Page 13 of Wraith
Then again, if she could get her hand on the painting, she could sell it to a museum or something and not have to worry about even going back to Toronto at all.
That’s the kind of fucked up thinking that’s wrong with this.
Amelia shook her head to clear it. What she should want to do with the damn piece of art was burn it to a crisp.
No. All those were dangerous thoughts. There should be no room for any of it inside her mind.
She licked her lips and stared at the snowflakes now falling from the sky.
For a long time, she basked in the sense of silence in the vehicle. Amelia always liked peace and quiet but the air in the Jeep was almost too much. She almost wished she knew where the damn painting was so she could just hand it over and get on with her life. As the car sped through the desolate streets of Kirkland Lake, she leaned her forehead against the window. The cool of the glass dulled the throbbing behind her eyes.
Doc whimpered, and she looked up in time to see him pushing through the seats. She watched him rest half his body in her lap, his head on top of his paw. Though still a little nervous, she rubbed his head gently. “You know something, Doc?” she asked softly. “I think I’m in love with you. But you can’t tell the girl wolves. They might get jealous.”
Doc looked up at her and she laughed softly.
Having the wolf in her lap comforted her.
Amelia glanced over at Liam quickly then ahead out at the dark road. He turned right and before the car even had time to be straightened, he hit a left. She wondered about this man—this man of little words and more action. He hadn’t asked many questions but dropped his life and picked up with hers. He had a tunnel under his cabin, and snuck around the woods like the Huntsman. Liam was handsome—built, beautiful eyes, kissable lips—what was a man like him doing with a tunnel under his cabin and a gun in the back of his pants?
“Where are we going?” She asked.
“Temiskaming Shores.”
“Why? I thought our flight leaves from Kirkland.”
“We have to kill three days.” He replied. “We need a place to lay low for the time and we need a different vehicle.”
She nodded.
“Besides, we can’t take Doc with us. I won’t leave him with just about anyone. I will leave him with someone I trust.”
They drove for about forty five minutes until they passed a Welcome to Englehart sign. Liam pulled into the parking lot of a rental agency. It didn’t look like much—a small house like structure sitting by itself with a neon arrow pointing toward it.
“Stay here with Doc,” he said.
“Um…”
Liam stared at her and she frowned but nodded.
He exited from the car, pulling his hood over his head and made his way into the building. Amelia tried keeping her eyes on him, but he vanished behind the ads the agency had pasted to the window. Doc climbed across again to stand on Liam’s seat and stared out the glass. Amelia rubbed her palms against her thighs wanting to call Lisa but knew she couldn’t. If her father was right about them tracking her phone, Amelia knew they’d most certainly do their homework and find out about Lisa. The further she stayed away from her best friend, the safer Lisa would be.
Then it dawned on her. She was alone in the world. Her mother had died over ten years before and her father was either dead or about to be. With Lisa out of hug reach, Amelia was by herself. Sure, there was Liam and Doc, but Liam was only doing a favour for a man Amelia wasn’t sure deserved such loyalty.
Doc started wagging his tale and Amelia leaned inward to see why. Liam approached and opened the door. Instantly, the wolf licked his face.
Liam laughed. “Aww, knock it off, would you Doc?”
The wolf growled, licked him again then sat on the seat.
“Here,” Liam said, reaching around the dark wolf to hand her a set of keys. We’re going to have to dispose of this SUV. You drive the rental behind me with Doc.”
“Okay,” Amelia said, glad to actually be doing something.
“Come on, Doc. Down you go.”
The wolf obeyed and Amelia climbed out the other side. Liam led her to a blue Jeep Rubicon. Instead of walking away, he allowed Doc into the passenger side then waited until she climbed in and started the ignition. Amelia turned the vehicle around and followed Liam back to the stolen SUV. She then waited for him to precede her from the lot. All the while driving after him, she wondered what he would be doing with the vehicle. The answer came as they pulled up to a deserted watery area. Instead of stopping, Liam kept going. In fact, Amelia could have sworn he sped up.
She screamed and closed her eyes tightly.
