“It all just happened so fast,” she says as I get us turned around and head down the street. “The blast hit, we managed to make it to the door, but it slammed shut. Colleen had run out to help Maya, and we couldn’t get it back open after it sealed shut. We were terrified Herrin’s guys were about to burst in with Colleen and Maya stuck on the other side.”
My hands grip the steering wheel as I glance over to Maya, seeing her motionless with that blank stare.
“Pressure sensor. If it senses an explosion of any kind, it’s set to shut and seal to preserve the stability of the foundation, ensuring the blast doesn’t cause harm. It’s designed to be a panic room, so to speak. Or a panic floor, actually.”
I cut the wheel, driving us toward one of the off-grid houses Drex owns. It’s big enough to hold several of us. We’ll scatter for a few days, then regroup after finding a new spot to call ground zero. Going home is sure as hell out of the question.
I reach over, taking Maya’s cold, limp hand, noticing how she doesn’t even react.
“How’d she know it was a trap?” I ask Eve.
“I have no idea. We watched that disgusting video Herrin sent, and suddenly she was asking questions and calling you.”
“What kind of questions?” I ask her, turning down another road that takes us deeper into the desert.
“Questions about Liza mostly. Who escorts her home? How long has she been with the club? Other questions like that. And then she went into panic mode. Which I’m glad she did. We were all at the meeting room that was blown to bits. We’d be dead right now if she hadn’t told us to go downstairs. Just attempting that put us all at the other end of the building.”
I squeeze Maya’s hand in mine, but I get only a small squeeze back in return. At least that’s something.
Eve grows quiet and pensive, and I try not to think about what Maya must have meant with her questions. Sledge and I would be in a fight if she brought those up aloud, because Sledge would want her dead for an accusation like that.
And normally Sledge is the level-headed one.
A text comes through on my phone as I get stuck at a red light, and I release Maya’s hand so I can text Jude back.
JUDE: Herrin is still in the wind, but we have ten guys, including Hershel. They were surprised AF that we showed up. Got Liza too. Sledge is gonna fuck Hershel up himself.
I glance at Maya from the corner of my eye, find her still staring endlessly, and text him back.
ME: We took a big loss too. Warehouse is fucked. The idea was to get us out so they could drive by and blow our shit to pieces.
JUDE: Yeah. That sucks, but no one was hurt or taken.
ME: What was Liza like when you found her?
JUDE: Not physically hurt, but you know. Probably emotionally fucked.
ME: But how was she? Were there guys holding her at gunpoint? Was she surprised or scared when you busted in? Did she act like she was emotionally fucked? Give me the details.
There. I fucking asked. And it’s Jude, so he’ll get pissed, but he’ll keep his mouth shut about me asking that.
JUDE: I’mma pretend you’re not asking this. And you’re gonna pretend I’m not saying this. But she was alone in a room with no guns trained on her. Looks like she’d just gotten out of the shower not long before and was watching TV. And definitely surprised to see us, but she rushed to Sledge. Thing is, she was unguarded, but that doesn’t mean she could have run and risked them seeing her. I mean, right? Careful, Axle. Don’t poke this one.
ME: Just pretend like it’s nothing? What happens the next time they use her against us? It’d be a stupid thing to forget.
JUDE: Fair point. Poke it delicately then. Like a virgin.
I’m not even sure if I’m reading into this or not. I didn’t see her with my own eyes, and I don’t know what made Maya so suspicious. Obviously, I’m worked up and getting ahead of myself.
One more text comes through as I pull up to the isolated house in the middle of nowhere.
JUDE: Take it from someone who knows, it’s really fucking hard to believe your girl betrayed you.
Eve pushes her door open as I park, and I put my phone away and do the same. Maya weakly pushes her own door open, and I go to lift her from the passenger seat, cradling her against my chest as Eve goes to the front door of the house.
As I tell Eve the code, Maya puts her arms around my neck, nuzzling her nose along my jaw. At least she’s coming out of her catatonic state.