Page 15 of Under A New Moon

Darla

They both headed into the warehouse, and Galen blocked the entrance with a few large pieces of wood. Darla paced, trying to wrap her head around what she just saw. There was no way she saw PEACE workers. Surely, her eyes had deceived her.

Yet, she knew that face, and she memorized that voice. It was her boss, Chrstian.She’d never forget that face anywhere. Someone that had promised her everything she was doing was for the better of humanity. She was really starting to question everything.

She looked at Galen, who was supposed to be murderous and kill her the second he had a chance, yet he was protecting her. He was saving her from the people that were supposed to be protecting her.

Her mind was in overdrive, and she didn't know what to think. She knew one thing, though. She was infuriated and ready to rip the head off someone. She had risked her life coming after Galen, and she was told it was a big mission. God, she'd been working on it for months, trying to earn intel that would be useful. She was finally ready to earn her place, and everything had been twisted.

Had she been fed lies? And if so, for just how long? How many people had she hurt that didn't deserve it? How many lives had she taken without realizing maybe she was wrong?

It made her stomach flip, and she had to sit down. She needed to calm herself before she thought about anything before she did anything.

"We should be all boarded up now," Galen spoke up. He took a seat next to her on a crate. "I don't think anyone saw us slip out the backdoor and down the alley."

Darla rubbed her eyes, nodding her head. She could only pray. If they were after both of them, she didn't know where to hide. She didn't know who to call. She couldn't call anyone. She couldn't do anything because they would find her, and then what?

"We need a plan." Her voice came out broken and cracked a little. She swallowed spit in the hope of easing the pain. She licked her lips, running a hand over her head. "Ideas?"

"It's clear they want us both," Galen said the words calmly, and it sent a chill down her spine. She hated how easy it was for him to admit, and it made her question what life he had lived. How many things did he hide, how many things did he suppress to be able to speak such dangerous words with such a relaxed expression?

"It seems." She said while she fidgeted with her nails. "I don't understand." She didn't. They were her people, people she had come to know and trust. If they wanted to just talk to her or to understand the situation better, there were many ways to do that. Throwing a grenade into a room, she was still in and walking around with a goddamn gun in hand was not one of them.

She still pictured the man, Paul, if she remembered his name correctly. He was just an upper that handed her cases. She never really knew him even if he was her boss, but he always had made her feel welcomed. She thought he reminded her of her father.

That was no longer the case the minute she heard the words he wanted them dead. The gun in his hands only fueled the fear he wanted her dead.

She shook her head, "They clearly wanted us both dead. If they wanted to speak to either of us, they would have. I mean...they wanted you dead for a while now, but I don't understand why they are coming after me. I've worked with them, and it just doesn't make sense."

She shook her head, "They attacked us."

"And you have nothing else to give?" Galen sounded almost irritated, "You had no other intel to give?"

"Are you kidding me right now?" Darla snapped back, "I'm just as surprised as you are! Why are the wolves coming after you? Don't you see them?"

He frowned, shaking his head. "I'm a rogue, and I already told you that." He clicked his tongue in his mouth, kicking a loose piece of wood. "I haven't seen any of the pack in years. I don't know why they would come after us."

"Both of us? And..." Darla stopped hating where this was going. Both of the wolves and the Peace workers were coming after them, but why? It didn't make sense. They had nothing in common.

"We need more information." She ran her hands through her hair, fixing the mess it had become. "We can't put anything together with the little info we have now."

"We won't have more unless we get intel from the inside."

She knew that. They would need intel from the peace people, which seemed impossible. He would need intel from his pack, but that seemed almost as unbelievable as the first idea. She sighed deeply.

"Maybe I can contact some people." There had to be at least one person she could trust, right? She looked at him, "And is there anyone you talk to?"

He shook his head, "It's been years, Darla. Years." He frowned, "But I'll have to think of something. For now, I think we need to just stay low and wherever you decide to go.."

She cut him off, "I go where you go. We aren't separating."

He stopped and looked at her confused, "I'm sorry, what?"

"I'm not leaving you." She said it upfront and wasn't afraid if it put him in a tight position. She didn't know whether it was out of fear or because she felt she could trust him, but she knew she couldn't be alone.

He sighed and shrugged, "Then I guess you're with me."

Thirteen

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