Feeling bad for the guy, I lean forward and show him the app with her dot. “Right there, we’re not far behind.”
“Did you get a good look at them?” Elias asks.
Sly shakes his head. “I… I was looking at Wren, then I saw a fist coming at me, and that was it.” He’s quiet for a moment as he tries to calm his anger, and probably a whole pile of self-loathing. “They took her. I was supposed to protect her, and they… took her.”
I lean forward and squeeze his shoulder, offering him my silent support. He turns his head to me, his face covered with confusion as he searches my face. “Why aren’t you yelling at me?”
“Would it change the situation?” I ask with a shrug. He thinks for a second, then shakes his head. “I know they got the drop on you, man. We should have sent two of us in with her. It’s not just on you.”
“Why are you touching me?” he asks, looking at my hand in absolute confusion, making Pete laugh.
“I’m trying to be a supportive friend. You’re making it a little difficult,” I say, giving him another squeeze before pulling my hand back.
“Friend?”
“Oh dear lord!” Elias groans out in exasperation. “You’re like children!”
“You’re just jealous Dex didn’t call you his friend,” Pete says with a grin.
Elias huffs out an unamused laugh. “I didn’t hear him call you his friend, either.”
“Pete’s my friend,” I tell him quickly in defense. Of all my formercellmates, Pete is the easiest to get along with since he doesn’t take everything so seriously, like the other two do.
“Aw, thanks, big guy!” Pete gives me a mischievous grin, telling me he’s more amused by Elias’ reaction than by the actual declaration.
“I suppose you have become slightly more tolerable since we left prison,” Sly admits to me, although it sounds like it costs him something to admit that.
“Nice friend you are,” Elias says, eyeing Sly over his shoulder.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask in my new friend's defense.
“What kind of friend spends twenty minutes railing yourshared girlfriendbehind a tree while you’re forced to stay away and pretend you don’t know what they’re doing?”
I blink once, then suddenly Pete has his chest against the back of Elias’ chair, a knife to his throat, and his other hand fisted in his hair, pulling his head back to give him the perfect angle to slit his throat.
“Don’t you dare talk about her like that,” Pete hisses in his ear.
“Are you denying that’s what happened?” Elias grits out, trying to hide his fear. Ah, I know what this is. He’s trying to find out what actually happened between Sly and Wren. He doesn’t know if she’s actually had sex with us yet. Let him think she has, it will make him more inclined to accept that she’s ours, not his.
“Don’t concern yourself about what happens between the four of us and Wren. That’s none of your business,” Sly tells him.
“I’m her—” Elias starts, but he hisses when Pete knicks his neck.
“Her what?” Pete asks.
“Her best friend! I’m just trying to protect her!”
“They’ve taken the next exit,” Sly announces, still holding my phone, and just like that, Pete releases Elias, sitting back in his seat as he flicks his knife closed. “I can’t wait to get my hands on the fuckers that took her,” he seethes. His anger instantly transferring to the real threat.
Elias rubs his neck but stays silent, other than to start directing Jagger again. Sly passes me back my phone as he pulls out his own.
Other than Elias’ directions, the SUV remains silent as our eyes bounce from the apps to the busy road, trying to figure out which vehicle she’s in.
I keep my fingers crossed, hoping we’re following her and not just her watch’s signal. That when the vehicle finally stops, we’ll find Wren, unharmed.
And that she forgives us for letting her get taken… again.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
