“And yet, you tried to kill me.” I step around her and start walking again.
She’s back by my side in a few beats, keeping pace with my long strides. “You walk. I walk.”
Whatever, I think. She does what she wants to do. Nothing I say will change that. I know that now. I should have seen it in the past.
However, it’s not only Ana who won’t let me go, it seems. The chief appears by my side. “What’s happening right now?”
“I’m leaving,” I say.
“We have to leave before we get your team killed,” Ana says, leaning forward to speak to him from across my body. “I’ll call you once we’re undercover.”
“Don’t walk,” he says. “We’ll drive you to your car.”
My jaw clenches. “I don’t need a ride.”
“We’re fine,” Ana says. “I’ll call you soon.”
“All right,” the chief murmurs. “Seems foolish, but all right.” He stops walking.
Ana keeps pace with me. There was a time when her being by my side was everything. Hell, I hate that it still feels good to have her beside me. I don’t even know how that’s possible. The woman shot me, but then, I did kill her brother. Even if it was justified, the hardcore reality here is that there is no way she can live with that. I can barely live with it myself.
At this point, we’ve left the busy crime scene and we’re walking down the dark highway, but I don’t seek shelter. I dare whoever came at Jake to come at me or Ana. I swear to God, I’ll drag them to hell with me and enjoy every second.
Chapter Twenty-One
LUCIFER
The haze of the new day lingers over the mountaintop, while the sun illuminates our path and allows our enemies to see us coming. Suits me just fine, too. I prefer to see the faces of the men who killed Jake when I kill them, so bring it. Bring it now. Why drag this out? But a mile up the road, it’s clear I’m not going to get that lucky. Ana and I climb into the car without anyone daring to fuck with us. Chicken shit bastards. They probably ran when the cavalry arrived, and that’s fine. I’ll hunt them down if that’s how they want to play this game.
With that hunt in mind, I don’t waste any time pulling us onto the main road while Ana twists around to check our rear. “So far, so good,” she says, about a mile into the ride, but we both know that doesn’t mean someone isn’t waiting somewhere in our forward path for us to approach. That’s how chicken shits operate. They shoot you in the back if they get the chance.
My cellphone rings again and this time I answer the call without even looking at the caller ID. “Where are you?”
At the sound of Blake’s voice, I say, “In the car, getting the hell out of Estes Park. You’re on speaker with Ana.”
“You found Jake?” he asks.
“Yeah. We found him face down on his kitchen floor in a puddle of his own blood. We also found his pregnant daughter who just lost her husband a month ago.”
“Oh fuck,” Blake murmurs at the same time Ana says, “Oh, my God. I didn’t know that.”
“That’s a one-way path out of Estes Park,” Blake comments, keeping us focused. “You sure you’re not being followed?”
“For now, yes,” I confirm. “What waits up the road for us is yet to be seen.”
“Assume you’re being tracked, which means you can’t go straight to Breckenridge. I’m texting you a location in Boulder to dump your car. I have a private driver picking you up. Have him take you to some random location, walk a bit, and then Uber to the hotel I’ve already booked. There will be a new car waiting for you, and the keys will be under the driver’s seat. I’m texting you all the details now.”
“Wow,” Ana says. “You think of everything, don’t you?”
“It’s life or death,” Blake replies. “And, Ana, there are plenty of clothes and supplies in Breckinridge. Take what you need until you can buy some new things to get you by. Lucifer has a company card. Use it. You can’t use your own.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Ana says quickly.
“You can’t use your cards. You need to consider yourself in a safe house situation until we know otherwise.”
“Right,” Ana replies, her voice tight. “Yes. I know. Thank you. That’s generous and appreciated. I’m not quite sure who in my inner circle to trust right now.”
“I told you,” Blake replies. “You matter to Lucifer, and you’re family until you prove otherwise.”
Ana looks skyward and then cuts her gaze, obviously affected by Blake’s words.
Maybe she hates the idea of being part of a family that is mine. Maybe she regrets the fact that she made sure we couldn’t ever be what we once were ever again. Maybe the very idea of being called my family disgusts her. Hell, I don’t know what is going through Ana’s mind. I just know that she does matter to me. Too damn much considering our history.