Page 93 of Homestead

I do what he asks because he asks it, even though the move makes my stomach churn dangerously. “Where… where are we?”

“They put us in the back of the Jeep.”

That must be why it feels like the whole world is rocking. We’re in the back of a moving vehicle.

“Can we get out?”

“Not easily. They got this whole thing reinforced like they use it to haul people around. We’d have to blow the lock off the back, but it’s movin’ too fast to be safe to jump anyway.”

“Okay.” I take a few deep breaths and try to clear my mind. “Then we’ll have to be ready for them when we stop.”

His gaze shifts to appreciation. Something like awe. “You think you’re up to helping?”

“Of course I am. I’ve been punched, but I’ve lived through that before. At least he didn’t hit me in the stomach.” I cup my belly protectively although it’s way too early for me to have even the slightest of bumps.

“Yeah. When you were out for so long, I was afraid…” He makes a guttural sound instead of finishing the sentence. “Anyway, I got a bullet in my thigh, and it’s bleedin’ pretty bad. I think you’re in better shape than me.”

“Oh no!” I remember now hearing the shot. Seeing the blood on his jeans. I pull off the thin little sweater I’m wearing and wrap it tightly around the wound in his leg. It’s not a great bandage, but it’s better than nothing.

Jimmy lets me tend to him, but then he says, “I can’t run, Chloe. Not sure I can even walk right now.”

I stare at him, speechless and confused.

“There’s gonna be a lot of ’em waiting when they open the door. If we wait until they get us to wherever they’re takin’ us, there’s no way even one of us is gonna get away. But if we make ’em stop sooner, we might have a chance. There were a bunch who attacked us, but only three got in the front of the Jeep.”

“How can we get them to stop?”

“They took the weapons off us they saw, but they were sloppy and missed the one at my ankle. So I got a gun. I can shoot the lock off the back and then try to blow one of the tires. They’ll have to stop then.”

“Do you think you can take all three of them after we stop?”

He gives a half shrug. He looks pale and sweaty and pained and weak. If our survival rests on Jimmy being able to stop a moving vehicle and then fight off three assailants, our chances are flimsy.

“I don’t know if I can get all three, but I can definitely clear a path for you to run.”

“What?”

“You’re gonna have to run. As soon as we slow down enough, you got to jump out and run as fast as you can.”

“But they’ll catch me. They’re bigger and fast?—”

“I’m gonna keep ’em off you for as long as I can. You’ll have a head start. They won’t have the SUV to chase you, so they’re gonna have to run too. You gotta run for all you’re worth and not stop for anythin’.”

“But… but…” I can barely take a breath. Much less get a full sentence out.

“It’s the only way.”

“But they’ll kill you!”

“Maybe. But I don’t know. If they wanted me dead, they would’ve made that first shot a kill shot instead of goin’ for my leg. For some reason, they want both of us alive. So they might not kill me. But there’s no way in fuckin’ hell I’m gonna let ’em touch you. You gotta get away.”

“So I have to… to leave you?”

“Yes. Leave me.”

The bumpy rocking of the drive is making me sick—it doesn’t feel like we’re even on a road—but something far worse is roiling in my stomach and darkening my vision. “Jimmy,” I whisper hoarsely. “I can’t.”

He winces as he readjusts. Reaches over to take my face in both his hands. “Yes, you can.”

---