Michael let out a laugh. “You’re a pussy.”
Just as Simon had ordered, he had brought the first aid kit. It was already open upon the bed and Michael gathered the necessary items to treat Davis’ many gashes.
“Fuck you, man. Just…fuck you.” Davis glowered. He could think of nothing really good to retort with.
Michael laughed more, even as he began doctoring the place on Davis’ forehead. The man winced loudly as the antiseptic swab stung. He shoved Michael’s arm and hand away from him.
“Leave me the fuck alone, you asshole.”
“Take it easy, man. I’m just trying to help.” Michael made a move with his arm once more, and Davis once again pushed him away.
“I said leave me the fuck alone!” He shouted this time, his voice considerably louder. It cracked under the strain.
“Hey!” Simon interrupted. His eyes burned with an untamed fury as he stared at Davis. “I suggest you shut your fucking mouth, before I do it for you.”
Eric, in the doorway, only chuckled.
“Fuck you, Simon. Fuck you and your fucking plan,” Davis muttered. But it was just loud enough for Simon to hear. What happened next happened in only a matter of a few seconds. Claire took a few steps toward the door, a foreboding feeling prompting her to make her exit. She stood next to Eric, who had moved from the doorframe and had taken a couple more steps inside. Simon lunged forward, across the room at a very quick rate and grabbed Davis by the throat. Michael fell over when Simon brushed past him. Medical bandages and packets of ointment spilled onto the floor.
Simon’s fingers tightened around Davis’ throat. The young man’s eyes bulged widely in fear, and he had lost control of his bladder. Urine now stained the front of his pants.
“What did you say?” Simon asked in a low voice.
Davis tried to speak, but his voice was blocked. He couldn’t breath. His hands wrapped around Simon’s wrist and arm and tried to pry him away. He felt like he was going to pass out.
There really wasn’t much of a struggle.
Horrified, Claire backed up against the wall and watched with wide eyes. Eric took point and stepped forward in order to break Simon’s grip from Davis. Michael remained where he was. He could only stare
“Simon, just let him go. He’s not worth it,” Eric told him. Simon made a frustrated sound.
“But he’s cost me everything so far! He’s nothing more than a cockroach. I could crush him right here and now.” He spoke through clenched teeth. Davis teetered on the edge of consciousness.
“There’s still time to work things out. Just let him go. He’s not worth it,” Eric implored.
Claire wasn’t sure whether it was Eric’s words, or if it was Simon’s own reasoning, but he finally let go. He shoved Davis back, and the man was sprawled across the bed once more. He began coughing loudly.
“Don’t ever…say that about me again.” Simon gave his warning. His dark eyes moved over everyone in the room in turn, and he let out a deep breath. He began again as if nothing had happened.
“The message was from Sean. He’s ready to meet us whenever we’re ready to head out, but he doesn’t know the location.”
“And where exactly is this location?” Claire spoke up finally. She shivered when Simon’s gaze fell on her. He appeared thoughtful for the moment.
“It’s an old PRDI place. They call them safe houses, but this particular one hasn’t been used in quite some time,” Simon explained. “They shut it down after they ran out of funding to keep it up.” He shut the laptop off and closed it. He began to put it back in his bag. Michael cleaned up the medical supplies.
“How do you know that’s where they are heading?” Eric asked the question that had just popped into Claire’s mind. Expectant eyes turned to Simon. He sighed, annoyed at this interrogation.
“The phone number of the person last called on the boyfriend’s cell phone was her cousin. He works with the PRDI and lives not too far from the safe house. It would be the closest place, and the one they think to be the safest. They will go there.”
Though the answer satisfied the question, it still didn’t explain to Claire just how he knew it. Was all this information in those files? She would have to check into that.
Instead of speaking her suspicions out loud, she simply nodded in understanding and headed out the door. The suitcase she carried went into the back of the van, and she climbed in. She found a seat near the back and prepared her laptop.
Eric remained in the room with Simon and Michael. Davis had already made himself scarce and had joined Claire in the van. It was probably for the best.
“So, we’re taking them by surprise?” Eric lifted one eyebrow.
Simon shrugged. “Basically.”
His attention turned to Michael. “I need you to take the car and head to where Sean and the others are located. I need you to take them to this address.” He handed Michael a piece of paper with an address scribbled on it.
“Got it,” Michael answered. He furrowed his eyebrows together for a moment. “Wouldn’t it be easier to call them on the phone and tell them, instead of me driving all those miles?”
Simon shook his head. “From now on, we use no phones. We don’t know if they are tracking us, and we don’t want any potential foul-ups like before.” He glanced toward the van where Davis was.
“No phones.” He turned his eyes to Michael. “Besides, someone has to get rid of the car.”
Simon tossed the keys at Michael, who caught them with a grin.
“I’m giving you eight hours. That should be plenty of time to get to Sean’s, and back to the rendezvous. Is that clear?”
“Crystal.”
“Good, now get your ass out of my sight.”
Michael disappeared out of the room. A few moments later, the car’s engine started, the headlights lit up, and he backed out of the parking place. Soon, he was on the road, heading the opposite direction than the ones the wolves had taken. Simon turned his gaze upon Eric.
“Why can’t things be simple anymore?” he asked, mostly to himself.
Eric gave a slight chuckle. “Couldn’t tell you, boss. No one has any respect any more. No one understands what we are trying to do.”
A smile spread across Simon’s face at Eric’s words. That was true. No one really understood what they were trying to do, much less what he was trying to do, secretly. He preferred to keep it that way.
Things always had a way of working out for him, though. He wasn’t too worried about that. After all, what were a few screw ups when the big picture was just within his grasp?
Chapter Twelve
Jason fidgeted. It was a nervous habit they both possessed, but for one reason or another, it was more apparent in him tonight. He just couldn’t sit still.
Every five minutes or so, or whenever the little bell would chime as another customer entered the tiny diner, he would turn his head. His eyes followed every person who came in, every person who walked by, and everyone who gave them a suspicious glance. Rose was becoming more tense than she already felt.
And it had been her idea to stop here. Her arms had been aching from holding onto him for so long, her face felt numb with cold, and her stomach was gurgling loudly. She was hungry.
She allowed herself to thaw out under the warm lights and heat of the diner. Jason did not focus on his menu, his eyes constantly on someone.
“Love, stop being so obvious,” Rose finally whispered to him. “People are going to think we’re up to something with your eyes wandering all over the place. We don’t want that.”
Jason ran a hand over the top of his head and smoothed down strands of hair that had flown loose.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “I just…don’t want to make the same mistake again.”
He lowered his eyes down to the table and toyed with the corner of a napkin. His face was grim and a line of worry had already set between his eyebrows. Rose attempted a smile, and took his hand from across the table. It ceased his fidgeting fi
ngers.
“Love…” she said as she leaned across the table. She lowered her voice. “We’ll be fine.” She couldn’t believe the words coming out of her mouth. Was she, Rose Sullivan, actually suggesting they weren’t in danger any more? Or was she just trying to reassure him with a false sense of hope? She prayed it wasn’t the latter.
She peered into his eyes. Those normally bright blue orbs had taken on a sullen grey shade, and red lined the whites of his eyes. He couldn’t lie about being tired. This rest was just what they needed.
Jason sighed and slid his hand out from under hers. He didn’t say anything, and a silence grew between them. Neither knew what to say.
The scent of fresh bacon wafted from the kitchen across the room, and Rose’s mouth began to water. Even Jason couldn’t disagree with a good meal. After all, they hadn’t eaten in nearly twenty-four hours, and they needed to keep their strength up. Just a quick bite, then a bathroom break and they’d be on their way again.
Jason inclined his head slightly toward the door as another patron entered. He studied the young man, but finding him not to be one of the individuals he feared would enter, he allowed his attention to direct itself elsewhere. Rose watched him, concerned.
She wanted so desperately to say something to him, to get him out of this mind set, but she could think of nothing. She remained silent as she glanced down at the menu and scanned the items. It seemed to be the right cue for the waitress who arrived a mere second later.
“Hi, my name’s Rachel, and I’ll be your server today. What can I get ya’ll?” the brunette drawled. She poised her pen on her notepad. Her lips smacked together as she chomped on a piece of chewing gum.
Rose did a quick glance over the menu, trying to decide quickly. “Um…”
Jason went ahead with his order. “I’ll take the country breakfast, eggs over easy, bacon. Coffee.” That was all there was to it.
“All right, hon.” Rachel beamed and scribbled down. “And you, darling?” she asked. Her attention turned to Rose.
“Same, but I want the eggs scrambled and I want orange juice instead of coffee.”
Rachel nodded and took the menus. “All right. Be right back with your drinks.” And she was off to wait on another table. Once the waitress was out of earshot, Rose sighed.
“Love, please just snap out of this,” she pleaded. Jason appeared to not hear her. He studied the dessert menu on the table before him. Rose gently moved it away from him so he was forced to look at her.
“Please…just listen to me. Things are bad, I know this. You know this. But it’s not the end. We’re going to be fine. Once we get to where Glen is, everything will be fine.”
Jason studied her face. He moistened his lips, apparently going over what he wished to say in his mind.
“Who are you trying to reassure? Me, or yourself, Rose?”
Rose let out a breath and lowered her eyes. She studied her hands, at the long fingernails, the slender fingers, and allowed them to become a blur to her vision. She wasn’t sure just what to say.
Thankfully, she was delayed in responding anyway when Rachel appeared with their drinks. She placed them on the table, smiled, and once more walked away. Jason watched until she was gone.
“Well?” Jason prompted, awaiting Rose’s response.
“I guess…” Rose began, and then paused. Her eyes lifted and stared at him from across the table. He added cream and sugar to his coffee, but his eyes were intent upon her. The severe look on his face remained, and his eyes had become somehow hardened. It almost scared her.
“I guess,” she began once more, “I guess I’m trying to reassure myself.” Her voice was hardly a whisper. “I mean…I’m the cause of all this. I never wanted this to happen. Now we’re on the run.”
A familiar stinging feeling began in her eyes and nose, and the urge to cry became overwhelming. She was determined not to let it happen this time.
Jason paused in the stirring of his coffee and stared at her. He reached out one hand and clasped hers.
“I don’t want to hear that from you ever again. Do you understand, Rose? It is not your fault, none of this is. It’s their fault. Their views on us are wrong, love. They don’t know what they are doing. They are sick and twisted.”
Rose sniffled and wiped at her eye, where a single tear had been threatening to fall.
“I guess you’re right,” she finally admitted. She took a sip of her juice.
“There’s no guessing, love. You know I’m right.”
“Yeah…”
He smiled just a bit at Rose. He glanced behind her and Rose turned her head. The waitress was heading their way, carrying a tray laden with food.
“Let’s put these depressing thoughts out of our head and try to enjoy our food. What do you say?”
Rose had to admit it was the best idea she had heard in ages.
Jason had fully enjoyed his meal. While he was always stereotypical in “wolfing” down his food, he had savored it none the less. Rose was still busy with her own plate when he excused himself and went to the restroom.
Instead of disappearing into the men’s room, he hung a right and entered the hall where the diner’s payphones were located. He inserted the necessary quarters and made his call.
He leaned against the wall, out of view from Rose and from most patrons of the place, and held the phone up to his ear. He dialed the number and waited as the phone began to ring. His heart was pounding within his chest.
“Hello?”
“Glen. It’s Jason—"
“What the fuck are you doing calling me?”
“I’m not using the cell,” Jason explained. He kept his eyes open for anyone walking into the diner, or directly past him. He spoke in a hushed tone. “I’m using the payphone at some diner.”
“Oh,” Glen answered. “What’s going on?” His concern was evident in his tone.
“We are in more deep shit. The hunters were following us. They were at the same motel we were, and we barely got away from them.”
“Shit. Did they follow you again?”
Jason could hear voices in the background, but he didn’t ask. He sighed.
“I don’t think so.
“Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!” Glen cursed into his phone. He exhaled a deep breath and composed himself. “Listen to me carefully, Jason: don’t hang around for too long. Take back roads, take the long way around, do anything to cover your tracks and lose them. Don’t lead them here.”
“One step ahead of you there, man,” Jason answered. He had already taken an alternate route, and while they were farther from their destination than he had originally planned, the hunters were not on the same path. He had guessed the hunters would stick to the most direct route, but he wasn’t going to count on that.
“Good. Also, I’m not sure what technology they have, so check your bike for tracking devices. That would be a good way to find you guys.”
Jason hadn’t thought of that before. “Okay. I’ll do that.”
“You better go. I’ll give you some extra time to get here…but you better get here soon. Be careful, Jason.”
“Don’t worry about us. We’ll be there.”
Jason hung the phone up, and the payphone collected the money he had deposited. With a new vigor, he returned to the table.
“We gotta go.”
Rose looked up at him, confused for a moment. “What, now?” She, luckily, had just finished her meal and now stared up at him with eyebrows knotted together.
“Yes, now.”
Rose didn’t argue and immediately got to her feet. Jason was already removing his wallet and taking out the necessary cash. He tossed it on the table. It would be enough to cover the cost of the meal and leave a generous tip.
They left the diner in a hurry. Rose had to jog to catch up with him at his quick pace, throwing on her jacket as she did so.
“Why are we leaving so quickly?” A look of fear crossed her face. “Are they here?”
&n
bsp; “No,” Jason answered simply. “But if we stay here any longer, they could be.” He was already on the bike, the engine running. He gunned it loudly a few times. Rose climbed on behind him and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
As always, Jason tore out of the parking lot with style. A few heads turned to watch them depart, and Rose hid her face against Jason’s back. Her hair flew wildly about.
The highway at this time of the early morning was nearly empty. A few cars passed now and again, and Jason took full advantage of the empty road. He accelerated and pushed the motorcycle to its limit.
The dangerous speeds were almost enough to make Rose cry out in fright, but it was also exhilarating. She held on even tighter, and closed her eyes from the sting of the wind. The chill in the night air penetrated her skin, lightly dampening it with the air’s moisture.
As they drove on, Rose fell into usual musings. Were they doing the right thing? A fear quaked at her very core. What if the hunters caught them in the end? What would happen then?
So many possible scenarios played in her mind, each one more horrible than the last. Scenes of torture, death and other unspeakable acts dominated her rationality. Now she was just being paranoid.
Rose let out a shuddering breath and adjusted her hold on Jason. She could almost imagine bruises lining his waist from her tight grip on him, but he never complained. She wasn’t about to let go, even if he did.
The moisture in the air grew heavier, and the scent of it became strong. The weather was about to change, and Rose feared a downfall of stinging rain wasn’t too far away. She lowered her head against the rough surface of Jason’s leather clad back.
Drowsiness soon overcame her, as it usually did when she rode with him. She fought the sleepiness, but a yawn still broke through her defenses. She stifled it by clenching her jaw.
No, she couldn’t fall asleep now, not while she was precariously perched on the back of a speeding motorcycle. She wasn’t stupid. But she was tired. And although Rose fought the drowsy feeling that overcame her, her eyelids still became heavy and began to droop.
Before she sank into slumber, her fingers tightened in the folds of Jason’s shirt as her last defense.
Sweet Moon Dreams Page 11