Page 35 of Knox

“You got a sharp tongue, spitfire,” I said, chuckling at my own gullibility. “Quick-thinking silver tongue.”

“Please,” she said around a mouthful of dry-ass cornflakes. “Compliment me more.”

I was really tempted to, with her looking like that.

I munched on my own cereal, impressed that she didn’t complain about the excuse for a meal. Then I remembered this was all a means to an end. My smile dimmed a bit.

“Dad was…” I began. Caroline stopped crunching. “Dad got involved with wrong crowd after wrong crowd. One night, his bad decisions bit him in the ass. I was twenty.”

“That sucks.”

“Nah,” I said with a quick grin. “He deserved it for all the shit he did to me, to himself, everything. I mean, thanks to him, we got this.” I nodded at the trailer and pickup truck. “Harlon was smart enough to leave a will. Despite how much he resented me, he still left me everything.”

For a few minutes, Caroline and I ate in silence. The forest was peaceful. A far cry from bloody MC business in the chaos of Reno.

“I can’t imagine a life without my father.”

Caroline’s voice was so quiet I almost didn’t hear it over the patter of rain. A snide remark came to mind, but I knew now wasn’t the time, so all I said was, “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” she said absently. “And that’s why I need to get out of Dodge.” Her eyes flicked to mine. They burned with intensity. “I need you to drive me to the nearest bus station. I have a route in mind.”

“Ah, so we’re switching to business talk. Nice segue.” I didn’t let disappointment enter my tone. Was I wrong to have thought she wasn’t as keen on hightailing it out of Reno? I leaned back in the chair, watching her. “But at this point, I bet Bates has eyes everywhere for you, even half an hour away.”

Caroline crossed her arms. “I’m aware. He’s always three steps ahead of everything. I’m not naïve enough to think this will be easy. But I have to try. I have my own tricks up my sleeve—don’t roll your eyes at me, you dick. He doesn’t know everything I’m capable of.”

“Sorry.” I couldn’t help but laugh, raising my hands in surrender. “If what you just said is true, he’ll predict all your tricks. Bates didn’t get where he is by being outwitted by his own kid. If you want to run, spitfire, you need to be under the radar. Unexpected. Everything your daddy wouldn’t think of.”

“I’m not his kid anymore,” she said sharply. “I’m my own person, and I know how to?—”

I was treading dangerous waters now. Proceed with caution when a Wolverine is close. “Okay, okay. Still doesn’t change the fact that if you try to take the bus, you’re walking into a trap.”

Caroline slumped in the camping chair. “So what, buzzkill? You got a better idea?”

“As a matter of fact, yeah. A limo.”

Caroline blinked in disbelief. “A limo? You serious?”

“Tinted windows,” I told her as if it were the most obvious solution in the world. “Quiet service. No branding. Nobody looks twice at a limo rolling through Reno. We’re not Vegas, but we still got tourists who need rides.”

Her mouth quirked like she wanted to dismiss it but couldn’t. “I’m aware of our locale. That sounds too easy, Knox.”

I leaned forward, bracing my arms on my thighs, giving her my signature cocky grin. “Simple doesn’t mean stupid. Sometimes it means smart.”

Caroline looked like she wanted to argue, but I could tell she was chewing on the idea. She didn’t want to admit it was a possibility she had overlooked.

I got to my feet and stretched with an exaggerated groan. “All right. Let’s go catch that bus. Pack a lunch. I got plenty of cereal and maybe a few granola bars. Hope you don’t get kidnapped. Remember, hitchhiking is illegal.”

“Shut up,” she snapped halfheartedly. “I didn’t say it was a bad idea. I’m just… thinking. Anything that feels too easy almost never goes as planned.”

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and started looking up local limousine services. “I’ll get you one now.”

Caroline bristled. “How many times do I need to tell you I don’t need your help? I’m not a charity case.”

“Don’t think you are, spitfire.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“Fine,” I promised with the full intent not to, “but let me ask you this: do you have money to pay for the bus?”

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