After leaving the compound, I’d taken to wearing my knife strapped to my leg. Nana had loaned me a cute peacoat to replace Luke’s shredded jacket. The new coat covered the knife whenever we stopped.
Sighing, I bent and released the clasp. I handed the bundle to Luke and watched him tuck it into our bag. When he joined me at the door, he placed another gentle kiss on my forehead. “We’ll all be there,” he murmured. “You won’t need it.”
I gave the bag a long wistful glance and left with Luke.
Down in the lobby, the others waited. The boys were being entertained by Grey and Jim doing “up-downs”. The term wasn’t something I associated with what they did. Each boy held the thumbs of one of the men. The men closed their hands over the boy’s wrist and then started lifting and lowering them. It caused fits of giggles, but I didn’t see how it could be much fun. To me, it looked like their arms would get sore. The boys, not the werewolves. I knew the werewolves could lift like that forever.
“All set?” Nana asked.
I wrinkled my nose. “Yes. He got each one.”
She smiled. “We’ll get you a dessert for putting up with that.”
Aden immediately begged to be let down and scampered over to my side. “Can I sit by you?” he asked sweetly. I’d watched how Jim often stole food from Aden’s plate, and Aden in turn robbed whoever else sat closest to him. No doubt, he wanted my dessert. Still, I agreed.
The wait staff had already prepared a table for our large party and sat us as soon as we entered the hotel’s dining room. Luke sat on one side of me with Aden on the other. Michelle sat on Aden’s other side, close to Emmitt. Jim was quick to sit across from Aden. Liam was on his other side.
Gabby claimed the spot directly across from me. Since driving together, she often took every opportunity to talk to me about her gift, trying to figure out all of its possibilities. We even found a moment free of our men where she’d offered to pass her gift to me. I’d been so tempted but knew we couldn’t risk her losing her ability to see the sparks and guide our route. So, I’d regretfully declined the offer.
Talk around the table rose as everyone tried to decide what to order. It was nice not having to worry about money. Michelle’s lawyer contact helped her get the funds we needed throughout our journey. No one made a fuss about using it, so I didn’t either. I had enough to worry about. Besides, that’s what she was meant to do.
While eyeing the baked lasagna on the menu, Gabby nudged me under the table. I looked up to see her unfocused gaze. “One of them just changed direction,” she mouthed. Both Luke and Clay caught it, but no one else paid it any attention. “Maybe the rain?” she whispered hopefully, her eyes focusing again on the menu. She didn’t look up again, but I could tell she monitored the progress of whoever had caught her attention. We ordered, and most of the adults conversed or entertained the children. I kept a close eye on Gabby.
She reached for Clay’s hand. He wrapped both of his around hers and tilted his head. That finally caught the attention of Grey.
“What is it?” he asked softly, looking between Clay and Gabby. The table grew quiet, even the boys. Michelle hugged Aden to her side. Jim placed a gentle hand on top Liam’s head.
“Someone’s changed their direction,” I said.
“A complete turn,” Gabby added.
“With all this rain, we should be fine,” Sam assured the suddenly tense group. But we knew all it took was one of them to catch the scent and send word.
“Have any others changed?” Nana asked.
“I thought the rest looked like the same inconsistencies they’ve been doing since the beginning. Remember how I said it looked like a net? Several have changed directions moving toward a central point,” she frowned. “They are doing that in six areas. We seem to be in the middle of one. The areas are huge though, several states. Big nets to catch little fish.”
“Do we need to move?” Grey’s eyes lacked their usual humor.
Gabby shook her head slowly. “I’m not as worried about their nets as much as I am the one closest to us. About a mile now.”
The Elders shared a look. The waitress came to ask if we needed any refills. Jim asked for a double of whiskey and two kiddie cocktails. Aden gave Jim a cautious smile.
“That’s close, but with the rain, we don’t think they could track us even if they were right outside the door,” Nana said. Thunder boomed to punctuate her point. “Gabby, keep us updated. Sam, grab everyone’s room keys and gather our things in my room. If they reach the parking lot, we’ll all go there.”
Sam stood and left. The waitress delivered the whiskey and kids’ sodas. Jim pushed the sodas to the boys and the whiskey to Michelle. It was then I saw her pale face and worried looks at the boys.
“Nana,” she said. “Call Mary and Gregory. You’re right. It’s safer.”
Nana nodded sadly. I’d wondered when she would send them away and thought her foolish for keeping them with us this long. But I did understand. How could you let go of someone you loved so much?
Michelle took a small sip, and Emmitt commented, “I guess I’m losing another shirt.” It did the trick. Some color came back into her cheeks.
She leaned over and kissed the top of Aden’s head and asked if they could play tic-tac-toe together. He eagerly turned over his placemat.
I could see the exact moment we were out of danger. Gabby took a deep calming breath and removed her hand from Clay’s. “He’s close, but stopped moving,” Gabby said.
“Probably holing up out of the rain,” Clay said. That man’s voice did serious things to a girl’s insides. Gabby caught my stare and grinned at me knowingly.
