CHAPTER 2
Saint
WE ARE ATLo’s house, grabbing clothes and shit to take with us to the safe house in Grenlow, when my cell pings with a message from Galen.
Change of plans. Meet me at the barn.
“What the fuck?” I stop what I’m doing and call his number, but the asshole doesn’t pick up.
“Sup?” Caz asks, wandering into Lo’s bedroom. He stalls when he sees my expression.
“Galen wants to meet at the barn.”
“Why?” Theo asks, materializing behind Caz.
“I don’t know, but I’ll kick his fucking ass. I made myself clear.” Galen does not get to challenge my decisions. Especially not this one. Not when it comes to her safety. I stuff the rest of Lo’s things into the bag, grab my duffel, and stride toward the door.
“You drive,” I tell Caz when we emerge outside, tossing him the keys to my Land Rover. “I want to keep trying the asshole.” Caz puts his foot to the pedal, and we floor it out of there with Theo hot on our tail in his SUV.
I call Galen repeatedly, but he’s not picking up. I go to call Lo before remembering I smashed her cell to smithereens. Couldn’t risk Dad tracking it when she doesn’t show at the training facility.
“What do you think is going on?” Caz asks, taking his eyes off the road for a split second to look at me.
I drag a hand over my shorn blond hair. “I’ve no clue. This is Galen we’re talking about. His recklessness is legendary.”
“Or maybe, Sinner sent a tail, and he’s taking necessary precautions.” It’s no surprise Caz jumps to Galen’s defense, because he is loyal to a fault.
“I have a bad feeling,” I admit, hoping my gut is wrong. But it rarely is.
“How do you plan on keeping her away from Sinner?” Caz asks, taking the exit off the highway for Prestwick.
I sigh, kicking my booted feet up on the dash. “I’ve no clue,” I admit. “I’m winging it here. I just know she can’t undergo initiation. I don’t want that for her.”
“It’s fucked up, dude,” he agrees. “What is Sinner up to?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.”
We don’t talk again until we reach the hidden entrance at the far side of Prestwick Forest. Caz puts my Land Rover in park, hops out, and slides the gate back. I scoot over into the driver’s seat and drive the car forward. When Theo is inside, Caz closes and locks the gate and hops in the passenger seat.
I drive us along the narrow dirt track for a few miles until our place comes into view.
Theo found it a couple years ago, and it was exactly what we’d been looking for. Someplace close by, under the radar, where we can disappear to when we need to regroup. Theo handled all the paperwork, purchasing it under a pseudonym, so it can’t be traced back to us. We got it for a song which meant there were funds left to do some repairs, because the barn was basically a shell when we bought it. Thankfully, the structure and roof were sound, but we had to replace all the windows, and the interior was just this giant open space that needed work. Now, we’ve added bedrooms and bathrooms in the loft area, installed a basic kitchen, upgraded the rudimentary heating, and fashioned a living area and game room, complete with a pool table.
It’s not plush, by any means, but it’s home.
And Sinner doesn’t know about it.
I’m sure he’s figured out we have someplace we go to, or maybe, he assumes we’re crashing at chicks’ houses, but he hasn’t asked, and we’re not volunteering.
I park in front of the large wooden structure beside Caz’s Mitsubishi Eclipse—the car Galen was driving—and kill the engine. Even though I’m wound up over this unexpected development, a sense of calmness washes over me like always when I’m here.
Towering trees surround us on all sides, hiding us from prying eyes. It’s at the far side of Prestwick Forest, miles from the areas normally frequented by partygoers and nowhere near the section Sinner uses to bury his enemies or conduct initiation tasks.
Still, we know not to take chances, so we used the last of our change to install a few cameras on the perimeter and a wireless alarm system. Theo has it set up to activate remotely, and if anyone should happen across our place, the alarm will trigger a warning that will be sent to all our cells.
I get out the same time Caz and Theo do, and we stride toward the door together, all alert and on edge. It’s fucking Arctic out tonight, and my balls are freezing. I open the door and step inside, spotting Galen standing by the window at the far end of the barn, staring out into the darkness. His spine stiffens as he hears us approaching, but he doesn’t turn around.
Caz closes the door, frowning.
