Warrior (Relentless #4)(54)

She tried to push me away. “I’m not going anywhere with you.”

“I’m not asking,” I said through gritted teeth. Chris had asked me if I was willing to make the hard decision when I knew I could no longer protect her here, and that time had come. I didn’t want it to be like this, but I was out of options.

Shock and hurt filled her eyes. “So, that’s it? You’re going to force me to go against my will? You’re no different than them.”

Roland lifted a hand. “Sara, maybe he’s right. I don’t want you to go, but I don’t want you to get hurt either.” He looked at me next. “But maybe we should talk to Uncle Max first to see what he thinks.”

“I see,” she bit out. “So everyone gets a say about my life but me?”

I steeled myself against the angry hurt in her voice and took her by the shoulders so she was forced to look at me. “If you stay here, you or someone you care about is going to end up hurt or killed. Someone is trying very hard to get to you, and they obviously won’t think twice about going through your friends to do it.”

She blanched, but I didn’t stop. “Next time it could be worse. They could go after your uncle. Is that what you want?”

“Of course not!” She flinched, and I hated the cruelty of my words, but I was desperate to make her see reason. Her face gave away her internal struggle, and I could see her trying to think of a way out of this. “Talk to Maxwell all you want, but I am not going anywhere until Nate gets home tomorrow. And if you make me go, I’ll run away the first chance I get.”

“Fine. You’ll stay with me and Chris until then.” Between us and Erik’s team, the safe house was the best location for her until we could leave.

She crossed her arms. “I don’t think so. I’m going home, and you are free to follow me if you want.”

“That location is not secure.”

Her laugh took me by surprise. “Trust me. The devil himself couldn’t get into that building.”

Peter cut in before I could point out just how unsafe her place was. “Um, guys, can we just figure out where we’re going? Bleeding here.”

Shaking my head, I called Chris to tell him to meet us at Sara’s place. Then I followed her to the cars.

She pointed at the boy still sitting in the Mustang. “What are we going to do about Scott? We can’t leave him here like this.”

“Don’t worry about him. Once we get you safely to your fortress of an apartment, we will take care of your friend.” She was my only priority, and the boy would have to wait.

Her lips pressed together. “Those guys are looking for a red Mustang. We can’t take a chance of them finding Scott before you come back. Besides, I think he needs a doctor.”

I didn’t want to tell her that if the Hale witch had gotten into her friend’s head, there wasn’t much anyone could do for him. I went to him and checked his pupils and pulse. He mumbled a few words and managed to focus his eyes for a second. Lucky bastard.

I pulled out the gunna paste I had started carrying on me since the night of the crocotta attack and made him eat some. He made a face, but he obediently swallowed the medicine.

I stood and faced Sara and Roland. “I think he’ll be okay in a few hours. If he’d been permanently damaged, he’d be catatonic. I gave him something to speed healing. By tomorrow, he won’t remember any of it and he’ll feel like he has a bad hangover.”

Relief showed on her face. “How will he get home?”

I sighed and called Chris again to tell him to come to the church instead. I handed the phone to Roland so he could give Chris directions to the other boy’s house. Then he and I helped Peter into the back seat of the other car. Sara and Roland got in the car, and I drove behind them the short distance to her apartment.

I moved to help Peter up the stairs into the apartment, but Sara stubbornly insisted on doing it. Following them, I secured the door while they took Peter up to the third floor. Then I began walking through the apartment, which had too many entry points for my comfort. Did she really think she’d be safe here if someone tried to get in?

“I told you this place is safe. I warded it myself.” She walked past me in the hallway and pulled a carton of orange juice from the fridge. “Anyone thirsty?”

I held back a laugh. “You warded it?”

“Don’t look so shocked,” she retorted smugly. “I told you before I’m not helpless. And I got away from those guys, didn’t I?”

Roland took the carton of juice she offered him. “I’d believe her if I was you. Sara knows things, and if she says we’re safe here, then we –”

The troll appeared out of nowhere between me and the kitchen, and it immediately crouched aggressively, showing its sharp teeth. Roland shouted, and the troll’s shaggy head swung toward him and Sara.

Cold spread through my limbs, and I prayed the creature was as young as it looked. I had fought many things, but even I couldn’t win against a fully grown troll.

“Keep her there,” I yelled at Roland, trying to draw the troll’s attention to me. “I’ll take care of it. Damn it, I knew this place wasn’t safe.”

I reached inside my jacket for a knife, knowing I’d only get one chance before the troll attacked. I hoped Roland kept his head enough to get Sara out of here while the troll was focused on me.