Page 3 of Own

There was something dark splattered over the back of the car, blood probably. But I wasn’t going to focus on that. The glove sticking out seemed to taunt me.

Yeah, I wasn’t going to think about that either.

They started it.

“Very good driver.” Because that car had taken a battering and while I was pretty sure my bruises had bruises. We were all in one piece.

The corner of his mouth kicked up. He secured his gun and then moved to the trunk where he yanked out a couple of bags. “Follow me.”

“Yes, sir,” I said. It probably came out a little bitchy, but I was tired. So I just followed him and Goblin trotted with us. As soon as he “stashed me” or whatever, I wanted to go over the dog and make sure he wasn’t hurt.

We left the car on one side of the parking garage and he made his way over to the other. There was a stairwell in the corner, then a little cubby of space tucked between it and the wall. It would be putting me in a corner, but no one would see me.

It was cool down here and I shivered a little. He set one of the bags down, then thrust the other at me. “There’s water in here and clean clothes. Change if you can.”

I nodded.

Then he handed me a taser.

Oh, it was my taser.

Well, the one I thought of as mine. It was the one Voodoo had given me.How had they gotten the taser through security?

You know what, Grace? Not important right now.

“Remember how to use this?”

“Yes.”

“Good girl,” he said, then he crouched down to look at Goblin. “Stay with Grace. Guard.”

He spared me a look.

“If you tell me to stay with Goblin and guard, I promise to not growl.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up again. “Just get changed and stay put. You have your phone?”

I patted over my pockets. Then pulled it out. Yes, and it had a charge. Not much of a signal though. “Should I message the guys?”

“Not yet.” He just gave me a long look. “Don’t message anyone. If you get a message from me, it means move. Get out of here. The street is two flights of stairs up. Go straight up and out. Take your bag and Goblin with you. Head south toward the beaches. Strip down as you go, so if you can put a suit on when you change, you’ll be ready to hide by the water.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll find you.”

I blew out a breath.

“Okay.”

“Tell me the plan.” He still crouched, his gaze steady on me.

Deep breath. “Stay here, clean up and change. If I get any message from you at all, take only my bag, and head upstairs two flights. Go outside. Go south toward the water. Strip so I look like I’m just out for a day in the sun with Goblin. You’ll find me.”

He nodded once. “Keep that taser with you, and Grace… ifanyonecomes near you, trust Goblin’s reaction.”

“I can do that.”

I glanced down at Goblin then back at Bones. “Please don’t get lost or hurt or disappear. Cause I’m not sure how we would find you.”

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