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“The school lets out in twenty minutes. We need to get that place evacuated now!”
“Fuck!”
Torn between keeping Lil safe and a bunch of kids, one of whom is Theo, the decision should be easy. But it’s really fucking not. The thought of Lil anywhere near this bomb makes me want to throw up, but she’d never forgive me if I placed her above the children. That’s just not who she is.
“I’ll go to the school and warn them. God willing, Nathan should be here soon with the cops, and they can take over.”
“I’ll go.”
“It has to be me. We don’t know if that bomb is set to explode or if he’s watching and plans to detonate it himself. I’m the only safe person here. He’ll take you out in a heartbeat to punish me. I know you well enough that you won’t just walk away, and I respect you too much to try and make you. Please do the same for me.”
I snarl, fucking hating this. “When we find him, I’m going to gut this motherfucker.”
“And I’ll hand you the knife.”
She reaches up and kisses me, tears pricking her eyes. If he’s watching, this will paint an even bigger target on my back, but neither of us can just walk away, not if this is the last kiss we might get.
“God, I’m getting really fucking sick of these life-and-death situations. One day I’d like to just sit in the silence with you and watch the world pass by.”
I kiss her brow. “It’s a date.”
She offers me a worried smile before she pulls back.
“Go, baby. You get those kids out, and you keep your fucking head down doing it.”
“Okay. Please be careful.”
“I just got you back, not gonna do anything to risk losing you again,” I tell her, making her smile. She turns and sprints toward the high school. I watch her go until I lose sight of her completely, then turn to Lucy, who hasn’t moved.
“Just like old times, huh, girl?”
I slowly move closer and make my way around the car as carefully as I can, checking the wheel arches before I get on my back and gently ease myself under the car. I hear footsteps thundering toward me, but I ignore them, needing to know what I’m dealing with. After a thorough search, I can’t find any incendiary device. I use my feet to inch my way back out again, feeling something ease a little when I hear the sound of motorbikes in the distance. The cavalry is coming.
Once I’m out, I look up and have to shield my eyes before I notice Nathan standing over me. He holds his hand out to help me out, which I take and inch him away from the car again.
“You didn’t have to come back.”
“The fuck I didn’t. This is my town too. I have friends whose kids go here. We need to warn them. Fuck knows how long the cops will take. I’m not sure they believe the threat is serious.”
“Even if they do, we don’t have a local bomb disposal unit. It will take them a couple of hours to make it out here. I’m gonna step away and make a call. You should head over to the school and help Lil. She’s trying to make them evacuate, but with the police dragging their heels, they might think it’s a hoax.”
“I’ll make them fucking listen,” he snaps, jogging over to the high school.
I order Lucy to come to me, and she does, sitting at my feet. Her stare remains on the car as I dial a number I haven’t called since everything went to hell in a handbasket.
“Well fuck me sideways, it’s Boy Wonder. I was just thinking about you.”
“Must have been a premonition, Mitch, hopefully not of my death.”
“Whatcha need?” His voice snaps, all joviality leeching from it at my tone.
“I’ve turned on the location on my cell phone. I don’t know how far out you are.”
“Gimme a sec.” I hear him fiddling around as two bikes turn the corner onto the road, heading my way. I step forward and hold up my hands, indicating for them to stop. Thank fuck they do.
“You’re an hour out, but I know a guy with a chopper on standby if you need me. That will cut the time in half. Tell me what’s happening,” Mitch asks as Havoc and Kruger jog toward me.
“I’m outside the high school, and Lucy just alerted me to one of the cars.”
