“They’ll just follow.”
I sighed in frustration and then looked down at my watch. “Maybe they aren’t armed.”
“That FMTV transport has an armored cab. It could obliterate the Tundra if I let it get close enough.”
I turned to him and tried a nervous smile. “Please don’t.”
Jared returned my smile and then nodded, gripping the wheel. He pressed on the gas. I wasn’t sure what he had decided, but he had a plan. It was possible that the drivers of those trucks wouldn’t shell at all. We could pass them without a problem as we had the previous ten or so vehicles. That, of course, was just empty hope. I could feel a strange burning deep inside my bones. Every one of those soldiers had already turned.
14. The Most Important Thing
The Jeep passed first and then the Humvees. I was just about to allow myself hope when the transport truck jerked into our lane. Jared didn’t twitch; he just drove faster. The needle on the speedometer vibrated at one hundred miles per hour. I gripped the door handle so tightly that my knuckles turned white under the pressure. I trusted that Jared had a plan, but at the same time, soaring down the road to meet an armored truck in a head-on collision didn’t sound like a good idea to me.
“Hang on, sweetheart,” Jared said, his voice low. “When I get out, take the wheel.”
“When you get out?” I said, instantly panicked.
In a move that was so smooth it seemed choreographed, Jared swerved to the right and jerked the wheel again in a nearly perfect half-circle around the Army truck. As the Tundra spun off the road, Jared opened the door and stepped out, shooting directly at the Army truck’s tires. I heard several popping noises, but I was focused on grabbing the wheel and getting my foot on the break. Although I was terrified, the move was effortless, and before I had time to be afraid, the Tundra had come to a stop on the shoulder.
I peeked over the steering wheel to see the truck skidded to a stop, all of its tires blown. Jared held one of the soldiers in the crook of his arm. The soldier went limp, and Jared lowered him gently to the ground. I counted eleven men on the ground, all of them unconscious.
Jared’s eyes met mine, and then he looked behind him, noticing the other vehicles circling around. He took off in a sprint, pointing behind me. I turned to see two shiny dots in the distance. I squinted, focusing in on the objects, and made out a motorcycle and a black sports car. It was Claire’s Exige, traveling at a speed manageable only to Earth’s most badass Hybrid.
I turned the wheel and stomped on the gas, picking Jared up along the way. My foot was flush against the floorboard as we raced toward our family.
Jared had barely broken a sweat.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yes. The shells don’t have the strength of demons because they don’t have the same hold on them that they do when they take the time to possess. I didn’t want to kill them, so I incapacitated them.”
“Will they come after us after they wake up?”
“It’s possible,” Jared said, turning around. “Faster, honey.”
The Jeeps and Humvees were gaining ground, and with a quick calculation, I figured if we were lucky we would reach Claire when the Army vehicles caught up to us.
Jared leaned out the window and aimed at the tires of the first Jeep. His gun clicked, and he popped out the clip. He leaned into the back seat and pulled out a bag, dropping it to the passenger floorboard. It was full of ammo and handguns.
“Where the hell did that come from?”
“Claire helped me pack.” He shoved another clip into his gun and flung his top half out the window.
He got off only a few more shots before ducking back inside. The Exige swerved to one side of the road, and Bex’s motorcycle went to the other, creating a clear path for us. I looked to my right, and everything went from hypersonic to a snail’s pace. Claire came into view, and half of her mouth was pulled up into a smile. She winked. Ryan was in the passenger seat, showing me his fist. His index finger and pinky was up, and his mouth was open, his tongue hanging out.
When they passed, I pulled off to the side of the road and made a wide turn. One of the soldiers manned the turret of one of the Jeeps, aiming in Bex’s direction.
“What should I do?”
Jared reached over and turned off the ignition. “We wait.”
Claire drove until she was behind the caravan and then flipped around, pulling alongside one of the Jeeps. Her tiny arm appeared outside her window, gun in hand. She pulled the trigger once, shooting out the front tire. The Jeep swerved out of control and then cartwheeled toward the Tundra.
“Jared?”
My husband held my hand. “It’s fine.”
The Jeep continued to roll at us, end over end.
“Jared!”
I pulled the keys from his hand, shoved the keys in the ignition, and then paused as I watched the Jeep skid on its side and come to a halt inches away from our bumper. My heart started beating again, and a puff of air escaped my lungs.
Gunfire drew my attention down the road. The Exige fell behind what was left of the caravan, driving strangely straight and at a decent speed for a moment before Claire popped out of the passenger side. In the next moment, Bex was next to her on his Ducati. As if they’d practiced the move a million times, Claire jumped onto the back of Bex’s bike—backward—with two guns.
Bex pumped his wrist, and the motorcycle took off like a rocket. Claire’s platinum hair whipped into her face while she took out another Jeep’s tires, but the soldier on the next Jeep began firing on them.
Bex maneuvered close to the Jeep, and then he jumped off his bike high in the air, flipped, and landed, sure-footed, behind the soldier. After a short scuffle, the soldier flew off the Jeep and rolled onto the shoulder. Claire flipped around and drove the bike next to a Humvee, punching through the glass and pulling the driver from his seat and onto the road. The Humvee fishtailed and then rolled six times, finally slamming into a tree.
The bike skidded to a stop, and Claire hopped off of it, pulling the remaining soldiers out of the Humvee. She checked each for a pulse then picked the Ducati off the ground and pushed it to the Tundra. Ryan slowed the Exige to a stop just a few feet away and then got out.
“Glad this is fun for you,” I said.
Ryan’s eyes immediately fell to my belly. “Whoa, Nigh, how long were you gone? You look ready to pop.”
I rolled my eyes, and then my eyes drifted behind Ryan, to the Jeep approaching slowly. The Jeep parked and Bex stepped out, frowning at Claire. “Did you scratch it?”
Claire shrugged. “It’ll buff out.”
The scene behind them looked like the aftermath of war.
“Should we call an ambulance?” I asked.
“I already did,” Ryan said, crossing his arms across his chest.
Claire fiddled with her hair, knotting it into a bun. “They won’t remember anything, so we should move out before any of them come to.” She handed Jared a set of keys. “The Escalade is good to go. You can pick it up at Mom’s.”
Jared wrapped his arm around Claire’s head, trapping her in the crook of his arm, and then gave her a quick kiss on the head. “Thanks, kid.”
Claire pulled away with a smile, waving him away dismissively. “We were bored, anyway.”
Jared punched Bex in the arm. “Nice moves, little brother.”
Bex lifted his chin and smiled. “I’m a beast. Wait ’til we get to Jerusalem.”
Jared and I returned to the Tundra, with him back in the driver’s seat. In a caravan of our own, we returned to Providence. With the Exige behind us and the Ducati in front, we raced home. Sandwiched between my brother and sister, I felt at ease, completely different from an hour before. I leaned back and took a deep, relaxing breath. Jared smiled and reached his hand across the console. Our fingers intertwined, and I watched the different terrain pass by my window, unfazed by what might be ahead. I knew I was safe, and in that moment, that meant everything.
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Just after sunset, we pulled into Lillian’s drive. Bex pulled into the yard and held the door open for me. Claire was next, and she and Ryan walked together up the sidewalk. They were elbowing each other and smiling, still happy and excited. Ryan didn’t seem affected in the least, and it was at that moment I knew they were truly meant for each other.
Jared patted Bex on the shoulder as he walked by and then took my hand, guiding me into the dining room. Lillian was expecting us, and the table was already set. She brought out a large plate of brisket and placed it in the middle of the table. Claire disappeared into the kitchen and Bex followed.
Lillian pulled the oven mitts from her hands and then wrapped her arms around my neck. “Look at you! Darling, you look wonderful! How do you feel?”
“Big,” I said, only half-kidding.
“It doesn’t take long,” she said. Her smile was as warm and bright as the sun.
Lillian had always made me feel so loved and welcome. I was sad that she wouldn’t be there for Bean’s birth.
“Oh,” she said, touching my cheek. “What is it?”
“We’re leaving soon.”
She offered a comforting smile. “I know. But the next time I see you, you won’t just be my favorite daughter-in-law, anymore. You’ll be the mother of my grandbaby.”
I leaned into the crook of her shoulder, and she hugged me tighter. “You probably haven’t had a home-cooked meal in a few days. Let’s eat.”
At the table, Claire and Bex were chattering excitedly about the encounter with the Army trucks, and Ryan was busy stuffing food in his mouth. Lillian cut her food into small, bite-size pieces, smiling as she listened to her children talk about their day.
Jared smiled, amused at how Claire and Bex took turns with each sentence of the story. He held a fork in one hand and touched my knee with the other. I noticed the end of the table had an extra, empty place setting.
I leaned into Jared’s ear. “Is Lillian expecting someone else?”
Jared looked down to the plate and then shrugged. “Er . . . Mom? Is someone else coming to dinner?”
Lillian’s eyes brightened. “Yes. I didn’t have much notice, so I extended the invitation a bit late.”
The doorbell rang, and everyone at the table traded glances. Lillian patted her mouth quickly with the napkin and then pushed her chair away from the table.
The familiar sound of clicking heels echoed through the entry, down the hall, and into the dining room.
“Oh, Nina, dear!” Cynthia said, her arms outstretched.
I stood, a bit startled when she took me into her arms. “Hello, Mother.”
Cynthia relaxed her grip and held me at arm’s length. “I heard what happened. I trust you’re all right?” I nodded and she continued, “And the baby?” I nodded again, and she pulled me against her once more. “That’s very good news. Good news, indeed.”
It felt a bit strange to have her at our dinner table, listening to Claire and Bex describe the chaos and wreckage. She didn’t seem affected, however.
After Bex served dessert, I realized it would be our last time for several months to see Lillian and Cynthia and that we were all trying very hard to pretend it wasn’t. The Ryel family was practiced at this sort of thing, but I struggled to keep the sadness away. I caught Cynthia more than once glancing in my direction. I wasn’t sure if it was my belly that held her curiosity or the fact that she wanted to memorize my face in case we never saw each other again.
After a proper amount of post-dinner socializing, Cynthia excused herself, citing a previous engagement. I walked her outside and watched with a smile as Robert got out of the car and opened the back door for Cynthia.
Cynthia looked down at her expensive shoes and then laughed once. “I could’ve been a better mother, Nina, dear.”
Her words caught me off guard. I wasn’t sure how to reply, but even if I had been, she didn’t give me the chance.
“It’s always been hard for me. I was never what one might call a natural-born mother. These instincts that people talk about . . . Well, I never had them. Your father was always so good at hugs and kisses. I suppose I envied him for that.” She dabbed her nose with a tissue and then looked up at me. “I do love you. If you’ve ever questioned that, please accept my sincerest apology.”
I grabbed her hand and offered a smile. I could feel my eyes threatening to tear. “I love you, too. I’ll see you soon.”
Cynthia took me in her arms, and beyond her thin shoulder and the porch light, I saw Robert’s shocked expression. She let me go, and without looking back, she left, her heels clicking against the pavement until she disappeared into the car.
I wasn’t ready to meet the curious stares of the others. I walked around to the back of the house and leaned against a beam of the back porch. Murmuring caught my attention, and I saw Ryan and Claire sitting on the porch swing, looking up at the sky.
She was giggling, and he nonchalantly rested his arm on the back of the swing behind her. She didn’t lean away, and I smiled at the scene.
“I had fun today,” Ryan said, watching for Claire’s reaction.
“I couldn’t tell.” She rolled her eyes, but couldn’t hide her smile.
“My favorite part was when we traded places in the car.”
“I bet it was.”
They exchanged stories about the battle with the shells and laughed as they teased each other. Every time Claire was in Ryan’s line of sight, his eyes lit up. His grin was so innocent and animated that it was infectious.
Ryan pushed back against the swing, and again they sat quietly, with just a few residual giggles interrupting the still night. Claire held her feet out in front, her tan legs a perfect accessory to her cut off jean shorts and casual pink tank top. The black combat boots just made her outfit more ‘Claire.’
Ryan rubbed the back of his head, trying to seem casual. “I gotta tell ya I’m a little nervous about the trip.”
Claire turned to him, squaring her shoulders. “Are you scared, little girl?”
Ryan huffed, playing off her taunt. “Scared. Psh. I can handle it. I’m nervous about how it’s going to turn out. What if something bad happens?”
Claire’s playful smile melted and she faced forward. “It won’t.”
“But what if it does?”
“Then I’ll fix it. I always do.”
“What if something happens and you can’t fix it?”
“I don’t know,” she said. “That’s only happened once.”
Ryan squared his shoulders, facing her completely. “You mean your dad?”
She only nodded.
“Have you ever been up against something like this?”
Claire paused for a long time. I wished that I could see her expression. I wasn’t sure if she was annoyed at his line of questioning or if she was afraid of the answer.
“Hey,” Ryan said. When Claire ignored him, he tapped her shoulder. “Hey.” She looked at him, then. “I’ll be right behind you. And I don’t mean that you can’t take care of yourself, because we all know you can. I just mean if something happens I’m not going anywhere. Whatever you need.”
Claire took a breath. “I just assumed you already knew, but now I realize you don’t. Jared is the last line of defense, so if we lose them, we won’t know it. Do you understand?”
After a pause, Ryan nodded.
Claire continued, “The baby she is carrying is the most important thing. We have to protect it until we can’t.”
“The baby is important,” Ryan agreed. “But you are the most important thing to me.”
Claire watched him, and then her eyes fell to his lips. Ryan’s eyes turned soft, and then he leaned in.
Watching them suddenly felt wrong. I turned, trying to find the best way to escape. The way I came seemed to be the best exit, and I took a step back.
Claire smiled. “You’ve watched this long; you might as well stay and watch it play out.”
“I’m . . . I’m sorry,” I
said. My face instantly flushed.
Jared appeared at the back door, holding it wide open. “Everything okay?”
Ryan laughed and shook his head. “It was.”
“Oh,” Jared said with an awkward look. He and I traded glances, and then he retreated into the house.
Claire giggled and then punched Ryan in the thigh.
“Ow!”
“Wait up!” she said, following me to the front yard. She was at my side in less than a second and hooked her elbow around mine. “I meant what I said you know.”
“Which part?”
Claire stopped, her face fell, and she lowered her chin so I could see directly into her eyes. “I don’t know how all this will play out. Knowing Jared, he has a plan B, C, and D, but if something goes wrong, we’ll just figure something else out. The only other option isn’t an option.” I shook my head, and Claire pulled me into her chest with a tight squeeze. “Piece of cake.”
Jared stood at the Escalade with keys in hand. “We should get going. We still have to stop by the warehouse.”
I nodded and then waved to Claire. Ryan walked up behind her, putting his hands on her shoulders. It was so natural to see them standing next to each other. I couldn’t remember what it was like when Ryan didn’t know the Ryel secret and he and Claire didn’t spend every waking moment together.
“See you on the plane,” Ryan said with a contrived smile.
I paused. “I’d understand if you didn’t want to go.”
Ryan shook his head. “I’m in the Army Special Forces, Nigh. I live for this shit.”
Jared tugged on my hand. When we reached the Escalade, he sighed.
“You’re worried for them.”
“No,” he said, starting the engine. “I’m worried for us and what we’ll have to put up with when they don’t have an impending war to keep them entertained.”
15. Questioned
Jared drove across town and then took the highway that would lead us to the warehouse. Once we exited the highway and hit a dirt road, I knew we were close. The night sky was clear, and every star in the universe seemed to be present to watch over us. No wind, not even the sound of crickets or cicadas, played for us as we parked and walked down the gravel drive. Jared unlocked the large, rusted lock of the gate, and then I followed him to the side door. Jared pushed the button and then waited.
The Providence Trilogy Bundle: Providence; Requiem; Eden Page 79