He must still be angry that Cassian slashed his wrist yesterday, so he’s lashing out. For what it’s worth, his wrists healed quickly, leaving only a wound that would definitely hurt, but not kill.
“She confirmed the couple is moving toward the burn site,” Cassian says.
“That’s it?” I ask.
“And she tormented me,” Talon adds. “You know, just to remind me of all the bad things I’ve done and how Rhea suffered because of me.”
“What he said,” Cassian comments.
Ah. Alrighty, then.
“We’ll drive most of today, stop at a motel, sleep, shower, and regroup,” Cassian says. “Tomorrow we drive the last stretch and ambush the fuckers. Preferably, we’ll be able to ditch the car off-road before then and go in on foot. So we can’t be tracked if something goes wrong.”
“I don’t know how that would be possible,” I mutter. “They’re constantly on the move.”
“Well,” he says. “That’s what we need Alex for. She’ll recon and let us know. We’ll adapt.”
Talon taps the headrest in front of him. “Nathaniel prepared for a scenario where we’ll have to sleep in the woods, too. Made me bring tents and enough supplies to stay out there a day or two if we need to. So if you’re hungry or whatever, just holler, Little Grim. I’ve got food and water right behind me.”
“Even packed bug spray for you, Skye,” Nathaniel chimes in.
I picture it: the four of us in the woods, plus one gagged, tied-up ex-husband sulking in the dirt like a very angry, useless piñata. I can’t help it; a slightly hysterical laugh claws its way up my throat.
Mark might come camping with us.
Mark, who used to wrinkle his nose if a leaf stuck to his shoe.
But the laugh dies quickly.
“But hold on,” I say. “The girls said the couple has two girls in the van right now, didn’t they?”
Cassian’s jaw tightens. “Yes.”
“And they only go to the burn spot when they’re planning to…” The words catch in my throat. “Burn a body.”
No one answers right away.
I stare at the road ahead.
“So if we don’t reach them in time,” I say slowly, “doesn’t that mean one of the girls will die?”
Silence drops. I think even Mark stops moving. He can’t possibly know what we’re talking about, but he stills anyway.
Cassian exhales once through his nose.
“That’s the worst possibility,” he says quietly. “Yes.”
My stomach lurches. “Well, fuck.”
“Of course we’ll do everything to save them,” Talon says.
I swallow hard.
Yeah. I know they will. Against all odds, they actually value human life. Just… selectively. It’s a trait I used to hate in them. Now it feels like a saving grace.
I lean my head against the window again and let the vibration of the car buzz against my skull.
That couple has been killing for a long time. They’re not just killers; they’re specialists.
