“Vanko! Did you see Vanko at all?” Isidore asked suddenly. He lifted his eyes to peer at his sister in the rearview mirror.
She shook her head. “No, but I overheard them say that they needed to get me back in my room before he returned. I guess he went out for a meeting or to run an errand. I don’t know, but I don’t think he’s here.”
“Good,” Isidore said on a sigh. “Good.” He repeated it just to reassure himself. If Vanko had left, it meant that he’d likely taken a bodyguard or two with him. Fewer people to threaten Kairo.
So where was he?
He couldn’t wait another second. He had to go check on him. If Kairo was passed out and bleeding, there was no way Isidore was leaving him behind. The important thing was that Athena was out of the house and safe. She could still run down the mountain to the valley and get help from the police.
Grabbing the handle, he shoved open the door while twisting to look at his sister’s frightened face. “Get in the driver’s seat.”
She seized the driver’s headrest with both hands, her fingers tightly clenching in the material. “Where are you going?”
“I’m going for Kairo. If you see anyone else come out of the house that’s not me or him, I want you to drive out of here as fast as you can. Get the police.”
“But—”
“I’m serious, Athena. Do as I say. Let me protect you.”
She glared at him for a heartbeat before a sigh slipped out. “Idiot. Go.”
He jumped out of the car and he heard the door to the back seat open, but he didn’t move another step because his eyes were locked on the bloody man who was running toward them with a stern look as he clutched his stomach.
“What are you doing?” Kairo shouted. “Get in the car!”
Isidore started to climb inside, a wide grin on his face when Kairo waved one bloody hand at him. “No! You in the passenger seat. I’m driving!”
He was not about to argue. It was probably for the best. His relief had left him light-headed. Kairo was alive and he was free with them!
Tripping over his own feet, Isidore hurried around to the other side of the car and jumped into the passenger seat while Kairo slid behind the wheel.
“Are you hurt?” Athena demanded as he slammed his door shut. “You’re clutching your stomach.”
His eyes swept over the man. His face was definitely bruised, his bottom lip was split, and he was completely splattered with blood, but there was no way of telling if it was his blood or from the goons.
“No,” Kairo said in a clipped tone. “I managed to grab this on the way out the door.” He reached under his shirt and pulled out a squirming, chittering ferret. Athena squealed as he handed it over to her.
Isidore watched as she tucked the little beast against her chest and leaned between the seats to press a kiss to Kairo’s cheek. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
Meanwhile, he was wondering if it was better to place his dear sister in the trunk of the car.
Kissing Kairo.
He hadn’t even had the chance to kiss Kairo yet.
Kairo sent her a smirk before winking at Isidore. “Seat belts. We’re getting the fuck out of here. Now.”
7
KAIRO JONES
Fuck!
Fuck, shit, damn, hell, fuck!
Seriously, what the hell?
He’d had a plan that was steadily coming together that involved him swiping a phone from one of the goons, secretly messaging Charlie with a date and location. From there, he’d been considering starting a small fire as a distraction, but he was still working on the actual escape details.