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  Istormedintothestore,runningpastPeytaandacustomerattop speed.Ungracefully,Islammedthroughthedoortothebackroomand mypurse,yankingmycelloutbeforeturningaroundtofranticallyexit.

  AllPeytagotwasawarninglookfromme.We'dlearnedtocommunicate withoutwordsduringperiloustimes.Iknewshegotthemessage.

  DialingasItookthestairstwoatatime,IhadSeanontheline beforeIevenhearditring.

  “Ihopethisisasocialcall.”

  “It'snot.We'vegotasituation.”

  “Define'we',”hedemanded,hisbusinesstoneinfullbore.

  Idecidedtocuttothechase.Therewasnopointintryingtopretty itup.

  “Tobiascalled...”

  Thenamewasmetwithagrowl.

  “Andwhatdidhesay?”

  “Well,that'swhatwe'regoingtofindoutrightnow,”Itoldhim, crestingthefinalsteptothethirdfloorwhereJannerstoodwiththe others.“Jannerspoketohim.Ididn't,buthe'srighthere.I'mputtingyou onspeaker.”

  Ihittheappropriatebuttonandadjustedthevolumeasloudasit wouldgoformybenefit.Iknewtheboyswouldhearhimregardless.

  “Okay,Janner,”Iprompted.“Justspillit.”

  Hesighedheavily,shootingmeanuncomfortableglance.Heclearly fearedmorethanjustTobias.Seanwasnotgoingtotakekindlytohis suspicionsofdangercomingourwaybecauseoftheboys.Iftheythought Cooperwasoverprotective,theywereabouttogetschooledbySean.

  “Hewashisusualpompousselfonthephone,makingagameof threateningme.Threatening us.”

  “What.Did.He.Say?”Seangroundout.Icouldpracticallyhearhis jawflexing,knowinghowhardhewastryingtocomposehimself.He wantedtofindasolutiontotheproblemfirst.He'dfigureouthowto makethempaylater.

  “HelaughedwhenIansweredandthenquicklypointedouthow irresponsibleitwasformetonothavegottenanotherphone,likeIhad madethegametooeasyforhim.”

  “Youhavethesamephone?”Seanroared.

  “Weleftwithnexttonothing.Wetookwhateverwecouldthrowin abagandthecashIhadstashedawayinacontingencyfund.Our accountswerepaidfortheyear.Ihadothermorepressingthingstodeal withwhenwefled.Itneverdawnedonmeseeifthenumberscouldbe changed,notthatchangingthenumberswouldhavebeenenough,really.

  Tobiasissmart.Mostlikely,wewouldhavehadtodisposeofthem entirely,”hesaid,tryingtoexplainwhytheyhadn'tgottenridofthat connectiontotheirpast.Itseemedthatcarelessnesswasthetruereason.

  “Asitstandsnow,Isoonwouldhavetohaverenewedthepolicyand wouldnotbeabletodoit.Pleaseunderstand,Sean,weleftinchaos.We werenotinMainelongbeforewehappeneduponRuby.Wehaven'thad muchtimetoregroup.Ihadnoideathathewouldcomeforusthis quickly.”

  “Andnowhe'sgoingtofollowthatphonerighttoRuby'sdoorstep.”

  Seanwasseething―Icouldsenseitthroughthephone.

  “Perhapsithasn'tcometothatyet,”Jannercountered.“Hesaidhe wassendingoutasearchparty.Hewouldn'thavetosearchhardifhe knewwherewewere.”

  “Sean,”Iinterjected,thinkingbacktoaconversationwe'dhadwhen hehadofferedtolocatemyphoneforme.“Maybenoteveryonehas accesstothetechnologyyou'reusedtoworkingwith.It'spossiblethat theycouldknowroughlywheretheboysare...maybeusingthecelltower totracetheirlocation,buttheymightnotbeabletodowhatTreycan.

  Maybewestillhaveachancetofixthis.”

  “Oh,itcanbefixed.”Hisvoicewaslowandcalm.Seanwasathis scariestwhendevoidofemotionentirely.

  “Sean...”

  “Iwon'tbebackthereintimetodealwiththismyself,sofollowmy instructionstotheletter,understood?”

  “Goahead.”

  “YouaregoingtodrivedowntoBoston.You'regoingtofindTrey, andhe'sgoingtomakethisgoaway,inasense.Nobodyistogetridof thosephones,isthatclear?”

  Wealllookedateachotherwithutterconfusion.Knowingthatthe otherthreeweretoosmarttoaskquestions,Iservedmyselfupand addressedtheobvious.

  “Whyaren'twegettingridofthem?Imean,ifhe'sgoingtotrack them,whywouldwekeepthem?”

  “Hewon'tbeabletotrackthemonceTreyisfinished,buthe'll think hecan.Besides,heseemstohavegoneundergroundforthemoment.Jay andtheLondonboysseemtobehavingtroubletrackinghim.That's whereIamnow.IwantTobiastobeabletoreachtheminthefuture.

  Treywillbeabletolocatehimoncehe'sworkedhismagiconthephones.

  We'llflipthesituationonhimandgettheupperhand.”

  IlikedSean'splanimmensely,butitallhingeduponTobiasnot beingabletodirectlytraceJanner,oranyoftheboys'phones,andI wasn'toverlyoptimisticaboutthat.Luckrarelyseemedtobeonmyside.

  “WhereisCooper?”heasked,finallyrealizingthathehadn'theard himpipeupyet.

  “He'snotbackyet.”

  “Andheleftyouhomealonewiththem?”Seanstartedwithalow rumblingaccentinghiswords.“ApparentlyheandIneedtohaveachat.”

  Seandidn'tdochats.Hiseuphemismfoolednoone.Cooperwas goingtogethisasshandedtohimonaplatterwhenSeangotback.

  Damagecontrolagain...

  “Sean,I'llexplainlater,butdon'tfreakoutonCooper,”Ipleaded, knowingitwaslikelyinvain.Todistracthim,Ithrewthemorepressing CFbackinhisface.“Sowherearewegoing?”

  “Youaren'tgoinganywhereuntilCoopergetsback.”

  “Sean―”

  “I'msendingyoudirectionsnow,butyouarenottogo anywhere withoutCooper,”hedictated,bitingoffhiswordsforeffect.“Nowhere.

  Understood?”

  Isigheddramatically.

  “Yes.Weunderstand.”

  “No.Ineed youtounderstand,”hecountered.“Ineed themtoget verycomfortablewiththerealitythattheirliveswillbeshort-livedif anything,andImean anything,happenstoyoubeforeIreturn.”

  TheyalllookedtomeandIshrugged.IhadnocontroloverSean, andtheyknewthat.Mateornot,Iwas sonotinthedriver'sseatofour relationship.

  “Youareunderstood,”Jannerrepliedonbehalfoftheboys.

  “Good.I'monmywaynow,”hesaidasthewindaroundhim garbledhiswordsslightly.“AndRuby,Iloveyou.Don'tmakemeliveto regretyourjudgment.”

  HehungupbeforeIcouldrespond.Ijustsmiledatthephone instead.

  MysmiledroppedthesecondCooperwalkedthroughthemaindoor downstairs.

  “Rubes?”hecalled.“Areyouupstairs?”

  “Yeah,I'muphere.Don'tbothercomingup.We'vegottagoto Boston.Now.”

  Westarteddownthestairs,meetinghimonthelandingbymy apartmentdoor.Andhedidnotlookpleased.

  “Idon'tknowhowcloselyyouthreeliketoplaywithdeath,butI amtellingyou―”

  “Seriously,Cooper.Nowisn'tthetime.Youcantearthetrioanew setofassholesallthewaydowntowherewe'regoing,ifyouwantto,but wehavetogo.Seansaidtoleavethesecondyougothome.”

  “Hencehissubtletextmessage:'gohomenow'.”

  “Yep.Thatsoundsaboutright.”

  “Boston?Christ,Ruby,Iwasgoneforhalfanhour.Howmuchshit didyoumanagetostirupinthirtyminutes?”Igavehimasheepishlook thattoldhimeverythingheneededtoknow.Knowingmygifts,he scowledinreturn.“Worstcasescenario?”heasked,leadingtheway downtothecar.

  “Tobiasmightbehere.”Hestoppeddeadinhistracksonthestairs.

  “Thecar,remember?”Icried,shovinghimonwardtothedoor.“Youcan flipoutinthecar.SeansentmedirectionstoTrey'sinBoston.We'vegot togetsomethingdonetotheirphones,”Itoldhim,hedgingslightly.I'd hopedtonotwastetimeexplainingthingsuntilwewerei
nthecar.

  “Why?”heasked,thattimewithoutstopping.“Doyouwanttogive metheabridgedversionofwhatinthehellisgoingon?”

  “TobiascalledJanner.Theystillhavetheiroldphones...wethinkhe tracedthemsomehow.”Iflinched,steppinginfrontoftheboysso Coopercouldn'tkillthemwithoutharmingmeintheprocess―oratleast toslowhimdownslightly.

  “Mother.Fucker.”

  “Heprobablyis,”Alistairquippedfrombehindme.

  “Seanthinkswecanthrowthemoff,butwehavetogettoTrey ASAP.Canweputaholdontheasskickingsuntilafterweknowwe'reon therightsideofawar?”

  Cooperstaredtheboysdownovertopofmyheadaswestood outsidethebuilding.Hewasbreathinghardandfurious,butforonce,I didn'tthinkhewasgoingtokillthem.Notyetanyway.Ihopedfortheir sakesnothingeventfulcameofTobias'threats.

  “Youthree,intheNavigator.Now,”heordered.Theboyscomplied withoutaword.“You,”hesaid,goldeneyesflaring,“youneedtoget PeytahomeorsendhertoRonnie'sshop,butIdon'twantheranywhere nearhereuntilwehaveabetterideaofjusthowpressingthisdangeris.”

  “Iwasgoingtodothat,”Ireplied,openingthedoortotheshop.

  “SeanthinkswecanusethistofindTobias.Jayhasn'tbeenabletofind himoverthere.”

  “Well,Isureashellhopethatdoesn'tmeanhe'salreadyhere,”he snarled,beforesofteninghistone.“Thiscouldbebad,Ruby.Reallybad.”

  Hiseyesheldasadnessthatwaseasilyread.Myquestionablyhuman statusmademevulnerable,andifharmcamelookingforus,Iwasgoing tobeacasualtyforsure.Therewasnoprettyingupthatreality.

  “Itwon'tbe,”Itoldhim,forcingawansmile.“Itrustyou,Cooper.I trustSeantoo.It'llbeokay.”

  Iturnedtopushthedooropenandheardhimmuttersomething underhisbreathashewalkedtothecar.

  Ihaveabadfeelingaboutthis, he'dsaid,shuttingthecardoor behindhim.

  Hewasn'ttheonlyone.

  IttookmeawhiletoconvincePeytatolistentomeandleavethe store.Shenolongerhadherconstantguardianathersidetokeepher safe,thoughIdidn'tbothertopointthatout.Shewasmorethanawareof hisabsence.Ipromisedtofillherinlater,whenIknewwewereallgoing tobesafe.Sheacceptedthatforthetimebeingandfiledoutofthestore, leavingmebehindtolockup.

  Iwatchedherwalktohermom'scarwhileIturnedoffthelights andplacedthe'CLOSED'signinthewindow.ShewavedtoCooper,who yelledsomethingatherfromtheSUV.Herfacebecameserious,andshe gaveabrisknodinresponsebeforejumpingintothevehicleandspeeding offdownthestreet.

  Apparently,Ineededtohaveachatwithheraboutthedangersof havingaleadfoot.

  Ihopedtolivelongenoughtohavethattalk.

  24

  “Thanksfordriving,Coop,”IsaidasIbuckledmyselfin.“Myeyesare allwhackedouttoday,andit'sgivingmeaheadache.Ireallyneedtoget somequalitysleepsoon.”

  “Yeah,”hegrunted,havinggonebacktofumingaboutthesituation.

  Hewaslessthanimpressedbytheboys'oversight.HeandSeanboth.

  “Pleaseexplaintomeagainwhywearen'tjustdestroyingthephonesand gettingnewones?”Hisirritationwasplain.

  “SeansaidhewantedthemtobeincontactwithTobias,ifneedbe,”

  Iexplainedforthesecondtime.“Seanhasapurposeforeverythinghe does,Cooper.Youknowthat.”

  “Doesn'tmeanIhavetoagreewithhim.”

  “Youneverdo.WhywouldIexpectthattochange?”Iasked, lookingoutthepassengerwindow.Theboysquietlysatintheback, tryingtokeepthemselvesoffofCooper'shostileradar.

  “Sowhereexactlyareweheaded?”

  “Seangavemeexplicitinstructions,butI'mnotreallyfamiliarwith thearea.Don'tworry―youdrive,I'llnavigate.”

  Heshotmeadubiouslookfromthedriver'sseatbeforefiringupthe vehicle.Hewasinamoodofgrandproportions.Thehourinthecarwas destinedtobeunbearableforallifsomethingdidn'tlightenthingsup,and quickly.

  “What?WegotbackfromUtahjustfine.”

  “Yeah,becauseyouwereunconsciousforthebetterpartofthe trip!”heexclaimed,pullingontotheonramp.

  “Ihelped!”Iretorted.

  “Yes,Ruby, technicallyyoudidhelp.Yougotmefromthehighway toyourhouse.Itwasacrucialpartofthetrip.”

  “OneofthesedaysI'mjustgoingtopunchyourightintheface,”I saidasIfoldedmyarmsovermychestandsunkdownintomyseatlikea petulantchild.“Youwon'tevenseeitcoming.Just BAM,andyou'reout forthecount.”

  Helaughed.ItwasnottheresponseIwaslookingfor.

  “Ilookforwardtoit,Rubes.”

  “Areyoutwoalwayslikethis?”Alistairaskedmeeklyfromthe backseat.

  “Yes,”weshoutedinunisonrightbeforethecarfellsilent.

  ItstayedsilentuntilwehitBoston.

  “SowheredoIneedtogo?”Cooperasked,tryingtosoundless irritatedthanheactuallywas.

  “Takearightuphere,Ithink,”Icalledout,pointingtothe upcomingintersectionasIsquintedatthestreetsignabove.“Doesthat sayMassachusettsAve?”

  “Jesus,Ruby,”Cooperlamented.“No,that'snotwhatitsaysatall.

  Notevenclose.GivethephonetoJannerandlethimnavigate.Havea napuntilwegetthere.”

  “Sorry,”Iwhined,rubbingmyeyes.“Youtrysurvivingonacouple hoursofsleepanightandseehowgoodyourvisualacuityis.”Frustrated, ItossedthecelltoJanner,whowasseateddirectlybehindme.“The directionsarehighlightedontheGooglemap.Seanassuredmethey'dget usthereeasily.”

  “Gotit,”hechirpedbeforetellingCoopertotakearight.

  Fifteenminuteswentbyandwestillweren'tthere.Iturnedtosee Jannereyeingthemapwithabewilderedexpression.Itwasclearthathe'd goofedupsomewherealongthewayandwastryingtofindasolution beforelettingCooperinonit.Notwantingtorathimout,Igavehima fewminutestosortthingsoutbeforeaddressingtheissue.

  “Cooper,”hesaidinhisstrangeaccent.“Pullinupherefora minute.Thephonelostreceptionforamomentbackthere,andIthink I'vemissedsomethingintheprocess.Ijustneedtogetmybearings,and thenwecanproceed.”

  “IwonderedifIshouldcountonsomeoneusedtodrivingonthe wrongsideoftheroadfordirections,”Coopersneered.

  AsAlistairlaunchedintoarantaboutAmericanarrogance,Cooper pulledintoanabandonedwarehouseparkinglot.Ihadn'tbeenpaying attentionduringthedrive,takingCooper'sadviceandtryingtorestmy sleep-deprivedeyes,soIhadn'trealizedjusthowshadytheneighborhood weweredrivinginwas,untilwestopped.

  Mydancestudiowasinanareathatskirtedthelessrefinedareasof town,butitwasnothinglikewherewehadstopped.Theareawas destitute,ominous,andfilledwithanefariousenergy.

  Isoonfoundoutwhy.

  Whilethefourofthembickeredlikespoiledhousewives,Istared outofthefrontwindowtoseefiveformidablemenexitingatankofa vehicleandheadingourway. Menwasabitofamisnomer. Werewolves wasfarmoreaccurategiventhewallofviolent,supernaturalenergythat slammedagainstme.

  Thesunshonethroughacrackintheclouds,castingablinding golden-orangeaurabehindthemasthoughtheywereencasedinthefiery glowofhell.Ihadafeelingthat,asfaraswewereconcerned,that's exactlywheretheywerefrom.

  “Cooper,”Icallednervously,tuggingonhissleeve.“Ithinkwe haveasituation.”

  Thefourofthemsnappedtoattentionimmediately,theircollective gazefallingontherapidlyapproachinggroup.Cooperturnedthecaron, preparingtoescape,butitwasalreadytoolate.Thefivedescendedonus inaflash,surroundingtheSUV.Cooperhammeredthegas,butwewent nowherethankstoone
ofthemjackinguptherearbumperwithonehand.

  “Fuckingrearwheeldrive,”Coopermuttered,hisaggressionrising.

  ThesecondIknewthattherewasnowaytomakeacleangetaway,I knewthatshitwasabouttogetreal.

  “Janner,”oneofthemcalledtauntinglyinapristineBritishaccent whilehetappedlightlyontherearpassengerwindow.“Timetopaythe piper.”

  “Youknowthem?”Cooperasked,moretoconfirmhissuspicions thananything.

  “Theyarefromourformerpack,”Jannerspatthroughclenched teeth.“Theyarethe cleaningcrew.”

  AlookofunderstandingflashedthroughCooper'sface.Ididmy bestnottopanic,butmyfearpollutedtheairinthecar,sendingCooper's protectiveinstinctsintohighgear.Theyellowofhiseyesnearly fluorescedasthegrowlcamelowandwarningfromdeepinhischest.

  Thesoundwasmatchedbythreeothers,rattlingtheinteriorofthe vehicle.

  Themenoutsidebackedupastepinresponse.

  “Ruby,”Coopersaid,pinninghiseyesonme.“Iwantyoutogetthe fuckoutofhererightnow.Doyouunderstandme?Assoonaswegetout, Iwantyouinthisdriver'sseatandpeelingoutofhere,tiredeyesandall.”

  “Butyou'reoutnumbered―”

  “Drivethefuckingcar,Ruby.It'snotagoddamnrequest!”

  “Weneedher,”Alistairprotested.Ilookedbackathimtoseea confusedanddisappointedlookonhisface.Tohim,thesaviorhehad beencountingonwasn'tunavailable;shewasdeserting.

  “Don'tlikeitwhentheoddsareunfavorable,Alice?”Cooperasked inatauntingvoice.“Don'tquestionmymotiveseveragain...ifyouliveto seetomorrow.Let'sdothis.”

  Theboysturnedtheirattentionbacktotheassailantswhoawaited thempatiently.Iwassurprisedthattheyhadn'tjustrippedthedoorsoff thecarandstartedpickingusoffonebyone,butinstead,theyhadbacked offslightly,allowingtheboysspacetoexitasiftherewasacodeof ethicstofollowinashowdownofthistype.Anexterminationmission witharulebook.