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Decker
I grab his belongings—keys, wallet, phone, gun—you name it, I’ve got it. Then I run for the car, hightailing it back into town.
I pull over at the start of the main street and scan the shopfronts, looking for any reinforcements who may have arrived to protect Keira.
I could keep ru
It’s not like I’m capable of taking down Luther from the inside anymore. But Hunter’s right. I’ve dragged him and Sarah into this. Torian will kill them as soon as he finds out I’m the informant. He’ll consider them accomplices. At the very least, he’ll hold Hunter responsible.
And as trigger-happy as my friend was moments ago, I’m not going to let them take the fall for something I’ve done. I don’t want him punished.
But Keira…
I clench my teeth, fighting back anger. She set me up. She manipulated me with her body, making me sink head deep into her game.
It’s her fault we’re all in this position, and she’s the one who has to fix it.
I park the Porsche behind the diner and run back to Hunter’s Chevy. The Suburban will attract less attention, and I guess I get a kick out of stealing Hunt’s car.
I fill the tank with gas and wash up in the bathroom, cleaning away the blood and gore the best I can.
I get supplies. I make calls. I do everything and anything possible to set my next move into action before I park in front of the diner and spy on the traitorous woman inside.
Keira and Sarah are seated against the wall. Smiling. Laughing. The only sign of apprehension comes from the way Keira continues to glance at her watch—waiting for me? Or waiting for her brother to save her?
I climb from the car, my clothes covered in dirt, and jog up the sidewalk, meeting her gaze through the window.
Her smile is instantaneous. Immediate deception. There’s no glimmer of fear or panic. Then a split second later the expression flickers, flittering away as she scrutinizes my swelling face.
I shove past the glass door and meet her near the counter.
“You’re hurt.” Her eyes are wide, her lips parted in shock.
I keep one hand at my back, near my gun, as I lead them toward the door. “We need to leave.” I’m on edge, every muscle tense, waiting for her to end the charade.
“What happened?” She rushes to follow, bathing me in fake concern. Her acting skills are in full force, which is a great sign. It means she’s still playing the game. “Who did this to you?”
“They know we’re here. We need to hit the road.”
“They?” Her voice fractures.
Sarah comes up behind her. “Where’s Hunter?”
“He’s tying up loose ends.”
“Loose ends?” the little liar whispers.
I ignore her, pi
She gives a tight nod. “Is he okay?”
“He faired better than I did.” I continue to the door. “We’ve swapped cars. Hunt has the Porsche to try to take the heat off us as we run. I’ll take the Suburban.”
“Why don’t we go back to Portland with them?” Keira’s voice is frantic. “Aren’t we better to stay in a group?”
“No.” I can barely stand to look at her, can hardly glance her way without wanting to wrap my hands around her neck. “We need to get off the grid.”
“But—”
“Trust me,” I growl.
I gain the slightest solace betraying her, manipulating her, lying straight to her beautiful face. I gain even more when she nods, seeming to come to terms with the plan.
“Okay…” Her throat works over a heavy swallow. “I trust you.”
Everything inside me revolts. My pulse. My heart. My stomach takes a dive, too. Even though I know she’s acting, I still can’t see it. Not the slightest flicker of a charade.
She’s fucking brilliant in her deception.
Entirely flawless.
I squeeze her arm in a fake show of support, then turn back to Sarah.
“I’m sorry.” I hate that she’ll soon see me in the same light I see Keira. She’s going to hate me. Despise me. “I don’t want to leave you here like this.” The depth of my apology runs far below the surface. She won’t understand it now, but hopefully, once I’m gone and my actions become clear, she’ll make sense of it.
“It’s okay. Go. Keep Keira safe.”
“I will. But I fucking hate this.” I’m not like the snake at her side. I don’t enjoy lying to people who trust me.
“You’re getting soft, Deck. And making me uncomfortable at the same time.” She frowns and jerks her chin toward the door. “Hurry up and get moving.”
Fucking hell. I don’t want to leave her. I’m struggling to walk away. Sarah has become a major part of my life. She’s a gorgeous woman. A moral woman. Lethally so. It’s a good thing I’m not going to be around when she finds out what I’ve done.
“Don’t miss me too much.” I paste on a grin and lean in to kiss her temple.
She rolls her eyes as I retreat, not allowing a second of softness. “Be careful. Guard her with your life.”
“I’ll do everything I can.” I shove open the door. “When Hunt gets here, you need to remind him to go to my house. There’s stuff I need him to pick up.”
I don’t look back as I escape onto the sidewalk, Keira following close behind. We jog to Hunter’s car and climb in. I don’t spare a second as I gun the engine and pull from the curb.
She doesn’t talk as we speed down the highway, her hands fidgeting in her lap. She’s giving me the same act she did when we fled Portland. An exact replica of the i
I can’t blame her, seeing as though the duplicity worked so well the first time. Obviously, it’s a familiar role, a default, because beneath the fragility is a calculated bitch pla
“Do you still have that phone?” I ask.
“Yes. But it’s flat. There’s no battery.” She fumbles in her cardigan pocket and pulls out the device. “I need to buy a charger.”
“No, you don’t.” I lower my window and grab the cell to throw it to the wind. I watch in my mirror as it bounces and shatters along the road behind us, the destruction a comforting sight.
“Sebastian.” She raises from her seat to stare out the back window. “Why did you do that?”
“I don’t know how they tracked us. I’m not willing to take any chances.”
“What about your cell? I need to call Cole. I want to know what’s going on.”
“Sorry, babe. I’ve already ditched mine. We need to get off the grid as soon as possible.”
Those fingers increase their nervous wringing. Her leg begins to jitter. “Where are we going?”
Her panic is an aphrodisiac. I can’t get enough. “As far away as possible. I’ve already filled the tank with gas. I have no plans to pull over until we’ve disappeared.”
“Are you sure going home isn’t a better option? If people are coming after us, I’d prefer to be moving toward my family. Not away.”
I glance at her and give a grin filled with pure menace. “Aren’t I good enough anymore?”
I want her to bite. I need her to. My blood rushes with adrenaline, waiting for the finish line. But now isn’t the time to let her know I’m already aware of her lies. Not when I’m behind the wheel.
“It’s not that…” Her leg jolts faster. “I’m just nervous about being out in the open.”
“Don’t worry.” I reach over, sliding my hand behind her head to squeeze the back of her neck. It takes all my strength not to grip hard. To sink my fingers into muscle and inflict pain. “Hunter and I dealt with the issue. Moving forward, I’ll be more cautious. I promise nobody will find us.”