The Burning Shadow (Origin 2)

My stomach took that moment to remind me that there were actually five things I was trying to ignore. It rumbled loudly.

Luc lifted his head off the window, angling his body toward mine. “Hungry?”

No point in lying. “Yeah.”

“Stop at the next gas station or rest stop,” he ordered.

“Yes, sir.” Kent saluted him.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” Grayson pulled his legs off the dashboard. “We’re only in Virginia. Not that far.”

“We make it a quick stop and get back on the road.” Luc leaned forward, resting his arms on his thighs. “We should be fine.”

Should be wasn’t exactly reassuring.

“We’ll make it fine,” Zoe said.

From that point on, the conversation circled around the different types of Fanta that Kent insisted I had to try, and honest to God, I’d only thought there was one kind. About fifteen minutes later, he took an exit near Richmond, and we ended up in the parking lot of a large, open-all-night Exxon. There was only one other car in the parking lot.

Zoe lightly touched my arm, drawing my attention. She’d already gotten out and was leaning across the seat. “Your bag is in the back. You might want to grab a clean shirt before you head in there.”

At first I didn’t get why, but then I glanced down at myself. It was dark, but I could see the shadowy stains on my stomach and chest. Blood.

Yeah. That would draw unwanted attention.

Suppressing a shudder, I nodded and scooted out. Looking up, I saw that Grayson and Kent were already cutting across the parking lot, heading inside. Zoe lingered on the other side, her back to me as she watched the road. My legs felt wobbly as I walked around to the back of the Yukon. The hatch was already open, and my purple bag was sitting right there.

The bag Mom had packed.

I blinked rapidly, fighting the wetness gathering in my eyes as I carefully tugged the zipper open and spread the sides. The envelope of money was still there, as was the passport … and Diesel.

Trying not to think about the smudges along the envelope or how everything got into this bag, I pulled out the first shirt I saw. After making sure the coast was clear, I quickly yanked off the ruined shirt, planning to toss it in the nearest garbage can or maybe light it on fire. One of the two. I pulled on the new shirt, breathing in the scent of detergent.

Pain squeezed down on my chest, so real and so tight. Home. My shirt smelled like home, like Mom—

I cut those thoughts off and started to zip the bag up, stopping suddenly when I thought of my phone. Hadn’t I dropped it in my bag?

“You won’t find your phone,” Luc said.

Gasping, I spun around, placing a hand against my chest. “Christ, you’re going to give me a heart attack.”

“I wouldn’t want that to happen. Seriously.” He came around the rear of the SUV. “We destroyed your phone when we got to the house in Columbia. Probably not soon enough. After all, our location was ferreted out with a quickness that was impressive.”

Months ago, I would’ve flipped out if my phone had been destroyed. I mean, my phone had everything on it. Even a game of Candy Crush that I’d been playing for about two years straight, reaching a level of 935. But today?

I just sighed. “Okay.”

Luc leaned a hip against the SUV. He was quiet as I pushed the clothing back down. “I had to,” he said finally.

Zipping up my bag, I faced him. I knew exactly what he was talking about. “I know you did. I know that sounds harsh, but it had to happen. They were going to kill us—”

“The man who had his gun on you didn’t have bullets loaded into his gun.” His arms crossed over his chest. “It was some kind of tranquilizer. They weren’t planning to kill you.”

Shock rippled through me. “Why does that feel worse than them wanting to kill me?”

“Because it is.”

A shudder worked its way through me. The Daedalus didn’t want me dead. They just wanted me, and knowing what I did, that would be worse than death. I pushed those thoughts aside, because what could I do about it right now? Nothing. I stepped toward Luc. “Are you okay?”

Luc didn’t answer for a long moment. “It’s not their deaths that are bothering me, Evie. The moment they came for you, that was it for them. They weren’t going to walk out of there. It’s not even what happened at Foretoken. Losing Chas and Clyde is going to eat at me, no mistake there, but what is happening to you now is my fault.”

My stomach whooshed.

“I did this to you,” he said. “I did this to you to save you, and all I’ve done is put you in the crosshairs of the Daedalus.”