Good. Battered, but unbroken.
“My truck’s behind the barn.” I jerked my chin toward it. “Tank’s full. Head east on the county road for six miles, then north at the fork. Abandoned gas station at the intersection of Route 16 and Perry Mill Road. King’s contact will be waiting. Money in the glove box. Five thousand cash, untraceable. Should tide you over until you get set up. Truck bed’s filled with supplies. Also a tent and sleeping bags in case you need to go to ground.”
I’d emptied most of my emergency fund for this. Blood money, but at least it might wash some of the red from my ledger.
Dominic nodded, and I recognized the look on his face. A broken man with nothing left to lose except a responsibility that kept him tethered to life. I’d seen the signs the moment I took over after Claudio: A wolf going through the motions, waiting for death to find him. The only thing that had kept him going was his protective instinct toward the three younger wolves. When I approached him with my deal, he’d agreed with the weary resignation of someone who didn’t expect to live that long. Not gonna lie, I didn’t think I’d make it this far, either.
Yet here we were. Escape plan in motion, and both of us still standing. Still fighting.
“If something goes wrong, if you miss the rendezvous or the contact doesn’t show, I got a backup plan.” I pulled a folded piece of paper from my pocket and handed it to Dominic. “Directions to Evermere, the Cimmerians estate.”
“The monster hunters?” Cosmo’s head snapped up, wariness in his sky blue eyes.
“My boys agreed to shelter you until things can be worked out. The burner phone in the glove box has Casimir Cimmerian’s number stored in the contacts. Only use it if you have to.”
“They’d do that for us?” Devi’s eyes widened as Dominic tucked the paper into his boot.
“They’re sticking their necks out for you on my word alone. I’ll owe them big for this.”
They all nodded, something like awe in their eyes. I understood. The idea that someone would take a risk like that for a bunch of strays and outcasts? It was humbling.
“Why are you doing this?” Elio looked bewildered, as if kindness had become so foreign, he couldn’t recognize its shape anymore.
I didn’t have a good answer. Or maybe I had too many. Penance. Guilt. A desperate grab for redemption in a life soaked with regret.
“Because none of you belong here,” I said finally. “You’re not rogues. You’re not killers. You’re just kids who got caught in the crossfire.”
Dominic was hardly a kid at twenty-two, but compared to me, he was a newborn.
“What about you?” Devi’s small hand reached out to hold mine. “You don’t belong here, either, Foster. You’re not like them.”
“I can’t leave yet.” I gently squeezed her fingers before letting go. “I have work to do first.”
“What work?” Cosmo’s voice was bitter with suspicion. “More of Arabesque’s dirty deeds?”
“It’s complicated.” I couldn’t explain that I was playing a longer game. That leaving now would cost countless lives when Arabesque finally made her move. “I’ll be fine.”
“How are you going to explain our disappearance? She’ll kill you!” Devi’s eyes filled with worry.
“She’ll try, but I’ve survived worse.” I forced a confidence into my voice I didn’t entirely feel. “Don’t worry. I’ma do something that’ll keep everyone too distracted to notice you’re gone.”
“Like what?” Elio asked.
“Start a fight with one of the Gravewrought.”
Four pairs of eyes widened in alarm.
“You’ll get yourself killed!” Devi whispered, horrified.
“Not if I do it right.” I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance. “I know their weaknesses better than anyone except Arabesque. AndIwon’t be fighting. I’ve got a few troublemakers I’ve been wanting to eliminate. Two birds, one stone.”
“You’re going to sacrifice other wolves?” Cosmo looked ill.
“I’m gonna offer an opportunity to some of the more ambitious rogues. They’ve been itching for a chance to prove themselves against Arabesque’s pets. Tonight, they’ll have that chance.”
“How much time do we have?” Dominic asked, and I checked my watch.
“Twenty minutes before I start the fight. Should give you a good head start.”
