27. Cameo Time
CAMEO TIME
Flynn
I glance up at the rearview mirror, cursing under my breath when I see the same black SUV for the third time. Ana is in the back seat, her knees tucked up and her Stardew Valley hoodie pulled over her leggings as she chews on one of the ties.
I tap my fingers against the steering wheel and look over at Hazel in the passenger seat. “Random question, apropos of nothing, would you panic if I told you we were being followed?”
The look Hazel shoots me is less panic and more “what the fuck, Flynn” so I decide to take that as I win.
“What do we do?” she asks.
It’s a good question. We’re supposed to be meeting Carmen just off the highway, but I somehow don’t think arriving with Claren’s mercenaries in tow is going to help with the whole “sneak Ana out of state” plan.
I glance over at Hazel, an idea forming, one I really don’t like. I’m tempted just to keep it to myself, but the SUV is creeping closer and it’s not exactly like the current plan is any safer.
“How do you feel about leading Claren’s men on a wild goose chase?”
Hazel turns around to look out the rear window, a sexy as fuck fierceness carved into her face. “Sounds like fun.”
I shake my head, a smile on my lips as I tap the car play to call Lachlan. If this is going to work, we need reinforcements.
Lachlan answers on the second ring and I slow down to turn the corner.
“You know some people work for a living,” Lachlan says, his tone dry as sand.
“Can you slip out for a while?”
“What do you need?”
The SUV follows me around the corner, just a couple of cars back. “Fancy going hunting, brother?”
Ten minutes later I’m turning onto a side street and Hazel’s climbed into the back seat. She pulls Ana’s hoodie over her head, hooks the cat ear headphones around her neck, and flips the hood up.
“You ready?” I ask.
Hazel nods.
I pull over and twist in the seat to face her. “You stay close to Lachlan, do whatever he tells you to do, okay?”
“I’ll be fine, Flynn.”
My jaw ticks. “You better be.”
Ana wraps Hazel’s sweater around her shoulders. “Thank you for doing this.”
“Honestly?” Hazel’s eyes gleam. “This is kind of fun.”
Ana laughs and I get a little distracted staring at the smile that lights Hazel’s face.
Knuckles rap the driver’s window and I whip around to find Lachlan staring at me. I roll down the window, taking in the all black tactical get up he’s wearing, right down to the leather gloves. I smirk. “What, no mask?”
Lach stares at me with dead eyes. “Do you want my help or not?”
Behind me, Hazel reaches for the door and I drop the smirk. “If anything happens to her, I will personally rip your balls off in your sleep.”
“Relax, Flynny, I’ve got this.”
We wait till the SUV appears, idling at the end of the road, then Hazel slips out of the back and walks with Lach to his car. She’s got her head down, and with the hoodie pulled up covering her hair she’s about the same size and height as Ana.
I hold my breath, watching the SUV in the rear-view mirror. Lachlan and Hazel drive off.
“They’re not following,” Ana says, an edge of panic in her voice.
“Give it a second.”
Ahead of us, Lachlan turns the corner. A second later the SUV starts up again, whizzing past us before slowing and following Lach around the corner.
I wait a little longer, then turn on the engine and drive in the opposite direction.
Ana sinks into her seat, tipping her head back against the headrest.
I take the next entrance onto the highway, double checking my mirrors to make sure no one else is on our trail.
We drive the rest of the way in silence, but Ana sits forward again when we pull off into the service plaza, her fingers gripping the edge of the seat. “This Carmen person, she can really get me out of here?”
“Rescuing people is pretty much what Carmen does,” I say. “There’s very little she can’t do.”
I slow the car as we enter the parking lot, heading to the quiet area in the back, as per Carmen’s instructions. We stop across from a pink and white van.
Ana peers out of the window. “Is that… an ice cream truck?”
We get out of the car and a man with black hair down to his shoulders leans out of the side hatch of the truck, the tactical gear at odds with the blue and pink ice cream menu. “Someone order a sundae?”
The man is tugged back inside the truck and Carmen appears, also in tactical gear with her hair in two French braids. “Ignore him, Reaper’s still learning how to be human.”
“Hey!” Reaper presses a hand to his chest in mock offense.
Ana looks between me and the truck, about a second away from bolting until Carmen hops out the back. “Ana, I take it?”
Ana nods.
“I’m Carmen. We look a little crazy I know, but the ice cream truck is good for flying under the radar. We’re going to get you some place safe, okay?”
Ana tugs her bag tighter on her shoulder, but she nods again.
A man with a checked shirt and a mountain man beard climbs down from the driver’s seat.
“This is Ramsey,” Carmen says, “he’s a teddy bear, I promise.”
The teddy bear grunts.
“He rescued a blind kitten and named it Ariel,” Carmen whispers.
Ramsey crosses his arms over a broad chest. “It’s a good name,” he mutters.
Ana and Carmen just look at him.
Ramsey glances at me for help but I thumb my nose to cover my smirk.
He huffs. “Next time, Jack can drive.”
“Or you guys could just leave me to do my job like I normally do,” Carmen quips.
“Not happening, Sunshine,” Ramsey growls.
Carmen rolls her eyes. “Are you okay to go with Ramsey?” she asks Ana. “He’ll get you settled and I’ll be there in a minute to talk you through everything.”
Ana hesitates and turns back to me. “Claren…” she starts.
“Won’t live to hurt another person,” I promise.
Ana’s shoulders loosen. “Thank you,” she whispers.
Ramsey leads her around to the back of the truck, leaving me with Carmen.
“Any problems getting here?”
“Nothing we couldn’t handle.”
Carmen peers up at me. “You were supposed to be in the Caymen Islands.”
I rock back on my heels. “About that… any chance you can get me some new documents.”
“Where for?”
I tell her and Carmen pokes her tongue into her cheek. “You know there’s extradition there. If you get caught, I can’t help you.”
“I know.” I run my thumb over my lilac painted nails.
The barest hint of a smile appears on Carmen’s lips before she shuts it down. “Send me the details.”
I dip my chin and say my farewells to Carmen. She hops back inside the truck, and I watch the pink ice cream van drive away.
Ana will be safe with Carmen and her crew, now I just need to make sure Hazel is safe too.