Not So Innocent (Shattered Glass #2)

Chapter Nine

The game on Rachel’s phone was the only noise in the Jag for about twenty minutes. Cai tried to sketch to fill the void, but everything morphed into Riley wearing black leather. Disturbed, he glanced covertly at the driver’s seat, hoping for inspiration. Julian opened his mouth, exhaled in a huff, and then pressed his lips together hard. When he did it a second time, Cai tucked his pencil away and waited.

“I lied,” Julian finally said.

“About what?” Cai asked.

“Mr. FBI not caring about you.”

“Oh. Yeah, I know.”

“What do you mean ‘you know’?”

“I’ve been around him and his family almost daily since I was sixteen. I think I know him.”

“You’re having a laugh. Don’t sit here and act like you weren’t surprised he treated you like a nasty bit of dog shite on his perfect, shiny shoes.”

“Being aware something will happen doesn’t make it hurt less, Julian.” Cai fiddled with the rings on his sketch pad.

“He’d no call treating you like that.”

Cai shrugged and carved Riley’s eyes in the cover of his notebook with his fingernail.

“You liked him treating you like that. Is that what you meant about being his pet?”

“Whelp, this car ride just got interesting.” Rachel tossed her phone on the seat and then stuck her head between them. “Whose pet?” she asked.

“I don’t enjoy being treated badly,” Cai said. “He’s angry. I like knowing why he’s angry.”

“Because he’s a right shit, that’s why. No reason to treat you like that.”

“He wants me, Julian.” Cai put his hands over his stomach, as if he could feel the heat of a million butterflies through his coat. “He wants me and it makes him feel dirty.” Recalling the previous night and Riley’s reaction when he’d called him ‘sir’, Cai asked, “Do you guys know about... um, dominance in, um... sex?” He almost whispered the last part.

“I know you couldn’t handle it,” Rachel said. “Why? Is this the pet thing?”

“I think, um, I think Riley is kinky.”

“Heh, well, that relationship is doomed before it starts,” Rachel said.

“Oh, I dunno,” Julian said. “Cai’s quite experimental.”

“No, he isn’t,” she said, laying down on the seat and pressing her boots against the back window. “Cai’s so vanilla, he even looks like the bean.” Her phone chimed with the game until the GPS announced they arrived at the Thorpe estate.

Everyone became silent.

Julian slowed the Jag as they drove alongside a brick wall for half a block, until they reached a wrought iron driveway gate. A matching pedestrian gate was tucked next to it, between a thick padding of vines.

“Gates weren’t closed last time.” Julian frowned and tapped the brakes. “Guess we really are ringing the bell.” He caught Cai’s glare. “Before you get your knickers twisty, I drove to the next street and walked through the trees over there. No one saw your car.”

“Not wearing knickers. They’re briefs,” Cai mumbled. “Let’s go up a ways, under the trees.”

They parked at the end of the block and killed the headlights. “Did you tell Rachel about your knickers and high heels experiment?”

Cai jerked upright. “Why would you bring that up?”

“Oh, wow. I thought he’d lied.” Rachel fell back, laughing.

The tension in the car ceased. Which, Cai realized, was the purpose of this arbitrary bit of embarrassment. Some of his nerves relaxed but he was still on edge. Wasn’t much that scared Cai, but being at the mercy of cops again? Terrifying.

“Move the car if someone comes, yeah?” Julian said as he tossed the keys to Rachel. “We’ll let you know when”—he looked at Cai—“if we need you to break in.”

“I know neither of you thought of this when you came up with your big lie, but why would you need to break in if we have to talk to him?” Cai got out and shut the door with a sigh. He slid his hat on while trying to hide his chin in the lapel of his jacket.

Julian bounded around and rubbed the chullo until it fell forward. “It was a funny story,” he said, chuckling.

“If you text her to break in, I’m leaving. She’s not experienced enough to deal with security in a place like this. But she’s cocky enough to think she can.” After pushing the hat out his face, Cai exhaled upward and began walking. “And I sprained my ankle in those heels.” A small laugh escaped him. “My feet hurt for a week.”

“Never mind the shoes, the dress was brilliant.”

“You thought so,” Cai murmured.

“You were quite pretty.” Julian’s grin was as infectious as it was bright. “Tell me you kept it. I want to see you...”

Something or someone called out in the distance. Cai tried to tune Julian out. “Shh.”

“It wasn’t that bad. With a lower heel…”

The sound grew louder, but he couldn’t make out the words. “Julian, shut up.”

The next cry was clear and chilling in its desperation. “Help!”

Cai sprinted toward the scream.

To his left, on the other side of the gate, moonlight revealed a woman tearing down the driveway of the Thorpe estate. Shadows from empty tree branches split her face into fractures of dark and light. Under her wide eyes, blotched mascara smeared her cheeks. Silvery blonde hair hung from an askew bun cinched loosely on her head. As her bare feet slapped against the bricks, she cried out again, “Help me! God, please!” She couldn’t possibly see Cai or Julian in the shadows, yet her delicate fists raised in defense toward them, a black piece of cloth squeezed in her hand. “God! Please.”

The woman tripped at the same moment she looked over her shoulder. Momentum spun her around and forward a step, even as the bullet exiting her jaw emptied the life from her body.

Julian bumped into Cai’s back just as the woman dropped in a heap. Her fingertips rested within an inch of the gate. The black cloth rolled out of her palm to graze the toe of Cai’s shoe.

“Oh my G—”

Cai covered Julian’s mouth and pushed him into the vines against the wall. The metal gate was less than an inch from his arm.

Julian floundered near his pocket while he made jerky breathing sounds. Cai felt the outline of a cell phone pressing against his thigh. Keeping his eye on the driveway, he positioned his lips close to Julian’s ear and almost mouthed his next word, “Don’t.”

Footsteps thumped down the same path the woman had run. “Check the gate! I heard something.” A suppressor attached to the slick barrel of a .45 swept in and out of the shadows. The gun’s owner searched the dark, using the trees for cover as he inched down the driveway. Cai followed his movements by the whites of his eyes and the occasional glint of the suppressor.

Julian’s jaw trembled. His body radiated fear with each tremor. Saliva seeped through the crease of Cai’s fingers along with a breathy whimper. If he could keep Julian quiet, the men might not search outside of the gate.

Another man, dark-skinned with long, straight hair appeared behind the first. No mask? Cai glanced down at the black wad of cloth in the dead woman’s hand. The man would be coming for that.

They had to move fast. This panicked Julian wouldn’t be able to keep up. Cai leaned in again. “Stay close to the wall. When they follow me, get to the car and keep driving. Don’t wait for me.”

The gate started to open. Cai broke right, bent, snatched the mask and slammed the gate shut with his shoulder. He stumbled across the road before catching his balance. A single bullet ricocheted off metal. Another hit the sidewalk ahead of him.

“East! He went east!”

The gate rattled. Another gunshot whizzed by and then another. Cai instinctively bowed his head. Heat sliced through the edge of his forearm as a bullet passed through his coat. His heart steadily pumped blood from the wound. The sleeves and mittens grew slick as they soaked it up. He glanced at the ground while stuffing the ski mask he’d picked up into his pocket. No blood trail. Which didn’t matter if there was nowhere to run. Spotting an opening a few feet ahead, Cai sprinted along a wall of pines lining the road and then slipped into the copse.

The snow reflected enough light to weave between the trees and fallen logs. Needles struck his face and clothes. He ducked through some, but most were unavoidable at this speed.

“Southeast!” One of his pursuers yelled.

A car screeched to a halt about forty feet ahead. Cai stopped to listen for the crunch of footsteps.

Surrounded on three sides.

Crap!

Peeling off his mittens, he stuffed them in his coat while scouring the ground. Packed snow blocked any ability to find a suitable weapon. The few rocks jutting out were too heavy to throw as a distraction. The twigs scattered atop were too small. The ground mocked him with its bare assets. Not that a weapon would help. One-on-one he wouldn’t stand a chance even if his opponent tied a hand behind their back, wore a blindfold, and—

Two seconds lost on frivolous thoughts. Think!

Are they hunting in pairs or solo?

Solo to cover more ground, but close together. If they split up far enough, I can sneak between them.

And go where?

A flash of red brick caught his eye. He craned to see further without moving his feet. The Cherry Hills golf course peeked through the evergreens. Snow across the course would be compact enough to cut across to the main clubhouse but, with no trees, he’d be an easy target. And if the snow wasn’t hard enough, it’d slow him down.

Ten more seconds wasted. Make a decision!

His other choice was the Thorpe estate. He could easily scale the wall, but he’d have to cross the road first. If they didn’t catch him before he got there, they’d have another opportunity as he climbed over the wall.

Climb a tree? Good camouflage, but he’d be trapped. The golf course or the estate were his only options. One more look at the golf course and, as his eyes adjusted to the night, he could make out strips of barbed wire over the chain link fence. No-go.

He ripped off the chullo to blend his black hair into the shadows and took a step toward the street. The tree behind him belched wooden shrapnel. Bark slapped against his neck. He ducked, lurching forward and covering his head.

Should’ve kept running. Taken the hat off sooner.

Too many mistakes.

Over the wild thrash of his pulse, he heard a loud thump followed by a grunt. He stole a look over to where the shots came from and froze.

“Cai!” Julian stood over the body of one of the gunmen, a large branch trembling in his fist.

“Shh!” Cai hurried over and quickly patted the outside of the man’s clothes. He pocketed a cell phone and snatched the gun, then searched for a radio. A low voice spoke from under the mask. Cai pulled it off and grabbed the small headset wrapped around one ear. Then he pointed the gun against the man’s temple to muffle the shot.

Julian knocked his hand away. “What are you doing?” he whispered fiercely.

“Shooting him?” Cai answered, bewildered.

“Are you mad? Are you bleeding, stinking mental?” A spray of spit hit Cai’s cheek. “Give me the gun!”

“He saw my face.” If this man identified him, no one in his life would be safe.

“No, he bloody didn’t. It’s dead dark out here. I barely see your face ‘n I’m standing right on top of you!’ He tapped Cai hard in the center of the forehead. “No shooting people!”

“But—”

The whites of Julian’s eyes grew enormous. “There’s no buts! There’s no shooting. No shooting! No shooting!” A shot whizzed between them, nearly clipping Julian’s nose. They split apart like a tree hit with lightning.

“Run!” Cai shoved Julian toward the street. He turned and fired aimlessly toward their pursuers. After covering Julian’s exit with a few shots, he put three bullets into the man on the ground, tucked the gun into his jacket pocket, and took off. The trees caught the volley of bullets that chased them.

The sound of gunshots faded, but Cai didn’t make the mistake of checking behind him. Years of running with Peter had ingrained that looking back meant losing ground. He followed their movements by the shouts lobbed back and forth and the distant rumble of their SUV.

When the Jag came into view, Julian angled sharply across the road toward it. Rachel had probably kept the car running for the heater and the exhaust plumed up like a chimney.

Terror wrapped a tentacle around Cai’s chest and squeezed. They’d see the car, get the license plate and trace it back to Austin. They would kill everyone. “Get against the wall, into the shadows,” he yelled, speeding up and gently knocking Julian toward the sidewalk as they got to the front of the estate’s driveway.

“Where are they?”

“Don’t look back! Move!” Cai grabbed the neck of Julian’s thick jacket and hauled him into a sprint. They didn’t stop until they reached the car.

Cai hurriedly smashed snow against the license plate.

“Let’s go!” Julian slapped the roof before getting into the driver’s seat. He leaned across the console to open the passenger side. “C’mon, ya daft bugger! They’re coming!”

Cai fell into the seat, slammed the door, and then scrambled to look out the rear window.

“Who is? What’s happening?” Rachel sat up with hooded eyes just as a panicked Julian released the clutch too quickly. She jerked back and then pitched nose-first into the driver’s seat as they peeled out. “Hey!” A bullet pinged off the bumper. She looked out the back window. “Whoa. What—”

The Jag swerved through a right turn. “Get down, girl,” Julian screamed, sinking lower. “That’s a bullet!”

“A bullet? What?” She scuttled into the footwell. “Who’s shooting at us? What did you do now, Cai?”

How was this his fault? “Me? Oh, but I—”

“Never mind that,” Julian continued yelling. “You were going to shoot that man in the face.”

Cai scooted further down until his knees pressed against the dash. “He saw me.”

“You don’t know that. Stop shooting everyone!”

“It was only that one.” Well... “Recently,” he added as guilt trickled in.

“Stop yelling at him,” Rachel said. “You’re bleeding, Cai! Lemme see”

“It’s a scratch.” He lifted his sleeve to ease her concern. “I’m fine.”

“Bloody maniac is what he is!” Anger didn’t keep Julian from slowing down to inspect the wound. Satisfied, he dropped Cai’s arm with a sigh. “You can’t— When necessary, we said. When necessary .”

“Do you know what it means if they recognized me?” Cai asked, imploring Julian to understand. “It means the end of our lives. Yours, mine, your parents, your sister, Rachel, my family.” They drove in silence for ten more minutes, checking behind them the whole time. When they reached the city proper, the relief in the car was measured in loud exhales.

Julian pulled into a parking garage and drove up three floors. Trickles of sweat rolled down his temples. He slipped between a minivan and a Lexus and turned the engine off. His hands shook as he pulled out his cell. Cai hooked his fingers over the phone’s screen. “You can’t. They’ll arrest me.”

“Did you shoot that man?” Julian whispered, staring at his cell phone as if nothing else mattered in the world.

“Yes.”

“Bloody, fucking, mental bugger !” Julian ripped the phone away and threw it. Cai recoiled as it shattered against his door and then fell apart at his feet.

“Hey!” Rachel swatted the back of Julian’s head. “Stop yelling at him. It’s not helping.”

“Yelling? That’s what you’re worried about? He’s just committed murder. Again! And I’m part of that now, too. The pair of you are completely nuts!”

“You just said that they were firing bullets at you. How is that murder?” Rachel asked.

“The man he killed was knocked out. On the ground!”

“What about when he got up?” Cai asked quietly, his words hanging unacknowledged in the air as Julian and Rachel both turned away from him. “What if we hadn’t made it to the car? You would rather fight off one more?”

“All right, then, did you shoot him in the leg?” Julian asked. “In the foot? The knee?”

“No.”

“The best option was cold-blooded murder?”

“Those men attacked Thorpe less than one day after Rachel’s friend found him. That means they know he gave you information, which means they know you’re in town.”

“Doesn’t mean that they know where I am or who I’m with.”

“James Thorpe is dead, no question, and it would be stupid to think he hadn’t given you up before they killed him. They found Thorpe, killed him, killed that woman, all within hours of Rachel’s friend giving her those drives. Want to chance that they won’t find us after seeing my face? Because I’m not willing to take that chance when it means Peter, Austin, and Stuart will be the ones in danger.”

“We can’t just murder everyone, Cai. I’m not soft, but we’re not them. We have…we have a code.”

“He saw my face. I know that because I can draw you a detailed portrait of him. Which means he could do the same. I have been on the news since I was eight years old. He connects you to me with anything, a picture, social media, whatever, they’ll find everyone I love. That gives them leverage. Anyone they can use to get to you and me. They were military, which means they’re trained to hunt, to shoot to kill, to—”

“That’s such shite! In ten seconds you’d figured all that out?”

“Yes, Julian. Because, for me, that kind of thing does work like osmosis.”

Cai scratched his nail into the tight fabric pressed against his knee. He never understood these weird rules. Sometimes Julian embraced the normal world’s morality. That was partly why Cai loved him. But he never grasped the whole of Julian’s code. It seemed fluid at times, rigid at others. Riley was so easy to understand.

For Riley, that shiny piece of FBI brass locked in everything he stood for—everything he believed in. Nothing shook that moral faith. Cai never fit into that code. Maybe he didn’t have the right to be with Riley.

Julian though? Julian had to struggle, just a little bit, to follow the rules. Or he circumvented them. Cai could use that. Because they really needed moral ambiguity to get through the next part of the plan.

The cotton split at Cai’s knee, and a patch of olive skin poked between the frayed jeans. He continued scraping. What would get Julian back on track? Guilt? “This is the reason you’re with me, though. Isn’t it?” Cai asked.

Julian massaged his forehead and looked over. “What?”

“I’ll pull the trigger when you won’t.”

“God, I bloody hate it when you speak in riddles.” Julian grabbed Cai’s chin and yanked it toward him. “I don’t know what you’re on about, and this conversation is far from over, but I want to know what we do now.”

“I need to think.” Cai tilted out of reach and got the gun from his pocket. He laid it on the dashboard along with the mask and the other items he’d stolen, then took a quick inventory. Oh, no. No no no. He checked. Double checked. Turned his pockets inside out. No hat. A flare of panic popped beads of sweat along his hairline. Staring out the front window, he dug into the skin he’d bared, tearing off layers until it was raw, then bloody. Calm seeped into his shoulders. “Okay. We need to get you someplace safe.”

“We need to go someplace safe, you mean?”

“I won’t be going with you. I-I dropped my hat. My DNA is on file.” Cai offered a sad smile. “Guess I’m not as smart as I thought.”

“Oh, fuck!” Julian flipped the car on and floored it into reverse. He ground the transmission before they lurched out of the lot.

Rachel slammed into the driver’s seat, then flopped against the backseat like a ragdoll. She glared at Cai while snapping on her safety belt “Why do you keep letting this assmunch drive?”

“We’ll get it back. We’ll get it back.” Julian’s voice came out tight and shaky.

Cai grabbed a bag of Skittles from the glove box, poured a handful out, then stuffed them in his mouth. He didn’t have the heart to tell Julian it was likely too late.

The air stank with candy and sweat the whole ride. Fear kept them silent until they rounded the block of the Thorpe Estate. Julian flipped off the headlights and the three of them stilled as the car inched around the corner.

Security car lights flashed in front of the Thorpe estate.

Julian parked as far back as possible and smacked the steering wheel repeatedly. “Fuck! Fuck fuck fuck!”

“Maybe I didn’t kill him,” Cai said, hoping to ease the rage before Julian accidentally hit the horn.

“Maybe?”

“It was dark. And I was in a hurry. He probably had on a bulletproof vest?”

The body in the woods meant the cops would be searching for more than who killed James Thorpe. Cai’s hat put him right on top of a corpse, or a lake of blood, if they’d carried the dead man out. The plan was spiraling out of control.

Cai grabbed his cell phone from the back, catching Rachel’s soft expression of pity before plopping back in his seat. The moment he turned the phone on, it rang.