As one unit, we walk to the car, our steps in sync. In silence.
Even Savannah stays quiet and walks quickly to the armored car idling by the curb.
I open the door and gesture for her to go in first, then slide in beside her. Lyam takes the driver’s seat and Mario goes to sit in the passenger seat.
“Maman’s secure,” Lyam says as he puts the car in drive and begins to head toward the airport. “We’ve called for heightened security measures.”
I nod.
“Lyam, did you alert her team?”
“I did.”
It’s a somber ride, but a fast one. We’re close enough we could walk but it’s safer to drive.
“I didn’t pack anything,” Savannah says. She turns away from me, and I wonder why. Even from here I can see a lone tear roll down her cheek.
It’s been a long night for her.
“We’ll get what you need.”
She nods.
“What about my apartment?” She turns to me, not bothering to hide the tears on her cheeks. “I have a fish, Thayer.”
Fish. Her life is in danger, and she’s worried about her fish.
“I’ll make sure it’s fed,” I say with practiced patience.
She looks back out the window. “Alright.”
We make it to the airport, surrounded by security. Armored cars follow behind, flank each side, and ride ahead of us as well.
“Where are we going?
“I can’t tell you that.”
She rolls her eyes. “Is this one of those ‘If I tell you I’d have to kill you’ speeches?”
Of all the disrespectful things?—
I silence her with a look. She gives me the middle finger. Mario actually gasps. Lyam chuckles and reaches into his pocket before he casually slides me what I asked him for. I put the sleek package in my pocket.
I narrow my eyes at her. Oh, I’ll remember that.
I’m not sure why she’s so angry with me. I’m not the one that put her in this predicament.
Finally, I break the silence with a question that’s been plaguing me for a little while. “Why didn’t you have your guard with you?”
“Oh, God, you too?”
“Me, too, what?”
“Fabien and Nicolette have been on my ass about getting guards.”
I close my eyes briefly, willing myself not to snap again. “Do you mean to tell me,” I say slowly, “that you don’t have any guards?”
Her sheepish grimace is all the answer I need.
