“What can I get for y’all this evening?” the girl chirps, leaning over Ry and flashing her chest.
“Just a round of fries is fine. Thanks,” I mutter in an attempt to get her to leave faster. She pouts, her lip jutting out and eyebrows threading together. Trying to feign a hurt we all know she doesn’t feel.
“Are you sure there’s nothing else I can get ya? I’m sure I can be of someassistance.”
Is she for real?
Her eyes are locked on Zane, boring into the side of his head like tiny little lasers, as she practically begs for his attention. That’s not even a joke either, she looks about one smile away from dropping to her knees in front of him andpurring. My eyes dart to Ry’s, one brow arched in a silent question. He shrugs, pressing his back into the seat further, trying to escape the stench of desperation coming from this woman.
“Nothing else,” I state, shoving the menus into her grasp with a tight smile. She straightens, looks in my direction with an irritated glare, andfinallywalks off to continue her job.Some people’s children I tell ya.
“‘Kay, Ry. Spill.”
“We haven’t been thinking like her. We’ve been thinking like ourselves. Like members of society,” he says and I swear I’m ready to throw myself over this table to slap him if he stops mid-thought one more damn time.
“She is a ‘member of society.’ What does that have to—”
“No,” Ry interjects, cutting off Kade and his train of thought. “Think about it. She keeps saying how she needs to leave, how she needs to keep us protected and safe. You can’t tell me, each one of you hasn't put the pieces together yet.”
“She’s on the run from someone,” Zane provides and Ryder nods in agreement.
“Exactly, she’srunning.So, if you were on the run, didn’t want to be caught, and now also running from four people who probably know you better than you know yourself, what are you going to do?”
Ryder stops, his eyebrows rising as he waits for us to come up with the answer. I was never good with pop quizzes. I didn’t like them in school and I sure as hell don’t like them now.
“Shit,” Kade whispers, his hands flying across the keyboard of his phone. “You wouldn’t look at buying a ticket and having your name on a paper trail. You’d sneak on the first bus you could and act like you belong.”
“Fuck,” both Zane and I mumble together. All the pieces finally falling into place. “So, she was more than likely there when we were, but because we assumed she would buy a ticket like anyone else, we never thought to check the terminal!”
It’s at this exact moment our food is delivered and four baskets of freshly cooked fries are placed on the table by a very masculine hand. The little strips of potato are still steaming as I look at the big dude who’s now serving us.
“Good evening,” the male begins, bowing slightly in greeting. “There’s been a slight change. I’ll be taking over your table for the rest of the evening. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
What happened to the desperate one?
“Uh, okay. Thank you,” Zane mutters, digging into the fries.
I look at Ry, who looks at Zane, who looks at me, before we all stare at an alarmingly silent Kade.
“What? She was practically throwing herself onto the table and asking to be the meal,” he shrugs casually, as if this is just a regular occurrence. “So, I may have hacked into the restaurant's system, and changed a few details of her employment.”
“Like…?” Ryder drawls, his eyes pinching as he glares at our brother.
“She’s no longer employed.”
“Kade!” I admonish, stunned by his brashness. I may not have liked the damn woman either, but Jesus!
“Oh, please! We have bigger things to worry about. Like figuring out where Bear is headed!”
“Fine! But no more firing the waitstaff!” Zane shakes his head, but I don’t miss the wink he sends Kade’s way. I swear, between these two—one with a personality like a magnet, the other with technological skill beyond comprehension—they could rob a bank and then convince you that your Aunt Patty did it.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Max
We barely ate, downing coffee like it was going to be abolished tomorrow. Holding ourselves together on hope, luck, and a caffeine rush as we headed back to the house. Kade claimed to need something from his office in order to track what shuttles arrived this afternoon.
“There were three that recently came in around the time she would have been there. One bound for Vegas,” he paused looking at us for confirmation.
