“I’ve made a decision, but you don’t have to stay.”
“My orders are to keep you safe so whatever decision you have in mind, we’ll do it together.”
“I plan to meet with Tomlin.”
“No. At least not until Rylee clears your name.”
“That’s it. The only way I’ll find out why I’ve been framed is from Tomlin.”
“How do you know he won’t kill you outright?”
“I’m his most valuable asset. I can tell him I escaped your kind. I found my below omega status brutal.” Upon realizing how to convince Tomlin, she snapped her finger. “And how once Steele got his memory back, he disavowed me.” It pained her to know that, in the beginning, Prince Steele fought his love for her.
“He’ll force you to tell him more about us.”
“I don’t know the location of your headquarters.” They’d made sure she had no clue of its location. She guessed somewhere in the Rockies. Possibly Montana. A huge area.
“What about Oregon? Becker’s home?”
“I promise not to leak anything.” Then again, how could she make that promise? Tomlin could use truth serum. However, she had the power to command animals. Tomlin should fear her. First, she must escape from Hallie. How did one ditch a werewolf? Unfortunately, she didn’t have the vaporo masking cologne Avery Kraig used.
“Too dangerous, so erase those plans from your mind.” Hallie studied the menu. “The veggie wrap is excellent.”
“Shouldn’t we leave soon?”
“We might as well eat while we figure out where to go to next.”
“I’m open to suggestions.”
Hallie bit her lower lip. “Needs to be a place where your scent won’t be so easy to pick up.”
“Like the middle of the ocean?”
“Possibly.” She lifted her brows. “What will you order?”
“I’ll have what you’re having and some ice tea.”
Hallie called over the waitress and placed the order. As someone walked in, the loud caws of what seemed like a thousand crows overwhelmed the conversations. The warden winced from the cackles. “Crows pretty much run the city.”
Gaby looked out the window at the large murder of crows, weighing down branches and flying like a dark cloud. If she were suspicious, she’d think the birds gave an ominous warning. Instead, they probably came in search of food and warmth. “No kidding.” She had once worked with a raven trained to attack. The smart bird preferred to play games and, as far as she knew, had never been used by Project Sabertooth. “There must be thousands.”
“Yeah, people either hate them or love them.”
“What about you? Do you love them or hate them?”
“I love all animals, especially crows. They are the winged clowns of the bird world.”
The meal arrived. Gaby dug in. Running from danger always spurred her appetite. “Not bad.”
“Right?”
“I need to go to the restroom,” said Gaby.
Hallie stood.
“Please, finish your lunch.” She pointed to a waitress entering the women’s restroom. “I’ll be okay.”
She sniffed and then nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on the door.”