20
Shep
Thequadneededoffloadingfrom my truck since it made us identifiable. Rather than waste time taking it to the cabin, I dropped it at my mechanic’s workshop on our way out of town. I also changed the license plates with a fake set in case Ben had given Franky that info, too.
We left town with only the bloodstained shirts on our backs, my wallet, a Glock, and a hunting rifle with fuck all ammo. I was ill prepared and under armed. For Cam’s sake, I kept a brave face, but I needed weapons. A lot of them and fast. My fingers twitched with the lack of firepower.
Cam remained silent in the passenger seat as we twisted our way through rural lands and small towns. She gnawed on a thumbnail and gazed out the window, although I was certain she saw little of it.
We hadn’t discussed what happened by the river. More than most, I understood how replaying those situations in your head caused anxiety. It concerned me she’d seen me kill two men right in front of her. Yeah, it was justified, but for someone unused to seeing shit like that, it no doubt freaked her out.
What did Cam think of me now? She knew what I was, but that differed from witnessing it. It wouldn’t surprise me if she wanted to put some distance between us. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t worry me.
She faced me with red-rimmed eyes. “Are you sure it was Ben that ratted you out to Franky?”
“Not certain, but it seems the most likely scenario. The systems I have in place to protect my identity and location are advanced, but an intelligent person with elite skills could decode all the clues if they wanted to. And for Ben, finding the unfindable is what he does best.” I glanced between her and the road.
Ben was a brother, same as all the guys from Team Zulu. We trusted each other with our lives. I thought what we had was solid, and it cut deep that he’d sold me out. Why would he double cross me like that?
“What do you think Ben will do with Justin?” With shaking hands, Cam picked at dirt and blood under her fingernails.
“I don’t know. All bets are off at this point. Ben’s not a hitman, so I don’t think he’ll kill him. If I had to guess, I’d say he’ll deliver him to Franky.”
She slumped in her seat and rubbed her eyes.
I gripped the steering wheel hard. I hadn’t mentioned it to Cam yet, but after Franky, I’d be tracking down Ben Landers. He owed me answers, and if I didn’t like them, he’d follow Franky to hell.
Before crossing the state line, I pulled into the strip mall of a medium-sized town. I left Cam in the truck while I bought clothes, food, burner phones, weapons, and ammunition. We both changed out of our bloodstained threads and into new jeans and shirts.
Then we were straight back on the road, heading south. My plan was to get to Miami where Cam’s documents would soon be ready. Right after that, she’d be on a plane out of the country.
It was almost dark outside. Later, we’d need to stop and rest for the night. It had been one hell of a day and we were both exhausted, but I wanted to put more miles between us and whoever Franky sent our way.
I worried about Cam. She barely spoke, drank, or ate. Even the candy bar I offered her went untouched.
What was I supposed to say? That everything would be all right? I wouldn’t feed her that crap. At the very least, her brother was a probable casualty. I had no more tricks up my sleeve to help him.
Dammit, I’d let her down. I shouldn’t have left her alone and unprotected in the cabin. That mistake almost got her killed. The guilt from it burned like acid in my gut, eating me up from the inside. Jesus, if I’d lost her… fuck, I couldn’t even think about it.
Instead, I focused on the job ahead of me. I kept a constant eye out for tails or any suspicious activity. Franky’s power spread far and wide, and he’d have all his resources trying to locate us.
Somewhere in North Carolina, I used the burner to call the vet and check on Ranger. Debbie told me his vital signs were strong, and he’d passed the most dangerous stage. She would stay with him at the clinic tonight to monitor his condition. I conveyed my gratitude, which didn’t seem like enough.
I gave Debbie the contact details of my friend, Kane Daniels, in case she couldn’t reach me. Kane was an ex-Navy SEAL, and we’d formed a close bond while on Team Zulu. Even though he lived in San Diego, I knew he’d step up and look after Ranger if anything happened to me.
Late in the evening, we crossed into South Carolina and pulled into a motel for the night. Exhausted and filthy, we both needed a shower and a place to rest our heads. The room was clean and functional, and being at the back of the motel allowed us to remain unseen from the road.
Stopping was risky, but it was more important that I remained well rested and clear headed. Mistakes happened when you were tired.
Cam opened cupboards until she found a mini bar. Selecting a mini bottle of vodka, she downed it in a few sips.
She screwed her face up. “Ugh, that’s disgusting.” Her voice was raspy, no doubt a combination of the strong liquor and the damage to her larynx. Those purple bruises darkened by the hour.
Tossing the empty bottle in the trash, she reached for bourbon next and tipped it down her throat. She coughed and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
I had to give her a distraction from this mess. “Why don’t you take the first shower?”
Cam nodded and moved to the bathroom on unsteady feet. Moments later, the water started up.