Reign (The Sainthood - Boys of Lowell High #3)(71)
Bry stayed outside, and it was a smart move because there are a few diners lingering outside, recording on their cell phones. We need to keep his identity protected, and if anyone had caught him inside the restaurant with us, his cover would be blown. “Bry’s gone for the car,” I tell Galen, pointing at his retreating form in the distance. “Follow him while I deal with this.”
Galen doesn’t argue, taking off in the direction Bry has gone, while I whip my gun from the waistband of my jeans. I point it at the nearest couple. “I don’t want to hurt anyone, but I will if you don’t cooperate,” I shout, angling my gun so it’s roaming the people still here. A guy tries to slip behind the water fountain, and I pop off a warning shot. It embeds in the side of the basin, cracking the stone, sending water gushing over the edge onto the ground. The guy’s cell drops to the floor, smashing into pieces, as he falls to his knees, cowering and whimpering.
“Hand me your cells. Now!” I add when they’re too slow to move. The sirens are growing closer, and time is running out. “Put them in my pocket,” I shout as they approach me. “You!” I glare at the guy still crouched on the ground. “Pick up those pieces and hand them to me.” I know enough to not leave his shattered cell phone on the ground.
I lower my gun when I have all the phones in my possession. “You didn’t see anything tonight.” I drill them with a look. “We have your cells which means we know everything about you. You breathe one word about what you witnessed tonight, and we will come for you and your family.” A woman sobs, clinging to her husband, but I’ve no time to feel remorse. “Do you fucking understand?” I roar as Galen shouts at me in the distance.
They nod vigorously. “Then what the fuck are you still doing here?” I yell. “Go. Now!”
I sprint away as the sirens blare loudly, confirming the police are almost here. I race toward the curb where Bry has the car idling, sliding into the back seat. Bry floors it out of here, taking a left up a side street, just as police enter the square from the opposite direction.
No one speaks as Bry maneuvers his way out of Lowell using alleyways and back roads. Mom has her head pressed against the window, and her eyes are closed. She’s clutching her purse to her stomach, and her limbs are stiff, betraying her emotions.
I have so much I want to say, yet I don’t even know where to start. And having this conversation in a car, when we’re fleeing to safety isn’t wise, so I keep my lips closed, waiting until we reach the cabin to interrogate her.
I hate that we’re placing our safe haven at risk by going there, but there isn’t any other option. Saint knows that, and it’s why he suggested it. I tap out a message to Diesel, letting him know what’s happened and asking him to meet us there. We need to get Mom out of the country tonight, because Sinner will want her dead for this.
I only start relaxing when we move onto the highway and Bry steps on it, putting as much distance between us and the carnage we left behind. I punch coordinates into the GPS app on my cell and pass it to Bry, poking my head through the gap in the front seats. “This is where we’re headed.” He drops my cell into his cup holder, nodding.
“You took care of shit in the restaurant?” I ask Galen.
He turns to face me. “It’s handled. Theo wiped the camera feed inside, and I’ve no doubt he’s wiping the cameras in the square as we speak. Caz retrieved the bullet from the bar, and Saint will dispose of the gun, as well as ensure the manager doesn’t speak to the cops.”
“I got the cells from the idiots outside, but there were a ton of witnesses. Someone is bound to have recognized Sinner.”
“Sinner will deal with that,” Galen says. “He has a bunch of cops on payroll. He’ll make it go away because he looks weak if word gets out.”
Mom nods off at some point on the journey, and I take the opportunity to grab a little shut-eye myself.
“Lo.” Someone shakes my shoulders. “We’re here.” I blink my eyes open, stifling a yawn as I stare into Galen’s piercing green eyes. He presses his lips to mine briefly. “You hanging in there?”
I nod, looking around me. The truck is parked at the front door to the cabin, and it’s open. “Where are Mom and Bry?”
“They’re inside. Theo sent me the codes because I didn’t want to wake you until I had to.”
“And the others?”
“They’re en route. About an hour behind us. They dumped Sinner at his place first.”
“Is Diesel here yet?”
Galen shakes his head, holding my waist and helping me down from the truck. He slams the door shut, and I slide my arms around his neck. “Did tonight really happen, or did I dream Mom pulled a gun on Sinner in a crowded restaurant?”
“I wish it was a figment of our imagination too.” He winds his hands into my hair. “Sinner will go nuts, Lo. Your mom needs to get overseas ASAP.”
“I know. Why do you think I called Diesel? He’s the only one who can make her disappear fast.”
“Sinner won’t be happy with us either,” Galen adds.
“He can eat shit,” I snap. “He’s the reason for this, and I know he’s a psycho, but even he’s got to accept we would not let him harm my mother. We’ll just have to make sure he’s distracted taking down The Arrows and the commissioner. Hopefully, he’ll have cooled off a bit by then.”