“Where’s the airport?”
Bishop snorted, taking my hand and leading me down the stairs. “You won’t find an airport here, Kitty.” I stayed quiet, unsure what to say. I didn’t know what I was expecting, but it wasn’t this. I expected more life. There were three white Mercedes trucks waiting for us that were square in shape and resembled military tanks. I faltered, and just as Tatum was about to slide into one of them with Nate’s hand on her lower back, she sent me a playful wink. I smiled at her reassuringly, but I wasn’t so sure. I felt like a fraud giving her that smile, but there was only so much people could do to help someone before it became too exhausting. Bishop started to lead us toward the truck at the front of the other two and pointed to the passenger door.
“Get in and put your belt on.”
I followed orders, opening the door and quickly clicking my belt on. I felt a sense of urgency rush through me. Like we were on borrowed time. The back doors swung open as Nate, Hunter, and Jase slid into the back. Bishop got into the driver’s seat beside me.
“This feels a little tense.” I glanced out the window, unease slowly seeping in.
“Because it is,” Nate mumbled in the back. Bishop’s eyes shot to him in the rearview mirror before putting the truck into first and flooring us out of there. The silence that fell was comfortable, and actually, I preferred it. This way I could take in my surroundings without having to maintain small talk. I watched as the thick shrubs started to morph and melt into the fat green wild forest, and the asphalt road transformed to dirt. The closeness of the overgrown trees, long grass and wilderness made it feel like our trip was more of the off-road trip. I turned in my seat to see the other two trucks still behind us, my panicking semi-subsided. My eyes dropped down to Jase’s lap, and then to Hunter’s and Nate’s, all to catch them loading up AK’s.
“Why do I feel like we’re walking into a war zone?” I turned back in my seat, my hands skimming over the metal door. I bet if I googled this make of Mercedes, it would tell me it was bulletproof.
“Because we are,” Bishop replied casually, flooring it. We shot forward faster, so fast that I could no longer enjoy the scenery outside because everything looked like an oil paint mixture gone wrong.
“Nate, what are you doing with Tatum?” I asked.
“Mads, I don’t think this is the right time to ask me that.”
“Well, why did you put her in with Eli and Saint?”
“Because we all wanted to be near you, and you’re my priority.”
I sighed, resting my head on the cool window. “Why are you stringing her along then?”
He sneered. “I’m not, and sis, this really isn’t the time, but know that she knows exactly where I stand and where I’ve always stood. I’ve been nothing but honest with her, it’s not my fault if she allows her feelings to control her.”
“Nate? Just stay away from her, please.”
Silence.
“I need to tell you something, but I didn’t want to until we got here, because I didn’t want you to have to be stressing all the way”—Bishop’s eyes came to mine—“Ok?”
“Ok?” I answered.
“The reason we’re here is because Daemon called me yesterday. He sounded…off.”
I froze. My heartbeat slowed to a thunderous pace. “Wha—what?” Then just like that, everything zipped back into real time. “What!” I screamed, frantically looking around. “What do you mean off?”
“See” Bishop rolled his eyes. “I made the right decision,” he shot a stare at someone in the back through the rearview mirror.
“Someone better start talking…” I warned.
Bishop shuffled in his seat, cutting a hard left turn and onto a track that barely looked like a track. Branches slapped the windshield like thunder and the wheels of the truck dipped us low and high through the bumpy puddles. “He called me yesterday and the call cut out. I couldn’t get through to him after that, but from what he told me, it’s not looking good here right now.”
I massaged my temples. “Bishop, please cut the shit.”
“Through the broken speech, I made out Silver Swan and Madison, and that’s it. Then the call was cut. Hearing that, put us all on high alert. I called Dad and he dispatched us here to check things out. If we need, we can have more back up, but we’ve never needed it before. This island, it’s separated by four fractions, but all within a vast gated community. Nihil (Nil), Regiis (Royal), Secundus (Second), and Tertuim (third). Each faction is chosen by your family lineage and how important you are. Everyone is fluent in Latin, hardly any speak English. I need you to stay directly beside me.”