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JACKSON WAITED IN THE shadows of the trees, watching Kim’s house. He’d bet his last meal that Trinity was inside. He’d lost her scent at the statue of the little girl. He’d forgotten about that tunnel. He hadn’t used it since he was eighteen and Kim was thirteen. They’d been sneaking out for a night of exploring. She’d been right behind him, her hand on his back when a noise had startled her. She’d screamed and he’d turned, holding her in the dark. In that moment his life had changed. She wasn’t a little girl anymore and he’d wanted her. He’d tried to stay away from her after that, but it hadn’t helped. Nothing would ever make him stop loving her.
He sighed and leaned his shoulder against a tree. He’d wanted to wait for Trinity by the statue and give her a good scare for sneaking out alone, but Jethro was home from college. The kid wasn’t the same since his father had died. He was almost positive that Jethro wouldn’t hurt Trinity or turn her over to the authorities, but almost positive wasn’t good enough.
Something moved in the shadows by the Remore home. It was small. He tipped his head to catch the breeze. House Servant. A carriage pulled into the driveway. The man from the other night got out and escorted Kim to the door. She wore pants this time, but they were tight and her T-shirt clung to her, accentuating her shape. She always looked best in casual clothes. Approachable. His Kim, but she wasn’t his. Could never be his.
Kim and the male stopped at the door. She’d better not invite the guy inside. He didn’t care if she were no longer his responsibility. He’d bust down the door and drag the Almighty out by his hair if the man so much as put one foot inside that house. It wasn’t that he was jealous. She could date anyone she wanted, but she’d just started seeing this guy. The man might be dangerous.
He tipped his head, cracking his neck as the Almighty leaned in and kissed her. That was it. Like Hugh said, they couldn’t execute him twice. He was a fugitive. It wouldn’t matter if he killed this Almighty. A hand landed on his arm. He spun around, ready to attack.
“Jackson, don’t,” said Carla.
“You startled me.” He unclenched his fists and lowered his arms.
“I shouldn’t have. I wasn’t trying to be quiet. You’re going to get caught if you don’t start paying attention.” She touched his arm again. “You need to stop hanging around here.”
She was right. This wasn’t doing anyone any good. He glanced toward the house. They were still kissing. He dug his fingernails into his palm. He couldn’t stop Kim from moving on. Shouldn’t want to stop her, but he did.
The two finally stopped kissing, but Kim didn’t go inside. A shadow broke from the house and moved across the yard.
“Who’s that?” asked Carla.
It was Say. Trinity was here somewhere. “A friend of Trinity’s.”
“Please tell me she’s not here too,” said Carla.
He shrugged, eyes locking with hers.
“Oh crap. Jethro’s home,” she said.
“I know. That’s why I’m here.”
“Right. That’s the reason.” She lowered her gaze. “Kim ordered us to send you away if we saw you again.”
The emptiness inside his chest contracted like a vice. Before Hugh’s escape, he’d started spending nights at the camp, but he hadn’t been able to stay away long. Kim had known he watched her house and she’d sneak out and find him, inviting him inside with her. He’d been hoping she’d find him tonight. Welcome him into her arms again, but it was really over. She was seeing someone else.
“I’m sorry,” said Carla.
He turned back toward the house, unwilling to see the pity in his friend’s eyes. Kim was kissing that man again. She put her hands in the male’s hair. He couldn’t watch this. He focused on Say as the little Servant darted from shadow to shadow toward the carriage.
“What’s Trinity’s friend doing?” asked Carla.
He shrugged, glad that Carla was looking at someone besides him.
“If that Servant does something to the carriage I’ll have to do something. Kim really likes this guy.”
There was a short pause. Carla stared at him, but he wouldn’t meet her gaze. He knew he was pathetic. He didn’t need to see it in her eyes.
“Sorry,” she said.
“Don’t worry. Say is harmless—a little odd, but harmless.” All Servants creeped him out a bit with the way they lurked about always watching, but Say was especially weird. However, the little guy was devoted to Trinity and it was comforting to know that even when she snuck off alone someone was watching her back.
The Almighty walked toward the carriage. Jackson couldn’t help the snarl that made his lips twitch. The male had sure taken his time kissing Kim, but she hadn’t invited him inside. That was a good sign. He took a deep breath. He had to let her go.
“Trinity’s friend better move, or he’s going to get caught,” said Carla.
Say was still by the carriage. Whatever the little creep was doing he needed to finish fast and get out of there. Trinity would be devastated if Say were captured. The little Servant slipped under the wheel. The Almighty climbed inside and the carriage began to move. Say darted across the lawn and disappeared into the forest.
He breathed a sigh of relief.
“One disaster avoided.” Carla touched his arm. “You need to go. Some of the Guards are new, loyal to the family.”
“As they should be.”
“Right now, they’re loyal to Kim and Martha, but Jethro has befriended a couple.”
The warning in her tone made it clear that he was an enemy to Jethro. His shoulders sagged. He and Jethro had always been close, but apparently that was over too.
“I’ll leave in a few minutes. I want to make sure that Trinity is safe.”
Carla glanced at the barn. A few Guards were moving around outside. “Are you sure she’s here?”
He nodded. He wasn’t going to say anything about the tunnel. That had been his and Kim’s secret. “I followed her. She’s here somewhere.”
“Okay. I’ll watch out for her, but you need to go.”
“I’m not leaving until I know she’s safe,” he was being stubborn about this but he didn’t care. Carla would do her best to protect Trinity but for her the Remore family came first and that included Jethro.
“You need to know that I’ve told the new Guards to watch the house, but stay back unless there’s a problem.” Her eyes met his. “Right now, Casper and I are the only ones protecting the area surrounding the house, but that needs to change. Casper’s getting too old to be out in the woods in the cold and—”
“You can’t do it alone.”
“I don’t want to do it alone. We need to form a pack and we can’t do that if I keep lying to them.” She gave him a quick hug. “Don’t come back.”
He nodded. He hadn’t thought it’d come to this but he should’ve known. Carla’s loyalty had to be to the Remore family. She’d made it clear. If he came back, she’d be his enemy. Unfortunately, he didn’t think he’d be able to stay away.