Luna Proxy #4 Read online

  I climbed through the seats and grabbed his arms. Together we pulled him into the car and he dropped face-first onto the seat. I leaned over him and grabbed the car handle. The door shut, and a little working with the seatbelt kept it shut.

  The sound of claws scratching metal was no more. I fell back against the other door and gasped for breath. Vincent tried to sit up, but he winced and looked down at his leg. I followed his gaze and cringed.

  The knife was still embedded in his calf.

  Vincent dragged his leg into the middle of the seat and gingerly touched the handle. He whimpered. I pursed my lips and leaned forward. I brushed his hands away and grabbed the handle. I caught his eyes.

  "Ready?" I asked him.

  He winced, but nodded.

  I grasped the handle. There was a pause. Vincent frowned and opened his mouth. That's when I pulled.

  The blade came out in one yank. Vincent threw back his head and screamed. Blood poured from the wound. I took off my jacket and tore off one of the sleeves.

  "You owe me a jacket," I teased as I wrapped the wound.

  "And a-ouch!- shirt," he reminded me as I tightened the makeshift bandage.

  "Don't be such a baby," I scolded him.

  His lips puckered out and he cast a side-glance at me. "It's not fun having a hole in your leg, ya know."

  I grabbed his hand and lifted it between us. There was no fur, no claws, no evidence of the change. My eyes flickered up to Vincent's face. Gone was the snout and fur.

  He blinked at me. A slight blush came over his cheeks. "W-what? What is it?"

  "You," I commented.

  An orange light glistened off his cheek. I glanced out the back, and Vincent followed my gaze. The town was a few miles behind us, but we could see the flames as we drove down the highway. Smoke rose into the sky. It was the beacon for our revenge.

  I turned away from the fire and leaned my back against the car seat. My tired eyes shut and a sigh escaped my lips.

  "I could use a break. . ." I murmured.

  "Don't take one just yet," Bram spoke up.

  I opened my eyes and frowned. "Why?"

  "Because we don't have much fuel left, that's why," he snapped.

  "How much did you start with?" I questioned him.

  "Most of a tank, but it ain't easy trying to keep a bunch of werewolves off my tail and trying to save your hides," Bram explained.

  "Why did you save us?" Vincent asked him.

  Bram looked in the rear view mirror and rolled his eyes. "Because you got me to the car so I could jack it. The least I could do was get you guys out, too."

  "How far can we go?" I wondered.

  He shrugged. "Thirty miles maybe, but that's far enough they can't catch us."

  I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Just perfect. . ." I muttered.

  Bram grinned. "Enjoy the ride. I don't mean to brag, but I ain't half bad at this."

  My eyes flew open. "Stop the car."

  "What? Why-"

  "Stop the car," I ordered him.

  Bram frowned, but pulled the car over. I stepped out and opened his door. "Scoot over. I'm driving."

  "No way, sister. This is my car, I stole it," he insisted.

  "You're ten, you can barely reach the peddles, and it's past your bedtime," I told him.

  "I resent that last remark," he growled.

  I slipped into the seat and bumped him into the passenger one. "Just scoot over."

  "All right, all right, but did anyone ever tell you you've got a big ass for a girl your size?" he wondered.

  There was a deafening silence in the car. I turned my head to him and narrowed my eyes. Vincent leaned between the seats and sheepishly smiled at us.

  "Come on, guys, we can get along," he assured us.

  Bram grinned. "Besides, I don't think you want to be doing anything stupid with me." He raised his hand. The fingers transformed into a werewolf state, and reverted back.

  I pulled my gun from my holster and held it up. "You forgot something."

  Bram winced and dropped his hand. "Damn it. . ."

  "My sentiments exactly. Now sit down, buckle up and shut up." I stomped on the gas. Vincent flew back into the rear seat. Bram clung to his seat and hurriedly pulled his seatbelt on.

  "You're crazy!" he shouted.

  I sat in a car with two werewolves, and in the rear view mirror was a forest fire inadvertently caused by us.

  Yeah, I was a little nuts.

  CHAPTER 11

  We passed no one, and I saw no houses. The car made it seventy-five miles down the highway before it coasted to a stop in the middle of nowhere. All around us were the tall trees of wilderness. There were no side roads, nor even a camp ground.

  I glanced at my watch. We were ninety minutes out from Celatum. The hour was the early morning.

  I glanced over at Bram. His eyes were closed and his head lulled to one side. A look in the rear view mirror told me Vincent was in the same state.

  "Time for a hike!" I announced.

  The pair started up and whipped their heads around. I suppressed a smile.

  Vincent ran a hand through his wild black hair and looked to me. "What's wrong?"

  I tapped on the gas gauge. "We're out. It's time to walk."

  Bram stretched his arms and legs, and yawned. "Can't we just stay here until the sun comes up?"

  "Do you want to give the people back in Celatum more time to find us?" I returned.

  He cringed. "No, I guess not."

  We stepped out of the car. The air was quiet and still. A faint fog drifted over the road. I glanced over the top at Vincent.

  "Where do we need to go?" I asked him.

  He looked down the road and nodded in that direction. "That way."

  I snorted. "About time that mind of yours gave us an easy path." I looked to Bram. "I guess you'll come with us until the next town."

  Bram shrugged. "I guess, unless I get bored of you and leave."

  "Suit yourself. You're one less mouth to feed," I retorted. I froze. Our supplies. My eyes flickered to Bram. He crossed his arms behind his head and grinned at me. "Where's that blanket we gave you?"

  "Wouldn't you like to know?" he teased.

  "It's in the trunk," Vincent spoke up.

  We both turned to him. Bram stuck out his tongue. "Spoil sport!"

  I raised an eyebrow. "How do you know that?"

  Vincent shrugged. "I can't smell the herbs, and some other food."

  I popped the trunk and walked to the back. Bram hurried around to the other side and snatched the bag before I could. He hugged the blanket to him and backed up.

  "This stuff wasn't easy to steal, so you'd better pony up some money!" he insisted.

  "How about we promise not to hand you over to Social Services?" I warned him.

  His eyes narrowed. "I'd break out of that prison and-" A pair of headlights from the opposing direction caught our attention.

  I half-turned and watched a car approach. The driver slowed its speed. I whipped my head to Vincent.

  "Let me do all the talking," I told them.

  Bram shrugged. "You're good at it."

  I didn't have time for a retort before the car drifted into our lane and rolled down their window. The person flicked on the overhead light between the seats and leaned over the window.

  He flashed me a smile. "You're a hard one to find, Leila."

  My eyes widened and my face twisted into disbelief. "Quill?"

  He laughed and swept his gaze over our little group. "The one and only. You guys want a lift?"

  Vincent came up behind me while Bram kept his distance. "You know him?" Vincent asked me.

  "He's a coworker of mine," I explained.

  "An ex-coworker. They fired you after they found out about your one-night stand with explosives," Quill told me.

  Bram glared at Quill. "I don't trust 'em."

  I crossed my arms over my chest and likewise glared at Quill. "I didn't have anything
to do with the Legenda Labs explosion."

  "And the murders in the alley?" he wondered.

  I glanced at my companions and jerked my head in the direction of the long road ahead of us. "Come on. Let's go."

  "Wait a sec!" Quill pleaded as he stretched out his hand. "If I give you some info and a card ride then you'll give me an exclusive, deal?"

  "Depends on the info," I countered.

  "What if I said that William Fox was chasing you guys?" he asked me.

  I raised an eyebrow. "I'm listening."

  "Who's William Fox?" Bram spoke up.

  "As annoying as you, Pipsqueak, but a whole lot richer," Quill commented. Bram stuck his tongue out at the man.

  "Why's he after us?" I questioned him.

  Quill shrugged. "I haven't figured that part out, but I'm only a couple of steps ahead of him for finding you guys, so if you want to stay ahead you'll come with me."

  "A car would be faster," Vincent commented.

  I turned to him and frowned. "You're awful trusting after what we just went through."

  He shrugged. "I don't really think this man wants to hurt us."

  I sighed, but returned my attention to Quill. "All right, but you'd better not drive like a granny."

  Quill nodded at Bram. "He coming along, too?"

  Vincent and I half-turned to Bram. His pleading eyes looked between us. "What do you say, Pipsqueak?" I teased. "Up for coming with us, or are you going to stand there with that food until the police come?"

  He frowned and hefted the bag over one shoulder. "I'll come, but don't expect me to like it."

  I swept my eyes over our little group and sighed. We had a full car, and one strange group for our next adventure on our way to Vincent's truth.

  For all books by Mac Flynn visit her author's page or visit Mac Flynn's website.

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