Releasing Declan’s hand, she reached into her jacket and ran her fingers over the stake tucked safely inside. The feel of the stake reassured her, but she’d much prefer a rocket launcher for these things. If she ever got her hands on one, she’d blow them all to pieces.
She glanced at Gus as he sat with a perplexed look on his face. “My family—”
“I’m going to keep them safe,” she vowed.
If it’s the last thing I do.They’d gotten them into this mess, and she would make sure they survived it.
“What is going on?” Gus asked as they drove beneath a streetlight that suddenly came to life.
The Savage slowed in its pursuit before veering off.
“Shit!” Declan hissed. “It saw us.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
When the Savagetracking them vanished into a side yard, Declan snarled. He couldn’t let it report the vehicle they were in or their location. Declan released his control over Gus’s mind as he rested his hand on the door handle.
“I don’t have control over his mind anymore,” he said to Willow. “Take control of him and take him home. I’ll meet you there.”
Before she could respond, Declan threw open his door and leapt out of the truck. A scream of denial lodged in her throat as she lunged across the seat to watch him. He never missed a step as he raced after the Savage.
“Damn it.” She grabbed the door and swung it shut.
“What is going on?” Gus demanded.
Willow turned toward him as he pulled the truck to the side of the road and put it in park. “Keep going.”
“I think it’s best if you and your boyfriend aren’t around my family or me anymore,” he said with confidence, but his hands trembled on the steering wheel.
Willow buried the guilt rising inside her and resisted putting her hand on his shoulder. She hated everything about this; she’d joined the Alliance to protect people like Gus, not control them. He deserved better, but he also deserved to live.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured as she sent her power out to take control of him.
“Please get out.” He opened his mouth to say more, but Willow cut him off.
“Keep driving.”
His mouth closed, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped the wheel. Then, he put on his blinker and pulled away from the curb. Willow searched the side mirror for any sign of Declan, but he’d vanished. Her fingers bit into her thighs; he shouldn’t have gone after the Savage alone.
When Gus turned onto another street, she spotted his house halfway down the road. The lights blazing from the windows spilled across the porch and onto the lawn as Gus pulled into the driveway. He pulled in beside a Jeep Cherokee that wasn’t there earlier.
“Whose vehicle is that?” she asked.
“It’s Junior’s,” Gus said.
“Okay.” She was glad his son was home safe, even if he was a little annoying with his blatant staring. “Does your dad live here too?”
“No, he and my mom have a house two streets over.”
“Good. Pull into the garage.” If Declan couldn’t catch the Savage, at least they could keep the truck hidden for a little while.
Gus hit a button, and the door rattled as it lifted and settled into place. He drove into the garage, turned it off, and hit the button to lower the door. Willow took in the shelves lining the wall beside her and the tool bench in front of the truck. Tools, parts, and containers lined the shelves and counter. An old pile of lumber was pushed against the wall beside the bench.
“Go inside and lock the doors. Donotopen them to anyone except for Declan or me,” she commanded. “Donottell anyone else they can come in your house. Do you understand me?”
“I understand.” He sat staring at his house with a perplexed look on his face. “Is my family going to be okay?”
“I’m going to keep them protected,” she vowed. “Go inside.”
