Chapter 19 Wren
CHAPTER NINETEEN
WREN
“Ivote we just charge in there and start killing them all,” Pete says, flicking his knife open and closed from where he’s sprawled out across the chair, his legs and head hanging over opposite ends.
“That’s perfect, if you’re looking to get killed,” Elias says, shaking his head as he paces back and forth in the living room.
We’ve been at this for the past two hours. Elias has located Robert in a large fenced house, similar to our home in Arizona. It’s only twenty-five minutes away, and so far, we’ve been unable to decide on the best way to get rid of him.
Dex and Pete want to charge in headfirst and kill everyone. Sly and Jagger want to go stake out the place and make their move when it's quiet.
But Elias wants to make a complete plan before doing anything, and I agree. Which means we’re split three ways.
“That’s why we need to stake the place out and wait for an opening,” Sly says from my side as he stretches his neck.
“We need to make a plan first,” Elias says for the tenth time, frustration edging his tone.
“I think since we’re split three ways, Wren gets to make the decision,” Dex says, surprising me. I turn in his lap to look at him in question. “He’s your brother, you should make the call.”
I lean forward and quickly brush my lips against his in thanks before turning back to face everyone else. He holds me firmly against him. He really does make the best chair.
“We stake it out first, then we come back here and make a plan. I don’t see a reason to rush into this. Besides, don’t you guys want to figure out how to clear your names before killing him?”
I see them all exchanging glances, as if there is something they’re not telling me. “What is it? What aren’t you saying?” I ask nervously.
“Even if we can prove that we were wrongfully charged, we still broke out of prison,” Sly says, grabbing my hand and rubbing his thumb soothingly over the back of my palm.
My gaze swings to Elias. “But you said you’d be able to help get their charges dropped.”
He runs his hand down the back of his head before dropping his gaze to the floor. “I did. But considering I’m on the FBI’s wanted list now too… I’m not sure I’ll be able to do anything.”
Tears fill my eyes as the full extent of the situation hits me. My eyes bounce between all of them. “Then you’ll never be free. You’ll always have to watch your back for the rest of your lives.”
I sniffle, and Dex lifts one of his large hands to stroke down the side of my head. “Baby, I don’t think you realize, but we were living like that before prison, anyway.”
“At least us four were,” Pete adds, referring to the four of them.
“I constantly had to look over my shoulder,” Sly adds with a nod.
Jagger raises his hands and signs, “At least now, we don’t have to do it alone. We have each other.”
“I’d rather be on the run from the feds for the rest of my life than live the shitty excuse of a life I had before prison,” Dex tells me.
I turn my eyes to Elias. “What about you? You’ve given up everything to save me, and now you’re a wanted criminal.” My stomach knots with guilt, realizing what I’ve done to him. “I’ve ruined your life.”
“Sweetheart, no,” he rushes to reassure me as he kneels in front of me and grabs my free hand.
His brown eyes bore into mine as he tells me, “I knew what I was doing every step of the way, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
I don’t care if they label me a traitor.
I know the truth, and so do you. That’s all that matters to me.
They were never going to act on the intel they had.
They were waiting for evidence that wasn’t going to come, at least not with the legal channels they needed to take to access it. ”
“Fuck the feds, and fuck the law,” Pete says with a nod.
“When we’re done with Robert, we’ll leave the country, find somewhere to live where we aren't at risk of them knocking down our door,” Sly says with a squeeze of my hand.
The thought of another country perks me up a bit. “Like Canada?”
Elias grins. “Yeah, like Canada.”
“We could live in a remote cabin in the woods, where it snows, and we can build snowmen and make snow angels and have snowball fights!” I say excitedly.
“I didn’t know you were so interested in winter,” Sly says, and I nod excitedly.
“Autumn, too. We had a bit of an autumn in Arizona, but I want to see the leaves turn red and orange like in the movies.”
“You know, since we’re in Montana now, the leaves will start changing very soon,” Elias tells me.
“Really?” I ask, my eyes growing wide with excitement.
He nods, and just like that, the tension fades. They might be wanted here, but in Canada, with new names, we’d be safe from the feds, as long as the guys didn’t draw attention to themselves, which might be difficult if they actually want to make a living as mercenaries.
“If we live in Canada, won’t it be hard to take contracts as guns for hire?” I ask the group.
Elias frowns from where he’s still kneeling in front of me. “I’m still not sure I like this plan.”
“Nobody asked for your opinion,” Sly says dryly.
Suddenly, I worry Elias won’t be coming with us when this is all over. His place in our group hadn’t been cemented. He could do anything after this is over. Before I can worry about it anymore, Pete breaks the tension. “I still think The Caped Crusaders is a good name.”
“No capes,” Jagger signs with a scowl.
“How about The Problem Solvers?” Dex asks.
“Nope,” Pete says, shaking his head in thought. “Oh! I know! The Hazardous Heartthrobs!”
That one has me laughing, and even Elias’s lip twitches in amusement.
“How about The Midnight Meatheads?” Elias suggests. The others scowl at him, but I giggle in response, which seems to break the tension.
“Team Justice?” Pete asks, but the others shake their heads.
“Let’s table this and make a formal plan to stake out the place where Robert is,” Sly says, getting us back on task. After we’ve figured out the plan, Pete suggests we do it in two days' time.
“Why wouldn’t we do it tomorrow?” Elias asks in confusion.
“We’ve had a lot of stress lately. I vote tomorrow is group date day,” Pete says, turning to me with a wink.
“Group date?” Elias asks carefully, his eyes bouncing between me and Pete.
“Yup, you can come too, of course. We need someone to drive us.”
“You want me to be your chauffeur while you take Wren on a date?” Elias deadpans, looking decidedly unpleased.
“Exactly! I knew you’d understand.”
“We still need to be careful. Where were you thinking of going?” Sly asks him.
“Somewhere she’s never been.”
“That won’t be hard,” I mumble.
“We could find a nice museum,” Sly suggests, but Pete wrinkles his nose and shakes his head.
“How about the botanical gardens?” Dex suggests. “I read that can be very romantic.”
“Nah, too boring,” Pete says with a shake of his head. “Oh, I know! We could take her to play paintball!”
“No,” Sly and Elias say in unison, surprising me. “Too painful,” Sly clarifies.
Jagger snaps his fingers to get our attention, then signs, “The zoo.”
My eyes light up at the idea, and a huge grin covers Pete’s face. “Perfect!”
The next morning, I’m woken early by an excited Pete. He hurries everyone into getting ready so we can arrive at the zoo as soon as it opens. We grab breakfast from a drive-thru, and thirty minutes later, we’re standing in front of the first exhibit.
“They look bigger in real life,” I observe as I stare at the llamas.
“They’re kinda cute,” Dex says with a tilt of his head.
I’m between him and Pete, holding both their hands as they take the lead, ushering me from exhibit to exhibit.
The air is a really pleasant temperature today, and I’m actually able to wear my leather jacket, along with what’s becoming my signature ripped black jeans and white crop top.
But when we go inside the African pavilion, the heat hits me like I’m back in Arizona. Pete takes my jacket from me as Sly takes my hand and leads me around, pointing out monkeys or other animals hiding in their enclosures. When we stop in front of the tortoise exhibit, I marvel at the size of him.
“He has to be like four feet long! I didn’t know they could be this big,” I say with wide eyes as Sly moves to stand behind me, his hands resting beside mine on the railing.
“Did you know they can easily live to be over a hundred years old?”
“Really?” I ask in surprise and feel him nod behind me.
“There is record of one living to be 255 somewhere in India, I believe.”
“Wow.”
“How do you possibly know that?” Elias asks from somewhere behind us. I can tell he’s trying to enjoy himself, but he constantly looks uncomfortable, like he feels out of place.
“I read it,” Sly says, before grabbing my hand and leading me to the next exhibit.
Ahead, a dark cave catches my attention. “What’s that?”
“Looks like a bat cave!” Pete says as he all but runs ahead to check it out with Dex hot on his heels.
Jagger and Elias walk side by side behind us, and I smile up at Sly. “I’m having fun. Thanks for bringing me here,” I tell him quietly.
“Of course. Once we take care of our… problems, we can spend every day doing fun things like this.”
“I don’t need this every day. I just like spending time with you guys, and doing something new.”
“Me too.” He stops right before we enter the bat cave and turns us to face each other. Cupping my jaw with his free hand, he bends down and kisses me.
I’m a bit caught off guard, and it takes me a second to realize this isn’t a quick peck on the lips. His hand, which had been holding mine, lets go to wrap around my waist and pull me closer as he deepens the kiss.
I let out a small moan of approval, and all too soon, he pulls back, his eyes darting behind us as he straightens up and leads us into the cave.