Page 50 of Graced
Grace’s eyes widened, and he could almost hear her silent question.This time?
Placing a finger to his lips, he pressed the speaker button so she could hear their conversation more clearly.
Welsh’s laughter rang out.“Good luck, asshole.I’m giving you one last chance.Bring me the woman, and don’t tell me you don’t have her with you.Don’t insult my intelligence.Bring her to the house.We’ll share her as a snack and let bygones be bygones.Whaddaya say?”
“Let me speak to Nash,” Rhyne demanded.He started to ask the man why he’d called using Nash’s phone, then realized he wouldn’t have answered if he’d seen Welsh’s name on the screen.But that didn’t keep him from worrying about the third member of their nest.He didn’t believe Welsh would harm the guy, but he wouldn’t put it past him, either.
Oddly enough, Nash got onto the phone.“Hey, Rhyne.We gotta get this settled and quickly.”
“Have you seen the news?Do you know what Welsh did?”
“Yeah, but Welsh explained it to me.It’s gonna be okay, Rhyne.Bring the woman to the house, and we’ll make sure the cops don’t get their hands on you.”
Grace frantically waved a hand to get his attention.Rhyne held up a finger, asking for a moment.“Give me a minute to think about it, guys.I’ll be right back.”Not waiting for the two men to comment, he hit the mute button.
“What is he talking about?What does he mean he’ll make sure the cops don’t get their hands on you?”she whispered.
Rhyne scowled.“It sounds like Nash believes I instigated the whole thing.”
“Or…what if he’s saying that because Welsh will do something to him if he doesn’t?”she astutely observed.
He nodded.“That’s very possible.”
“What if they haven’t seen the news yet?”she noted.“They don’t know the cops could be closing in on them any minute now!”
Rhyne narrowed his eyes.“Even if they already know the police have IDed Welsh, it doesn’t matter.They’ve abandoned the nest.They’re not at the house.”
She grew pale, her eyes widening even farther.“What?Wh-where could they be?”
“They’re searching for us.”
“On bicycles?”she remarked with a soft laugh.
An ugly thought hit him.Jumping to his feet, he ordered her, “Empty the fridge.We’re leaving.”
“Now?”
She watched him end the call.After he checked outside via the peephole, Rhyne opened the door and walked over to the nearest dumpster.He drew back his arm, as if he intended to throw the phone inside, but he changed his mind.Coming back into the room, he unplugged the charger and added it to his bag of clothes before slinging the bag over one shoulder.
“Hurry.We have to leave now.”
Grace threw everything from the fridge into the trash bag and handed it to him.He put it over his other shoulder, leaving her to carry her own bag of clothes.
He ushered her out of the room first, then closed the door behind them.Opening the car’s trunk, he tossed his two bags inside then reached for hers.
“Get in the driver’s side,” he instructed.Reaching inside his pants pocket, he extracted the key fob and handed it to her.
“But—”
“You know this city better than I do.Where’s the nearest police station?”
“What?”
“Do you know where the nearest police station is located?”he insisted.
“Yeah.I…” She took a frantic look around.“I think there’s one over on Piston.”
“Good.You drive.”He jumped into the passenger side seat as she slid in under the steering wheel.
