Page 68 of The Vigilante's Lover
“Can I go with you?” I ask her.
“Not possible,” she says. “They’d just take you from me and bring you back anyway.”
“The Vigilantes, you mean?” I ask.
She nods. “You’re seeing way more of it than you should.”
“What will happen now?”
She pauses again and reaches out to stop me from walking farther.
I sense we are just out of range of whatever devices are inside my house that monitor my activity. I make note of the location and draw a circle in my mind around the perimeter so I can remember.
“I think you should sell this house and move on with your life,” Colette says.
“But someone else will end up here.”
“It will get bought by the people who need to use it.”
“Oh.” I guess the Vigilantes can do anything they want.
She starts back to the house.
“Will I be able to get hold of Jax?”
She shakes her head. “Nobody gets in touch with him unless he wants it.”
“Can I get in touch with you?”
Colette stops again. “Mia, I’m sorry Jax mixed you up in this. I know it looks like an exciting life. But there’s no way to let you in. I’m sorry.”
We head back in silence, finally arriving on the back porch. Her voice changes to something more formal, like her words are being monitored for quality assurance.
“We have some security that will watch over you,” she says. “But they are not invading your privacy. No one is recording your activity or listening in. They just pay attention to who might arrive and make sure they are not a problem.”
If they’re not listening, then why is she talking like this? My hair prickles on my neck.
“Would that happen?” I ask. “Would somebody come here?”
She hesitates. “No. You will be safe.” She leans forward and kisses me on one cheek, then the other. “Take care, Mia.”
Then she’s walking to her car.
I watch the fancy BMW fire up and head down the lane. I don’t go in the house right away. I plunk down on the porch step. I feel absolutely bereft. She’s my only connection to Jax. And now she’s gone. They’re all gone.
I lean my head against the banister and let myself fall into a nice hard pity party. I’m alone. Nowhere to go. Nothing but this rambling house that somehow brought Jax to me only to have him leave again. There’s no way to find him. If the Vigilantes can’t track him, then I have no hope.
I stand up again. Unless there’s something in the pantry that can help me.
I have to look.
8: Jax
I figure Mia is home by now. It’s been six hours.
Sam guides us to a Vigilante outpost that is hidden beneath a donut shop. I’m sitting out in the parking lot with an ancient heat cloak blocking my body signature.
Meanwhile, Sam’s inside ordering a cinnamon roll.
