“Except the one to get Gemma back.” Kerry’s eyes started to light up, but Jax smoothed it over fast.
“That’s a given. I meant Council-sanctioned mission.”
“Thereisa connection to Hubler and the Alchemists.” Chance raised his eyebrows as he looked at me. “Maybe Kerry’s contacts will know more.”
“Yeah, that’s what Kas said.” Kerry nodded. “And if you have a chance to lay a ghost, trust me, you should take it.”
“All right. We’ll start there tomorrow after Chance and Chessie take off.”
“We could use a few provisions.” Gigi reached for the notepad on the table. “If someone would like to go shopping, I’ll make a list.”
“I’ll go,” Mira volunteered.
“Me, too.” I smiled at her. “I need to stretch my legs.”
And spend some alone time with my lady.
#
Chance
“So, Chance, Chessie will be here soon and there are a few things you need to know.”
“Okay, shoot.” I leaned back against the kitchen counter and gave Kerry my full attention.
“Shoot what?” Kerry’s forehead wrinkled up. “I don’t use guns. They’re too loud. Even humans can hear them sometimes. And bullets don’t always take things down. Not like a nice sharp blade.Whoosh!” he mimed the action. “Right through the throat.”
“Shoot means go ahead,” Jax said as he played with his phone at the table.
Kerry glanced at him, seemed to decide something, then cut his eyes over at me.
“I called the garage where I stored my ride and asked them to get it ready to pick up today. I want you and Chessie to use it. That way, we won’t leave any kind of paper trail for anyone to sniff out. But I’m kinda attached to it, so I got a coupla rules.”
In hindsight, I should have asked some questions at that point.
“One,” he went on, “no scratches or dents or anything. Like, park away from everyone else or something. And, two, make sure you turn the alarm on when you park.”
“Sounds easy enough.” I smiled. “I think I can handle it.”
“Is it legal?” Jax looked up from his phone. “Like, if they get a speeding ticket or something, they aren’t gonna get arrested for having a stolen vehicle or something, are they?”
“’Course not!” Kerry flipped him off. “We’ll get you burners, too. Make sure you keep your Sanctuary phones off so no one can track you.”
“Burners?” I tilted my head.
“Where have you been, Chance? Under a rock?” Jax laughed. “It’s a pay-as-you-go phone.”
“Oh. Sure.”
“There are rules for Chessie, too.” Kerry wasn’t done yet. “Number one, she’s like my little sister. Youwillprotect her, even if it kills you.”
“You don’t even need to tell me that.” I held up both hands.
“Rule number two, do not comment on her eyes if you see them. She knows what they look like. She doesn’t need to be hassled about it.”
“She wears sunglasses all the time, even inside.” Gigi came around the corner and draped herself over Jax’s shoulders. “That should help you from getting weirded out.”
“I acclimate to weird pretty quick,” I assured them all.
