Diesel made a slashing motion across his throat, signaling that Bubba and Luther—also hidden strategically out in the woods—were to come out. Both of them did, hands half in the air, guns slung loose over their shoulders.
Wyatt stayed in place. He surveyed the area, looking for Indigo or any movement along the road or hidden in the woods along the roadway. Nothing.
He went back to watching Valene. He could only see the back of her head. She stood five feet from Diesel. As soon as she was free, he planned to tell her he was ready and willing to do whatever it took, even move to an alien planet to ensure they spent the rest of their lives together.
Valene’s back was rigid. She had the air of an innocent party forced to participate in something unseemly against her will. That was the truth.
“Where is Wyatt?” Daphne Charlene asked, searching the area.
“Wyatt?” Diesel cocked his head to one side. “Why would he be here?”
Daphne Charlene jammed the gun into Valene’s temple and screamed at the top of her lungs, “Where is Wyatt?”
“Where do you think he is?” Diesel asked.
“I think he’s in the woods somewhere waiting to shoot Indigo. Make him come out.” She looked around the area, focused her attention briefly on the car they’d driven to the rendezvous in and then turned her sharp gaze back to Diesel.
Wyatt saw Diesel’s defeated expression. “I’m on my way,” Wyatt whispered, noting Diesel looked only marginally relieved. He wasn’t going to exit the woods here. He’d circle around and enter the area behind Diesel.
In his earpiece, he heard Diesel push out a long breath and say, “He’s on his way.”
Wyatt slung his alien purple goo splatter gun over one shoulder and made his way silently through the woods. Even Bubba and Luther looked surprised when he appeared next to them, moving past their resolute, ready-to-fight postures.
Wyatt crept in quietly behind Diesel and the assembled group, still in standard confrontation mode.
Daphne Charlene smiled. “There you are, Wyatt.”
Valene looked less happy to see him, her gaze dropping to the ground between them, but she’d been through a lot and had a gun to her head. He understood her unease.
“Where is Indigo Smith?” Diesel asked.
“He’s close,” Daphne Charlene said, pushing the barrel of the gun into Valene’s head a little harder. Wyatt’s fists clenched and he had to forcibly open them.Relax.
“Here’s what’s going to happen,” Daphne Charlene said, looking over one shoulder at the car they’d come in. “Wyatt, Valene and I are going to leave with what we came for and then—”
“Not a chance,” Diesel interrupted her.
“What?” Daphne Charlene looked stunned and perturbed.
“We make the trade, Valene stays here and then you leave.”
Daphne Charlene’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. Hand it over.”
“Hand what over? The ID, the reverse Defender gun, what?”
She looked smug. “Indigo said you wouldn’t be smart enough to figure out his genius plan.”
“Which doesn’t help him, does it?” Diesel laughed. “What does Indigo Smith want in exchange for our sister?”
“All he wants is the item he accidentally left behind in his cryo-pod before escaping.”
Diesel reached into his pocket and pulled out a dark gunmetal-colored box. It was the size of a deck of playing cards, but twice as thick. Wyatt had no idea what the item was or how long the brothers Grey had been in possession of it. Maybe theyweresmart enough to figure out the criminal alien’s plan.
Valene smiled at her brother. “I knew you’d find it, Diesel,” she said. The hard edge of her tone surprised Wyatt.
He stared at her. She met his gaze, but lost the smile. Was she still upset with him? Usually, when she looked at him it was with some sort of awe-inspired gratitude, like she never expected to find someone to fall in love with and staring at him reminded her that they loved each other. Right now, not so much.
Wyatt glanced at Daphne Charlene, who looked like she was about to have a meltdown. His other worry had to do with what she’d been telling Valene. Did she think he’d been with Daphne Charlene that night in the kitchen? He was almost afraid to find out. He’d have to work extra hard to ensure Valene knew that Daphne Charlene was a liar. Was now the time to clear things up? Probably not.
