“I just thought it would feel nice,” Shadow said.
“It doesn’t feel nice to me. Let’s just wait and listen if the train’s coming,” Gray said, briefly switching on a tiny flashlight to position himself directly above the tracks. He needed to calm down, forget that Shadow could feel whatever Gray touched, and be utilitarian about this situation. Shadow wasn’t outright malicious but needed a strong hand, because only that seemed to keep him in line.
The far-off rattle of the approaching train had Gray on pins and needles, but his attention became crystal clear. With the target approaching fast, his brain switched off all unnecessary operations and focused all its processing power on the goal. Pigeon Heart would be in Gray’s hands in a matter of minutes.
Magpie had informed the club of the type of train used for transport and which car to look for. Unless something changed, there would be five armed guards on the train, the ruby hidden in a safe box under a third row seat.
It was a smart decision to keep the cargo inconspicuous by hiding it in plain sight. If Magpie’s information hadn’t been so detailed, Gray wouldn’t have known where to start the search, and he’d likely have to rely on finding people who didn’t quite mesh with the remaining passengers. Though he hoped there would be no third parties to worry about tonight.
He exhaled, stiffening slightly when the locomotive jutted from under his feet like the head of a giant snake on the lookout for victims. The overpass absorbed some of the tremors from below and sent them up Gray’s legs in warning. Eyes trained on the endless stream of cars, Gray opened and closed his fists, trying to imagine the concrete under his feet was more stable, and that the train would be too once he jumped. He couldn’t allow himself any fuckups tonight.
Seconds passed in slow motion as he counted the cars rushing through the woods. He couldn’t wait too long, but it would be ideal if he landed close to his target. The train was moving fast, and his guts twisted when he thought of an unnecessarily long journey over the cars at that speed.
Shadow stayed close enough for Gray to not only smell him but even hear his breath over the roar of the wheels rattling against tracks. Did he enjoy the company of a man-like monster who lusted after him? No, but if push came to shove, he could use Shadow as a shield as long as it didn’t kill him.
He looked back again, and this time the end of the train was within sight. He took a deep breath that filled his lungs to their full capacity, and then breathed out, leaning down as he prepared for descend.
“Make sure you don’t fall on me. And once you’re on the roof, hold on. You can’t fall, got it?” Gray asked, adjusting the wrist strap of his gloves.
“Yes,” Shadow said, sinking lower next to Gray. Despite the unfamiliar situation, he seemed focused on something other than Gray. Maybe there was a method to this madness, and he would fuck off if Gray provided him with something to do?
Time for contemplation was up. Gray took one more deep breath and jumped.
His feet hit the metal roof of the car with a force that sent him to his knees. Pain shot up to his hip, but before the rush of air could knock him off, Gray’s hands found the metal grille running on either side. Shadow was right behind him, his presence unmissable because of all the noise he made, yelping when his hands initially slipped off.
Gray shushed him, but fortunately there was virtually no chance of anyone hearing their voices over the noise made by the train. The rush of sitting on a fast-moving vehicle buzzed in his veins, and he lay flat to gather his thoughts. He didn’t even want to know what his heart rate was.
In the faint light of the tiny lamps distributed sparsely on every wagon, Gray could see Shadow behind him. Firmly holding the railing, he watched Gray for instruction. It was then that Gray’s mistake dawned on him. He should have had Shadow jump first, because now he’d be the one leading the way to the last car.
And Gray hadn’t even shared the plan with him. What a fucking cock-up.
Instead, Shadow crawled toward Gray, his long, tangled hair combed back by the wind. Gray expected a flood of stupid questions but was stunned when the creature grabbed his ankle. “You’re not safe!”
He might have as well locked Gray’s leg in a cuff, and the power behind the grip had Gray stiffen with unease that he couldn’t express if he wanted to remain in control. “Let go and start crawling toward the back!” Gray yelled as loudly as he could to convey his message.