“Text me when you’re on the road, Jo,” Declan demands, his voice taking on that no-nonsense, protective big brother quality.
“Got it.” We hang up, and since the guys and I didn’t have any luggage, as soon as we burn the clothes we came in, we leave the guest house. Thankfully our footsteps are muffled by the grass as we trek across the back garden. I really wish I could give Adela a heads up for why we’re taking off, but it’s too risky.
We make it around the side of the house, and then we’re in front of the garage doors, right where we got out of Adela’s car earlier. “We could break into the garage and take one of the cars…” Kole suggests. “Unless you were planning for us to walk.”
Sam sighs, shaking his head. “They can track us if we steal one of the cars.”
“We could order a rideshare?” Hayden suggests weakly.
“Oh yeah, do you think they have a ‘Come ASAP, we just found out the house we’re staying in actually belongs to a cult leader who wants us dead or worse’ option?” Sam bites out, running a hand through his hair.
His tone has me bristling. “You don’t have to bite his head off, Sam.”
A wave of warmth from Hayden brushes against me through the bond.
The garage door next to us starts to open.
“Did any of you do that?” Sam snaps, looking around.
“How the fuck would we have done that?” Kole snaps back.
But then, headlights from the direction of the guard house shine in our eyes, and we have nowhere to hide, caught against the garage door behind us like a burglar in a cartoon caught robbing the bank.
“Shit,” West mutters, and I have to agree.
Shit.
Good news is, it can’t be Xavier Bowen, because the guard told Adela that they extended their trip another two days.
The front door to the house opens over to our left, and Adela walks out, glancing at us in confusion before squinting at the car. “Vander?”
Welp. So much for that.
Sam’s hand rests above his belt, right where I know he shoved the gun he stole from the guards at the Pierce residence.
The car pulls forward, blinding us, and then finally, it turns off.
Two figures get out of the vehicle, and a deep voice sends a chill up my spine. “It looks like my daughter-in-law is good for something other than breeding after all.”
My hackles raise at his tone.
Adela’s cheeks are flushed with embarrassment when I look over at her. “Vander,” she ignores Xavier’s comment. “I thought you weren’t due to be back for two more days.”
It’s hard to see with only the light from the garage, but Vander is tall, handsome enough with his brown, styled hair and stubble. Xavier looks almost the exact same as Vander, just aged up thirty years.
Vander’s mouth tightens into a line. “Adela…”
“You did our job for us, it seems.” Xavier grins, stepping forward.
Immediately, Sam pulls his gun and points it straight at him. “Stay the fuck back.”
“Jo?” Adela’s worried voice pulls at my heart as she looks between Sam and Xavier. “What’s going on?”
“Go inside, Adela,” Vander orders, his voice harsh even as a glimmer of worry pokes through his expression.
Adela’s eyes search mine, confusion twisting her features. “...Jo? Why are you doing this?”
“Adela!” Vander barks, making her flinch in surprise.
