When I’m done, you could hear a pin drop until Tommy mumbles to Luke, “I thought you said she liked you?”
Cody covers a snort with the back of his hand, and I have to hold back a giggle because I do like him, but I’m not a woman to be messed with. Just because I like you, doesn’t mean I will let you be an ass to me or my friends.
Tommy pats Luke on the shoulder before telling him he’ll be outside, but neither Chase or Cody turn to leave. They’re part of this team, and there is no reason for them to go. Luke runs both hands down his face, seeming frustrated. Ask me if I care.
“Anna, we can’t stay here. It’s not safe,” he says on a sigh. “We aren’t even five miles from the compound. They aren’t just gonna let you go. They will come looking for you, and this place is too close. I’m taking,” from the look on my face he decides to rephrase. “I want to take you to Diablo’s HQ. That’s the safest place for you, for all of us, until we can figure out a plan to get Ash back.” Placing both hands in his pockets and nervously stepping toward me, he continues, “It wasn’t my intention to be an ass. I’m just worried. I feel protective of you, and until we get some place safe, I’m probably gonna keep coming off like that.”
I can understand that, but it doesn’t make it okay. It took two minutes to explain what he wanted to do and give us the chance to weigh in. I won’t accept anything less. I don’t care how hot he is.
Cody and Chase stand protectively on either side of me, and before I can tell Luke exactly that, Chase speaks up. “I get feeling protective, trust me. But we’ve gotten this far because we communicate and work things out as a group. I know your important to Anna, but my girlfriend is in there dealing with God only knows what. So, while we are more than open to your ideas, we aren’t just gonna follow you blindly. You have to earn that kind of trust, and even then, we still need to work together as a team.”
Luke nods his understanding, but before we can discuss it further, Tommy bursts through the door.
“Harper, we’ve got company.”
I almost don’t know who he’s talking to until I remember that must be Luke’s last name. And also shit, what kind of company?
***
ANNA
After Tommy declared we had company, he ran back out the door with Luke hot on his heels, leaving Chase, Cody, and I standing there like a bunch of idiots. I’m not sure I’m cut out for being on the lamb. After standing there for too long, the three of us finally rushed out on the porch after snatching up our bags.
Luke, Tommy, and one of Luke’s other friends, either Easton or Talon, I’m not sure which, stand just past the front steps looking back in the direction of the compound. Once we join them, we can just make out people off in the distance.
Well, that’s fun.
“Anna, I know we just had a talk about discussing things, but there’s no time. We gotta go.” Luke grabs my arm, tugging me in the opposite direction, and I don’t struggle. He’s right, there’s no time.
When we start running, I instantly regret my lack of cardio over the years. Within minutes I’m sweating buckets, but at least I can hear Cody wheezing as he keeps pace next to me. At least I won’t be the only one holding the team back because if we have to keep this up too much longer, I think he and I both might kick the bucket,
One of Luke’s friend, we are gonna have to get them name tags, runs up from behind us scaring the shit out of Cody and I both.
“We aren’t gonna make it, Harper. I think they spotted us, and they’re on horses. We gotta make a stand.”
With that information, I look to Luke, hoping he has a better plan than making a stand, but he seems lost in thought. I look over my shoulder, but I don’t see anything behind us, and I also don’t see the log in front of me. Before I can stop myself I go flying, feet over head, landing with a resounding thud in a small puddle of dirty water.
Three men say my name as I try to clear my foggy brain. I feel a hand on my waist, but I can’t pay attention to that because now, I see the men behind us. I can’t speak yet; all I can do is point. They each turn to look at the same time, and there’s a round of, shit, fuck, damn it as Luke helps me stand. My thoughts exactly.
I see five men on horseback, and at least two further away running on foot. Which means we might be matched in terms of numbers, but in every other aspect we are so totally screwed. Easton and Talon look like they might be in their mid-twenties like Cody, and I’m embarrassed to say I don’t actually know how old Luke is, but I doubt he’s more than twenty, the same age as Chase. I don’t know about Luke and the other two as far as experience goes, but I know Chase, Cody, and I have zero experience fighting. There is no way we stand a chance fighting the grown men barreling down on us, no more than two hundred yards away now.
“Spread out!” Luke barks before turning to me. “Don’t leave my side, Little Minx.”
Oh, so in the face of danger we’re back to nicknames? Got it.
As the
