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“Not all of them, and Diane might be able to find you a good family.” I brushed the tears from her cheeks. “You’ll have a warm bed and food. And you’ll never have to worry about bad people getting you.”
“I don’t worry about bad people now. You protect me from all the bad things.” Jayla pressed against my side, bringing the scent of her peach shampoo that I bought her into my nose. “Please, Tate. I want to stay with you. Don’t make me leave. I promise I’ll be good. I’ll do anything you say.”
I gently laid my hand over her mouth to stop her heartbreaking pleas. If I had to hear much more, I’d start bawling myself.
How could I force her to go?
Simple. I couldn’t.
I’d just have to ensure I did everything possible to keep her safe.
“We’re going to go the way I showed you.” I jerked my chin toward the left. “You remember, right?”
Jayla nodded and wiped the moisture from her face.
“If we get separated, run straight to Van’s, okay?”
She set her shoulders back, adopting a determined expression. “I will.”
I grabbed her hand and slowly eased her to the left, pointing out where to walk so she didn’t make noise. I was a master at that kind of thing, but she could sound like a herd of elephants sometimes.
The cool spring air hit us as we finally made it out of the building, my heart racing. “This way.” I tugged her down the backstreet, but as we turned the corner, another cop blocked our exit.
Shit.
I shoved Jayla behind me and scooted back out of sight. Even if he wasn’t with Diane and the other cop, he could still hassle us because Jayla was a kid, and neither of us had any business hanging around an abandoned, burnt warehouse.
There was only one way to get her out of here.
“When I catch his attention, I want you to run by as fast as possible.” I clutched her soft cheeks between my hands. “Go to Van’s.”
Those damn puppy eyes bored into me again. “Are you going to get in trouble?”
“I’ll be fine.” I smoothed her hair. “Straight to Van’s”
She nodded.
I turned my back and strolled around the corner like I didn’t have a care in the world when in reality, the only care I had was crouched a few feet away, waiting on me to get her out of the government’s sights.
The cop, a burly guy with copper hair and a wiry beard, whipped in my direction. He frowned as he took me in, probably wondering if I was a minor or old enough to be arrested. “What are you doing back here?”
I gave a noncommittal shrug, noting the name on the tag pinned to his chest, Officer Barkley. “Nothing. Just selling some drugs.” My mouth curved into a smirk. “Want to buy any?”
He blinked at my daring words and then shook his head. “You shouldn’t joke about that, young lady. I could arrest you.”
“Who said I was joking, Barkley?” I lifted my arms. “Go ahead and check. Then arrest me.”
The officer gave me a skeptical look and reached for the radio on his shoulder to contact his partner, maybe even the guy with Diane. That would screw up my plans to sneak Jayla by.
A crazed scream burst out of my mouth, and I bolted forward to slip past him. Barkley’s hand yanked away from his radio as he snatched my arm.
“Where do you think you’re going?” He turned me toward the wall, but Jayla’s footsteps caught his attention.
Son of a bitch.I needed to teach that girl the concept of stealth.
I pulled out of his grasp to draw his focus, spun, and slammed my fist into his gut. He doubled over, and I shuffled to the side to block Jayla as she scurried by. I ignored her silent pleas for me to follow because if I did, Officer Barkley would too.
“That’s all you got, Barkley?” I danced around to make sure he stayed on me. “You’re three times my size.”
