Chapter 41

 

WE ARRIVED BACK at the school not long after three in the morning. We’d flown back to the farm we’d picked the chopper up from and stowed Kevin and Owens in Frei’s fancy SUV. She said that Fitzpatrick would be with the RV team picking up Jones and his group. I was glad of Frei’s blacked-out windows in the back as we headed through the gate. Frei, Owens, and the POIs were all covered up in a blanket. The wind had whipped up and the dust swirled all around us. The guards seemed more bothered with shutting out the dirt than us. They waved through Renee and I without so much as a glance.

Renee parked the SUV in the garage and we got out and opened the back doors. Miranda stirred. Renee and Frei looked at each other.

“Keep her awake,” Frei said.

Renee got her out of the car. “Will do.” She opened the garage door and sighed. “Dust storm.”

Frei nodded. “It’ll blow over. Just clean her up so she doesn’t look like she’s been out in it.”

Renee pulled her top up to cover her mouth and headed outside. I watched her go then turned back to the SUV. Owens was still inside. I didn’t know what we were gonna do with her.

Frei was busy checking something on her laptop. “Jäger is on the prowl. Best if I head back and meet you halfway to take Kevin. That way it’ll look like I’ve been here.”

“So I get them both, huh?”

“No, I’ll take Owens. Jäger will kill her if he finds out what she did. Innocent or not, it’s better we keep her off his radar.” Ursula picked Owens up without even a flinch. She weren’t all that heavy but she weren’t that light neither.

“Machine, that’s what you are.”

Frei flashed me a smile and headed out into the dust. By the look of it, it was already starting to clear. I hauled Kevin into my arms and carried him in the direction of his dorm. I stepped onto the quadrant and saw Jäger sitting on a bench. He stood up and stared through the dirt then frowned. I didn’t know why he was up at three in the morning and I guessed he was wondering the same about me.

“Next time you get a runner,” I grunted his way. “You can deal with it.”

He glanced around, probably wondering who I was with. “A runner?”

I sighed as if he was being stupid and lowered Kevin to the ground. “Told you the kid had a screw loose. Good thing I make friends easy.”

His eyes trailed over Kevin then drifted back to me. “What was he doing?”

“Following Jones to a nice quiet spot. Didn’t realize I wasn’t the only one who has issues with kids.”

“Jones?” His eyes narrowed. A ripple of fear made me shudder inside.

“Are you just gonna stand around asking me dumb questions?” I folded my arms like I wasn’t shaking.

His eyes flickered and then twinkled. Guess he still thought I was worth his time. “Where is Jones now?”

“Only room for one of us. You may not rate me no more but I ain’t so easily swayed.” It sounded like a dig. It sounded like I was offended. I was glad it covered up how terrified I was.

He raised an eyebrow. “Do I need to send someone to clean it up?”

I scowled. “You think I can’t cover my tracks?”

Jäger looked down at Kevin and nudged him with his boot like he was vermin. “He concerns you, yes?”

“Kid is delusional. Kept saying he saw Owens. Kept saying he was waiting to escape. He’s not a full deck.” I yawned as if I didn’t care. On the inside I was holding my breath and hoping he’d buy it. “He’s a whiner. I knocked him out.”

Jäger pulled a radio off his waistband and guards came out of the main building. Frei hurried out from somewhere too, keeping her gaze on the ground. It drove me crazy how she had to act.

“You called?” Frei said.

I stretched out my back to hide my trembling hands as the guards carried Kevin off. “Yeah, get my stuff from the car, will you?” I handed her the key. “Knife will need sharpening.” Again I hadn’t a clue what my mouth was saying.

“How many?” Jäger asked.

I closed my eyes. Frei walked past and touched my hand. “Let me think. Eight . . . including Jones.”

I opened my eyes, thankful for Frei’s backup as she hurried off.

“Impressive.” His eyes warmed. “I was starting to wonder if it was just an act.”

“You think I got an extra couple of years locked up because I was playing?” I blew a breath out. “You read my file. You must have done the research.”

He nodded. He was still scouring me. “Who was the tip-off?”

“Worthington.” I tapped my head. “Like I said, I make friends easy. I like attention and they like to tell me things.”

Something in his eyes sparked with recognition and his smile was genuine. “So you are as cold as I thought.”

Fighting the urge to run, I stood my ground. “Oh, were you confusing me with somebody with a heart?”

A rakish grin broke out on his face and he laughed. “Maybe you still have potential.”

Frei hurried back over with one backpack and stood waiting beside me.

“Yeah . . . well, I have that effect.” I turned without offering him another look. I was working on the fact that I would appear disgruntled at his rejection or something.

“Before you ask,” I mumbled to Frei as I left Jäger staring. “I don’t know what is coming out of my mouth.”

“It’s your training, trust it.”

We headed around the corner and I fought the urge to glance behind. “I think he thinks I’m a psychopath.”

Frei nodded, leading us up the path to the villa. “Yes, you’re convincing at it.” She pulled out the key and let us in. “I’m not sure how you do it but you can be . . . unnerving.”

That shocked me into staring at her. “Me?”

Frei nodded. “I can see why Renee was scared when she first met you now.” She closed the door and put the backpack in the cupboard. “I’m just glad you’re you.”

Awww. That was real nice. I didn’t know what to say to that. “You are?”

She smiled and squeezed my shoulder. “You did good.”

“I did?” Two compliments in the space of a few seconds. One two sucker punch.

Frei chuckled, leaned in, and placed a kiss on my cheek. She sauntered off toward the stairs as I stared after her. “What does that mean?”

What I do?

“Means I like you, Lorelei. Glad you’re on my side.”

I touched my fingers to my cheek. Her actions shot images of what she had been through, of her dueling Jones. She wouldn’t ever talk about it but she knew touching me would show it much better anyhow. She’d let me in. It meant a lot.

Her instinct was to shut out everyone in moments like that but she was keeping to her promise. I was glad I was on her side too.