“Emory, you know what you signed up for.”
“I know. I know. I just…” I sucked in a deep breath, trying to will myself to breathe like a normal fucking human being. “I can’t live like this anymore. I’m so fucking tired, Bradley. I don’t think I can do this again. I’d rather—Oh fuck!”
I swerved around the car merging directly in front of me, aiming for the shoulder. Suddenly, I was on my side sliding through the gravel.
My head bashed against the hard ground, and I rolled, tucking my arms into my chest until I finally stopped. My whole body was on fire, little rocks piercing my skin.
I let out a scream, unphased by the pain but frustrated to hell that my day had turned to fucking shit.
Six.
I screamed again, half-relieved and half-terrified. Six lives.
“Emory, answer me dammit! Are you hurt? Do you need an ambulance?”
“No.” My voice was hoarse from screaming and I could hear someone pulling over on the highway. I rolled onto my back,my backpack cushioning me from the gravel. My head throbbed where I hit the ground. I blinked up at the blue sky, realizing I’d have to explain to this Good Samaritan that I didn’t need help in the next however-fuck-long it took for them to reach me from where they’d parked ten feet away from me. “I’m fine. I think. Just a road rash and a bump on the head.”
“Okay, I’ll send a car to pick you up and tow your bike.”
“Fuck! My bike.”
I was getting onto my feet just as the stranger called out, “Hey, you okay?”
I hobbled over to my overturned bike. With an audible groan of exertion, I picked her up, turned off the ignition, and gave her a once over.Thank fuck.
She seemed to have just gotten scratched.
“Miss?”
The person, a man in his thirties, probably, with a beer belly was looking me over. Thankfully, I was still wearing a helmet so he couldn’t see my face.
“Yeah man. I’m good. Thanks for stopping. You can leave now.”
The guy raised a brow, seemingly surprised by my brashness.
“Um, okay. I-if you’re sure.”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
He gave me another long look before nodding and turning on his heel. I watched him until he’d merged back onto the road and was out of sight.
“Brad?”
“Yeah. I’m here, kid.”
“My bike is fine. Don’t call anyone.”
“Listen, Emory,” he started and by his tone I already knew I was in for a lecture. “I understand it’s difficult living this way, but what’s the alternative? That Enoch kid isn’t gonna keep hismouth shut. He’ll tell his friends, his family. Who will tell their friends, their family. WITSEC only works when there’s complete secrecy. I cannot guarantee your safety if you stay there.”
“I know that.”
“You’re putting his life at risk and anyone he tells, too. A Marshal will handle the kid. You need to get out of there.”
I kicked the gravel beside my bike in frustration.
“This isn’t fucking fair! Why?! Why now?! Hell I shouldn’t have even joined this damn program. I’ve wasted all this fucking time trying to outrun the inevitable.” My hands shook with anger.
“It’s been almost three years. I finally have a job I like and friends who don’t ask questions. And now this motherfucker comes in and ruins everything. It’s my fucking retribution! How can it not be? It’s what I deserve, right? ‘For whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.’ And his face, Bradley. Fuck! His face when he realized it was me and I couldn’t say anything. Hell, it was like watching someone die and not doing a damn thing to save them. And believe me, I know what that fucking looks like.”
