“Back to Headquarters.We don’t have much time.”I sound so sure.
Justin’s fingers closed over her shoulder, steadying her.“Everyone back to the van.She can feel Sigs, so let’s be safe.”
“Let’s move, troops,” Henderson said, and it was official.
“Awww,crap.”Cath sighed.“I was looking forward to Pop Tarts.”
“Hurry,” Rowan pleaded.They started back for the van, Justin’s arm snaking over her shoulders.She tilted forward, walking quickly and unsteadily, and he pulled her back.
“Wearehurrying, angel.Just relax.We’ll get there in time.”
He sounded so sure, as well, that she almost believed him.
CHAPTERTHIRTY-NINE
Nobody spokeon the way back.Rowan shook with distress the closer they drew to home; Justin set his jaw.This was an enemy he couldn’t fight, so he simply offered his strength, sitting in the back seat, Brew doing his best to shield her from the other side.
When they took the offramp, he reached over the back and brought out the emergency kit.
“Everyone arm up,” he said, and began handing out the guns.Rowan accepted a Glock, and the small sounds of checking mags and chambering rounds resounded through tense silence.Next came the commlinks, fitted in everyone’s ear
“Well,” Yoshi said from the front passenger seat.“The place still seems to be standing.I don’t see any smoking craters.”
“It may only look safe,” Delgado supplied.
“You’re paranoid,” Zeke piped up.
“It doesn’t mean they’re not out to get us.”
“Can we have a little less chatter?”Henderson turned to the right, flicking the headlights off.Delgado felt a sudden flare of gratefulness—the old man had believed Rowan without question.“I’m going to use the access road.I hope nobody wore heels.”
“I left mine at home,” Brew cracked, and Catherine giggled, a nervous, forlorn sound.
Delgado felt Rowan stiffen.“Can’t you feel that?”she whispered.
“What?”His mouth, close to her ear.
She shivered.“Exactly.It’s too quiet.”
“No psychic chatter,” Brew supplied helpfully.“We’re too far out to feel it, Rowan.”
“We’re too late.”She was cheesy-pale in the darkness.Del felt the waves of trembling gripping her, the shortness of breath, and wished he couldpushher into fearlessness.
Instead, he sank into the link, feeling her headache and nausea as if it were his own.Christ, no wonder she thinks something’s wrong.He took the pain for her, took it and took it until she went limp, curling into him.
A small thread of nasty satisfaction, then.She hated him, but he could still comfort her.
“General?”Brew, with the quiet tone he used very seldom.
“Brew?”
“I’m getting it, too.”
“Could just be static from her.”Zeke shifted in his seat.
“It’s not.”Delgado heard his own clipped tone and realized something was bothering him too.“The lights,” he said.“The lights should be on.There’s no glow.”
He was right.If not for the almost-full moon, Henderson would have been unable to drive without headlights.
