Set Me Free (A Fugitive #2)(41)

"My only priority right now is making sure she doesn't split," Zach mumbled. "I gotta go find her."

With a reluctant sigh, Alex dug into his bag. "Here, just take this in case she changes her mind."

Zach stared at the small bag in Alex's hand. It contained a small jar and a gauze cloth.

"Just a small splash of this stuff on the gauze will knock him out." He pointed to the bottle. "Don't use too much though, you don't want to kill him."

Taking the bag with a tentative grin, he mumbled his thanks.

"Sorry for messing up your place."

Alex looked around the room and shrugged. "It's just stuff, little bro."

Zach nodded his thanks, stepping into a quick embrace with his uncle. He slapped him on the back twice before turning to look at Elliot.

His friend, faithful as ever, gave him a nod and started for the stairs.

"I hope you find her," Alex called after them.

Zach wished for the same thing as he jumped into Elliot's car.

His leg bobbed uncontrollably as they slowly drove the streets looking for Lucy. They didn't even know where to start and after two hours of pointless turns, Elliot eventually sighed. "This is idiotic. We just need to go home, okay? I want to go home."

Zach kept his eyes out the window and gave a stiff nod. His mind hadn't stopped whirling since the second they got into the car. His reunion speech was perfected as he went over the words again and again. The only thing he was struggling with was how to start, but he was hoping once he saw her that it would all solidify in his head.

He squeezed his eyes shut as Elliot turned for the bridge, silently praying they did find her so he could say his piece.

Thirty minutes later they were pulling into the outskirts of Danville.

"You know she might have gone back to get her stuff."

"Yep." Zach's reply was clipped.

"Dude, I hate this. Would you talk to me please? I'm sorry I got pissed with you over the AJ thing. I don't get the power this girl has over you and it bugs me that you're willing to write off your friends for her."

Elliot still sounded pissed. Zach's smile was glum and pathetic as he faced his friend.

"What can I say, she captured me and I don't know how to let go."

"Look, I do get that. She is unique and amazing, but she's just one girl."

"She's not just..." Zach shook his head.

Elliot pressed his lips together, keeping his eyes on the road as he drove towards Zach's place.

"What are you gonna do when you find her?"

"I don't know." Zach scratched the corner of his mouth. "I've got to stop pushing though, you know. Ever since I found out the truth, I've been pushing, pushing, pushing for justice and totally forgetting the fact that I'm asking her to take on the guy who killed her parents, whose been hunting her for the last five years. He's killed everyone she's cared about."

"Yeah, it's pretty heavy," Elliot muttered.

"I don't know what to do. I mean part of me wants to yell some sense into her and tell her to stop running, but then another part just wants to hide her away from the world and tell her that if she runs, I’d go with her." He threw his hand in the air.

"That's ridiculous." Elliot glared at him. "If you do that I'm gonna slap you so hard. Dude, I know you have a brain deficiency when it comes to girls, but she is taking you beyond that. I have never seen you like this over someone before."

"She's not just someone, Elliot. She's Lucy. She's Dani. She's—"

"Got enough identities to become a spy."

Zach threw him a dark look. "Whatever she's..." He huffed, not really sure how to finish the sentence.

"She's yours?" Elliot's dramatic voice made Zach grin.

"If I can find her." He clenched his fist, tapping it against his knee.

Elliot’s soft sigh and light punch told Zach they were cool and that he got it...sort of. As they turned into Zach's neighborhood Zach said, "I don't expect you to stick around and look with me. You go do your thing."

"Yeah, I will. I'm...I'm gonna go see AJ."

Zach tried not to flinch, sneaking a quick look at his friend out of the corner of his eye. "Uh-huh."

"I need to make things right and I'll put in a good word for you too."

With a cynical scoff, Zach shook his head. "Not sure if they'll buy it."

"They'll come around."

Zach smiled, noting the change of tune they were both having. A few hours ago it was Zach trying to convince Elliot of that fact.

"Are you gonna tell them?"

"If I have to."

Zach nodded.

"Lucy will just have to cope," Elliot said firmly.

"Yeah, well, she may not be around to find out." Zach clicked his tongue.

"Or she might." Elliot slowed to a stop outside the Schultz home and pointed to the front step.

Zach expelled a sharp breath and scrambled for the door handle.

"I'll catch you later, man." Elliot grinned.

"Yeah, yeah, see ya."

"Good luck."

Zach barely heard his friend's farewell, he was too intent on the brunette with the blotchy face sitting on his doorstep. Pulling in a slow breath, he stepped towards her. No matter what she was about to tell him, he was determined to get in the first word.