West walked to the other side and sat on the ground. “Better a bear than a cop.”
Griff let go of my hand. “Thank you.”
“It’s alright.” I wiped water out of my eyes. “You can buy me a dozen donuts later.”
“No way.” Griff shook his head. “I no longer like donuts.”
“Then, cake.”
“Deal.”
Cain squeezed my hand and then released it. “We’re going to be fine, everyone.”
West pulled off his wet shirt, revealing rows of firm muscles. “So, this is where you two were all day?”
Nodding, Cain went back to the entrance and peeked out.
West wiped himself with the wet shirt. “Do you think we can make a fire in here to dry off?”
“No wood.” Griff headed further back. “And I don’t trust the ventilation in here anyway. We better not risk it.”
Every time thunder rumbled, the sound echoed within the cave.
“You’ll be dry soon.” Cain put his back to us and peered out of the entrance. “Even if there was wood, it would be a small chance that a fire might signal the cops. We shouldn’t even use flashlights or turn on our phones.”
Lightning flashed in front of the waterfall. The cave illuminated for a few seconds and then darkened.
I went over to Cain. “Can you see the house from here?”
“Not that well.” He helped me get in front of him. Once I did, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close to him.
I peeked out and gazed in the house’s direction. I couldn’t see any movement through the curtain of trees and thick wall of rain. It was definitely not a perfect view of the house from up here. However, I could make out a little flashing white light here and there. But, I wasn’t sure if it was the lightning or the cops.
I looked over my shoulder at him. “How did you rent the place?”
Cain continued to stare in that direction. “Airbnb.”
“Through your name?”
“I have an Airbnb account under a fake name. Arnold Hanks.”
“You had a driver’s license under that name to verify the account?”
He nodded. “But the photo is me with contacts, a beard, long wavy hair, and an eye patch.”
I smiled. “You wore a wig for the picture?”
“I did.”
I turned back around. “Smart.”
“I try.”
“I want to see that picture.”
“As soon as we get somewhere safe.”
Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed, sounding like the entire sky had exploded. The flickering lights among the trees disappeared as if the cops raced back to the house.
I shivered.
Cain held me to him tighter. “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine.”
“You don’t think they’ll catch us?”
“No way. The storm is bad. And the city doesn’t pay them that much to search a forest late at night.”
I relaxed. “I hope you’re right.”
“I am.” He leaned his head lower and whispered in my ear. “You didn’t leave me.”
“I didn’t.”
He brushed his lips against my ear. “Thank you.”
“No more handcuffs.”
“No more.”
“Thanks for herding my brothers along too.” He let go of my waist and took my hand. “Let’s sit down and wait this out.”
Shadows bathed the cave.
West spoke within the darkness. “I bet the cops are going through all of our stuff right now.”
Cain led me to a corner. “And probably grabbing our finger prints.”
I lowered to the ground. “Will anything come up for you all?”
Griff’s voice came from the other side. “Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t. They’d have to catch us for any of it to matter. And they won’t catch us.”
“We’re also assuming these cops are actually doing their jobs. We don’t know what Pandora told them.” Cain got on the ground next to me. “For now, let’s count on our stuff being gone.”
Griff sighed. “We have to get out of Paradise as soon as the cops leave.”
West groaned. “The truck will be gone.”
“Then, we’ll take a new one.” Cain took my hand.
I leaned against him.
The storm battered outside, not sounding like it would let up anytime soon. The waterfall was a glowing liquid wall that served as the only light. But with each minute, even that faint glow began to dim.
West’s voice sliced through the dark silence. “Hey, Griff.”
“Yeah, man.”
“Was the pussy at least good?”
“Not bad, but. . .at least she brought donuts.”
West laughed. “I don’t even know why you’ve suddenly been so crazy about that chick.”
Cain ran his fingers through my wet hair.
Griff spoke, “I see what Cain is doing. . .”
West stopped laughing. Cain paused from touching my hair.
Griff let out a long breath. “I don’t agree with everything Cain has been doing with Phoenix, but. . .”
Cain tensed against me.
“I think what he’s doing with Phoenix is good for him too.” Griff sighed again. “I want something like that for myself.”
West chuckled, “Idiot.”
Movement came from Griff’s way. “Fuck you, man.”
“I was just playing.” West chuckled some more. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Griff coughed. “And I’m sorry to all of you. I fucked up with Pandora.”