“Prep?”
“Once the shit hits the fan, we might have to move fast,” Ripley confirmed. “We’re going to need maps. Burner phones. Cash.”
“Medical supplies, just in case,” added Colson.
“We also need to arrange a secondary vehicle,” said Theo. “Truck, boat, whatever. Plus, there’s a certain captain at the dock you’ll need to talk to. We don’t need passports yet, but he can provide fake names, backstories…”
Colson’s nod of agreement was more of a military salute. It was shocking how fast he could settle into that mode.
“And when we do need passports, he can point us in that direction,” Theo finished.
“Good,” I put my hands on my hips. “I’m coming with.”
“No, you’re not.”
Colson and Ripley had replied in total unison. They gave the order so fast, as if they knew me.
They didn’t.
“You’re not understanding,” I balked. “I’m not asking permission. I’m telling you.”
Theo looked uncomfortable in the resulting silence. Like a child caught in the middle of his parents fighting.
“They’re right though,” Theo finally relented. “You’re the billionaire’s runaway bride. Everyone and their mother is out looking for you.” He pointed to the laptop’s screen. “Your face is plastered all over the news channels, Page Six, and—”
“There’s no way I’m sitting on my hands while your father suffers,” I cut him off. “Besides, you said you needed medical supplies? That’s my wheelhouse.”
Ripley looked confused. “Your wheelhouse?”
“I was an LPN, assisting in a busy emergency room when Donovan found me,” I declared, matter of factly. “He made me quit, a few months into dating him. Said it was too stressful for me.”
“Youwere?”
“I knew that,” Theo admitted.
“I knew it too,” said Colson.
“Then bring me,” I reiterated. “You barely even disinfected my cuts last time, when I ran through the woods. I’m lucky I didn’t get sixteen different infections.”
“Peyton…”
“Look, if people are going to be shooting at us again,we’ll need sutures. Painkillers. Antibiotics.”
Colson and Ripley exchanged glances.
“It’s still too risky. If anyone sees and recognizes you…”
“Trust me,” I smiled, stretching my arms behind my back. “By the time I get finished,no one’sgoing to recognize me.”
“By the time you get… finished?”
“That’s my wheelhouse too,” I winked.
