his arms around my waist.
West waits by the door, ready to climb in after us.
“Wait!” A scream tears from my throat as I watch Turnip scurry across the pavement. I try to pull from Hayden’s grip.
I need to get to her.
I can’t leave her here.
“You’re not bullet-proof, Jo!” Hayden snaps, a hardness in his voice I’ve never heard before. I can’t care. Turnip needs me. The sound of the bullets has her freaking out and running around almost in circles, too confused to make a getaway.
What will happen to her if she gets lost? What if a stray bullet catches her?
I can’t fail her like I failed Mabel.
“We need to go!” Sam is in the front seat, panic lining his voice, but I can hardly hear him over the roaring in my ears.
She needs me. I’m all she has. “Turnip!” I screech, scratching at Hayden’s arms, but he holds fast.
“Gods-fucking-dammit, Jo!” He yanks us backward as hard as he can.
West, who had been about to slide the door closed on us, gets a sudden look of determination on his face as he turns on a dime, and sprints away from the van. “Keep them busy, Kole!” He shouts as he sprints, his trajectory heading straight for Turnip.
