Chapter 13 Stepped Up Basis
Dante
Everyone is silent as we drive with the lights out. Our mission is accomplished. Sara is out. Now the goal is to keep her out.
X went with Frank in his car. As soon as they got to the road, they turned their lights on and drove off into the night. We waited in the forest, watching. Cars took off in their direction, but we still waited. Sara never released me.
I’d let her cling to me like a koala for the rest of our lives if it meant I never had to let her go. We waited for a few hours before we took the back road out. Finn, Sara, and I sit in the back seat while Mac drives and Sebastian monitors his phone.
Sara’s hands grip mine and Finn’s. Even though we’re not out of danger yet, peace settles on me at having her near.
The road is rough and it’s a few hours before we start to see city lights. We’re not headed to New York though. We have a car stashed and ready for us to take.
Once we pull into the garage in a warehouse district in a small town, we all sit quietly while the garage door closes us in. Sara squeezes my hand tighter.
“We’ll stay here until rush hour.” Sebastian doesn’t look away from his phone.
“Does a town like this have rush hour?” Finn leans his head back against the headrest.
“A small one probably.” Sebastian turns. His green eyes flick to each of us. “More traffic makes it harder to pick out which car you’re in. If they find us here.”
That’s the big question. Did they follow Frank and X? Did they find them and figure out they lost Sara and Finn? What happens when they start their search?
“I don’t want to know where you guys are going.
” Sebastian faces front. “It’s easier that way, but wherever you go, don’t turn on your phones.
Don’t try to hide in plain sight. That won’t work for someone like Peter Sokolov.
The fact it took him so long before taking Sara the first time is amazing, but maybe he didn’t want her at first. Maybe it was an opportunity he didn’t want to pass up. ”
“He had the dog collar ready,” I say. “He planned it.”
Sebastian nods. “Keep your heads down. Let him cool off before you contact him next.”
Sara leans her head against my arm. We’ll be fine, especially if the others found Tom. No matter what, I’m not going anywhere.