I shrug. “It’s cheaper than a hotel.”
“And easier, if you’re living on the run.”
I fixate on the highway to avoid answering him, but it’s no use.
“That explains why Davey had such a hard time finding you.”
I shake my head. “No. I’ve only had it a few months. Before that, I drifted between places.” Sleeping on the streets, supe shelters, wherever I could hide from Foxx’s men. The van had been a saving grace, even if it did come with its own risks. I hadn’t been certain Rip knew what it looked like, but apparently he does if he found me just minutes after arriving on Evan’s doorstep. He must’ve been a lot closer than I thought these last few weeks.
Evan shakes his head, humming. “It’s nice, though. I’ll give you that.” He reaches back to brush his fingers on a switch above an outlet. “You even have a generator for power?”
I nod.
He whistles. “How’d you pay for all this? The Jericho I knew didn’t have BMW kind of money.”
I avoid his question, which only makes him more curious.
“Did you steal it?”
“Do you really wanna know?”
“Yeah.”
“I compelled the sales guy to give it to me for a hundred bucks.”
To my relief, Evan bursts out laughing. “Seriously?”
I shrug. “I needed it, so I don’t feel a damn bit guilty about it. The title says it’s paid for. Even if he realizes what happened, he can’t come after me.”
It’s not entirely true. Hecanturn me in for compulsion, but I doubt he will. Not when he was running a shady business anyway. It’s why I risked it. I figured he’d save his own butt over chasing me.
Evan laughs again, still amused. “Makes sense, I guess. But damn, Jer. I don’t know if I would’ve had the balls to do something like that.”
If he had the balls to enter into the largest paranormal city in the U.S. just to track me down, then he definitely would’ve had the balls to compel a lonely sales guy for a vehicle to stay alive.
An awkward silence falls between us with each mile that passes. Eventually, Evan reaches for a stray rubber band in a cup holder and begins playing with it between his fingers. The gesture is oddly comforting. He has always fidgeted with things, especially when his brain is working overtime. Like now.
“You gonna tell me who they were?”
I don’t reply.
“I’m guessing it’s the vamp who turned you?”
“No, but he’s part of his coven.”
“And that coven obviously wants you for something. What is it? To come back? Join his ranks? Something like that?”
I tighten my hand on the steering wheel. “I think so, yes.” Though I’m still not entirely sure why.
Evan waits for me to say more. When I don’t, he huffs, putting a foot up on the dashboard and staring out the window.
“Look, I’ll tell you everything, okay? I just need a minute to pull my shit together.” When he doesn’t relax, I add, “I almost saw you die tonight, Ev. Can you just let me process that?”
“Like you let me process your disappearance?”
I groan. “I said I was sorry.”
“Yeah. Whatever.” He fiddles with the rubber band in silence for a bit, but I know it’ll be short-lived. Evan rarely lets a problem go, picking at it until he finds a solution—or blood, whichever comes first.
