But Wren wanted justice for her and for us. And I would not be the one to deny her. Justice was what we did; we’d grown practiced at it. Robert was a higher-profile mark than any we’d faced, but, oddly, we’d been edging toward him for years without quite knowing why.
I still can’t comprehend how she’s been living with one of the biggest mafia heads in the US her entire life and never knew it. Although he’s clearly done a real number on her mind. I still don't believe we even know the full extent of what he’s done to her yet.
He’s been meticulous in the way he raised her, so methodical that much of it could be rationalized to an outsider as protective care rather than cruelty. We’re only beginning to see the true shape of it. The psychological games he played, kind words that were lies, passive jabs that tethered her to him, were all instruments of control. The knowledge of it makes my blood hum with cold anger.
It’s why I’ve been holding myself back with her, taking my time. I don’t want her to think we are love bombing her just to bed her. Not that she’d even know what that means.
My cock is pretty much in a constant state of agony when I’m around her, especially when I get to sleep with her in my arms. I’ve never been one to cuddle before; I've never even slept in a bed with a woman before. Usually, I’m gone the moment the act is over.
But with Wren… I want to hold her close all night. She’s turning me into a fucking teddy bear. The worst part?I don’t hate it.
Seeing the rest stop ahead, I pull into the exit lane as I assess our options… or lack thereof. There is just a single large building, complete with a gas station, convenience store, and burger shop.
“Are you guys hungry? I could do with some grub,” Pete says as he jumps out of the parked van and offers Wren a hand down.
“Bathroom, nourishment, and fuel.” I nod, moving to join them all beside the van as I stretch out my sides from being stuck behind the wheel all morning.
Jagger nudges my shoulder, then points to himself and mimics driving.
“You want to drive next?” He nods, and I nod back in thanks. Maybe having extra hands around wasn’t all bad.
“I’ll get the food with Pete and Wren, if you guys want to get the gas?” Dex asks.
I raise my eyebrow in disbelief. “You expect me to leave you two alone with her?”
“Are you saying I can’t protect my girl?” Dex asks, stepping in front of me, his chest puffed out as if to prove how big he is.
“I’m saying you two are the most likely to get in trouble together. We should split you up.”
“Good thing you’re not the boss of us then,” Pete says, grabbing Wren’s hand and pulling her with him toward the building. “Come on, Dex! I need to take a piss too and need someone to watch her.”
Dex smirks at me before winking and jogging after them,grabbing her other hand. I narrow my eyes in frustration. At least Pete knows not to leave her alone.
It isn’t that I don't trust them, because I actually do, with my life. They just weren’t very good at going unnoticed. They speak loudly and laugh even louder. And since we are wanted fugitives, heading back to the state where we were incarcerated, being inconspicuous is of extreme importance.
Jagger and I enter the building twenty seconds behind them and find Dex waiting outside the women’s bathroom on alert, his eyes continually scanning his surroundings. I nod to him, thankful he was taking the job of guarding her seriously.
When Jagger and I are done, we find them in line at the burger shop, so we go outside to fill up on gas.
“It’s so quiet without those three,” I say to Jagger as we lean against the van, waiting for the gas pump to finish fueling it up.
Jagger nods, and I’m tempted to grin. I actually really enjoy his silence. It’s such a stark difference from the other two, and I welcome the quiet.
“Do you think we’ll be able to catch him? Robert?” I ask since I have a rare moment alone with the only other serious member of our ragtag team of escapees.
He lifts his hands to sign. Thanks to Wren’s constant lessons, I’m able to catch the gist of what he says.“Maybe. But we have to be careful. We can’t just run in there. We need a plan. Catch him alone and unguarded.”
I nod, liking the idea of that.
“And this place we’re heading to? Do you think it’s safe?” He shrugs. “Yeah, I have no idea either. I hope we’re doing the right thing.”
“We will keep her safe,”He signs, and I nod in agreement.
“Always.”
The pump clicks, and I squeeze the handle, getting to an even hundred dollars, then hand the money to the attendant.
Jagger’s already in the driver’s side when I return, and he pulls forward into a parking spot right outside the building by the burger shop.
