“Get out of the car,” I say in a rush of words, “and I won’t hurt you.”
Ugh, I feel absolutely terrible threatening anyone at all. It feels so unnatural. “And I promise you’ll be compensated,” I add as an afterthought. I think of Cosette, Thayer being taken, Nicolette, and my need to stay safe, and a rush of adrenaline surges me forward. “Now!”
He leaves in a rush as voices shout behind me. I slide into the driver’s seat, my hands quaking as I think about what I haveto do next, drive into the unknown. Fend for myself. Leave everything behind.
Does this complicate things with my sister? How could it not?
But first, I have to get away.
The first thing I notice is that Le Luxeis set behind rows and rows of tall pines, their evergreen needles forming a veritable wall behind which the club hides. The second is that I’ve never seen this place before in my life.
My heart’s in my throat when I gun the engine, the need for speed propelling me forward. Thankfully, the luxury car handles like a dream, as I take turns with quick jerks of the wheel. The yells of the people behind me fade as I pick up speed until I get to a main road.
Silence. Nothing but the hum of the engine and an open road before me.
I’m too wound up and anxious to cry, but I give myself permission to release a shuddering breath.
It doesn’t help.
I look around me and realize I’m alone. Completely and utterly alone. The road in front of me blurs. I swipe at tears and will myself to stay calm, to stay focused, and to get the hell out of here.
Hours later, I pull into the outskirts of the airport parking lot with a plan. The entire time, I waited for someone to chase me down, for sirens or even a helicopter to come after me like I’m their most wanted criminal. But no one came. I’m not exactly a getaway driver, so I assume either the couple whose car I stole doesn’t want to pursue me, or someone stopped them.
My heart aches and my stomach rumbles.
I call Nicolette again but get no answer.
It’s about seventeen hours to drive from here to Paris, and it involves a ferry. The longer it takes me to get there the more of a chance I’d be caught. At this point, I’m not even sure how many people are after me.
I need to get to Paris alone, without help.
Flying is the quickest option, but if anyone’s after me and boards a plane with me, I have no means of escape. I also can’t take any weapons on a plane.
So I decide to drive. I feel like a fugitive as I rely on caffeine to propel me forward.
I can do this.
I have to.
I abandon the car before I board the ferry and thankfully make it aboard with no one following me. I scroll through the phone to try to see why Thayer’s been arrested, but I see nothing.
I send Nicolette another text.
No response.
Hours later, I’m almost to what I’d call home.
I close my eyes, pretending to sleep on the ferry, and try to formulate a plan, but my thoughts keep going back to Thayer and Nicolette.
My family.
I hoped landing in Paris would give me some measure of reassurance, but I’m sorely disappointed. I still feel bereft.
I should be here with Thayer.
Thayer.
Why did they take him? I hate that I’ve left him in Corsica, but I’ve almost made him up in my mind to be a sort of superhero, who can handle anyone or anything that comes his way.
