Page 51 of Fallen Creed

“Hannah looked sad.”

“Hannah’s really worried.”

Jason’s cell phone pinged. He had it in a holder facing him so he could glance at the incoming messages without touching it. Brodie watched his eyes read the message then dart to the rearview mirror.

“You brought Kitten with you?” he asked.

Busted.

“He’s never been away from me. And he gets along just fine with Hank and Scout. I promise you won’t even know he’s here.” She avoided looking down at her feet because out of the corner of her eye she could see his little head poking out of the duffle bag.

“You better tell Hannah. She’s been looking all over for him.”

“Okay.”

“You did remember your phone, right?”

“Of course.” She was pretty sure it was still on her bedroom dresser. “It’s somewhere in my bag. Can I just use yours to text Hannah?”

“Sure.”

She twisted the phone around to face her and tapped in the message. It was tempting to get a peek at the messages he and Taylor had exchanged. Instead, Brodie adjusted the holder back in place.

She knew Jason and Hannah were really worried about Ryder. Just because he didn’t call or text or answer his phone didn’t mean he was in trouble. Cell phones gave people a false sense of security. Having one in her pocket never made her feel safe. She tried to explain that to everyone, then finally gave up and let Hannah get her one. They all seemed to feel better knowing she had it, but she hardly remembered to take it with her. Unlike her canister of bear spray, which actually could protect her.

She pulled her leg up under her and took a look into the back of the SUV. Both Scout and Hank were in their soft-shell crates, pretending to sleep. Well, Scout was actually sleeping. Hank always seemed to keep a half-open eye on Brodie.

The sun started to sink behind the trees. Brodie sat back. She turned so she could look out the side window and tried to tamp down a sick feeling as she watched the landscape glide by. She hadn’t been away from Ryder and Hannah’s property for more than several hours. And when she was, it would usually be less than twenty or thirty miles. The last time she was on a road trip was when Ryder brought her to Florida from Nebraska. Now she was making the same trip in the opposite direction.

Her stomach churned, remembering. Back then, she was still so scared. So weak. Her therapist, Dr. Rockwood, insisted Brodie replace those memories with good ones.

“It’s okay to pull them out. Examine them, then tuck them away and think of something good in your life.”

The exercise was supposed to stave off a full-blown panic attack. She hadn’t experienced one in months. And now as she watched everything familiar slide past her window, Brodie felt the tingle in her nerve-endings. She tasted the bile threatening to back up. She needed to breathe.

“Hey, Brodie,” Jason’s voice startled her. “Are you hungry? You mind handing me one of those sandwiches Hannah packed?”

She swallowed hard. Gulped in a breath. Blinked her eyes.

Maybe her going along was a bad idea.

—40—

Somewhere along the Platte River, Nebraska

In his fever dream, Creed walked through a forest. Grace was at his feet, though he could barely see her. She whimpered, and he jolted, reaching for her, but she wasn’t there. The grass grew as tall as his knees. It was blood red.

He tried to call for Grace, but his mouth didn’t work. He was dreaming. Somehow, he knew that. He was on the edge of consciousness. He could hear Libby and Ariel talking. They were close by, but he couldn’t see them either. His eyelids were too heavy, and he couldn’t leave the forest.

“When was the last time you saw Ruben?” It was Ariel, but he knew she wasn’t talking to him.

“It’s been a while,” Libby said.

“Was he using the fake walking cane back then?”

“I don’t remember.”

“He’s so lame sometimes. Lame. Did you hear that? I made a joke and didn’t even know. Hey, you want a few of these gummies?”