Page 55 of Chef
“Yeah…about that.”
Sage
Takoda tenses beside me but doesn’t ask any more questions, and I don’t give him any more answers. I don’t have any. We haven’t heard from Dex for a while, so I can only hope that the Prez has gotten the guests to safety and he and the MC have everything under control. Because I don’t know how much Takoda has left in him today. The man has been beaten badly,sleep deprived for days and the only fluids he's had is the stuff Loyal gave him back at the church.
“I’ll be OK, babe.”
I turn my worried eyes to his and even though he looks exhausted, his words soothe something inside me.
“Three SUVs of religious nutjobs headed toward the Keep. We followed the one with Damian and Nathaniel in it. I don’t know how many men went to the Keep or if they had weapons.”
Takoda raises his hand, and smooths the wrinkle in my brow. “Trust me. Those men? They know what they’re doing. Ashfall could send thirty SUVs and we’d still win.”
Pressing my forehead to his I let out the breath I was holding. I know realistically the men who make up The Keep are total badasses. But in the same breath they're my family, and I don’t want anyone in my family to get hurt. It's why I hate this shit so much. Why do we always have people on our asses?
The SUV slows as we turn into The Keep and I take note of the white SUVs parked haphazardly on this side of the MC gates.
“They must have gone in on foot,” Joe mutters, eyes scanning the fenceline.
Loyal presses the button on the gate opener on the SUV visor then slowly inches the car forward. A sudden bang has us all jumping, and I’m not too tough to admit a little squeal might have slipped past my lips.
“River! What the hell?” Loyal yells through the windscreen.
I’m not sure whether River heard her, he looks panicked as hell as he darts around the side of the SUV. I fling the door open and he dives in, his breath sawing in and out of him, his thin chest rising and falling at an alarming rate.
“Hey, hey, look at me.” I place my hands on his bony shoulders, “River! Look at me!” His blue eyes collide with mine, and he’s scared out of his fucking mind. “Breath with me.”
Closing my eyes I breathe deeply through my nose, then let it out slowly. I don’t open my eyes, I don’t say a word, I just breathe and wait for River’s shoulders to rise and fall at the same pace mine are. I just breathe. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe away the panic, the adrenaline, the fear and worry until I feel River soften under my hands. Opening my eyes I’m met with his gaze, watching my face. He takes one last deep breath and then releases it on a sob. He falls into my arms and I wrap him up, holding tighter when Takoda’s arms cover the both of us.
“I thought, I though -”
“Shhh, it's OK. You’re safe now. We’ve got you.”
“They got in Sage! They got in!”
“Who got in?”
“Ashfall! I don’t know who told them! How did they know?”
I share a look with Loyal, River’s panicked words making me think something isn’t quite right. “How did they know what, River? What do they know?”
River’s eyes widen and his breathing kicks up again. His gaze darts away from mine. “I don’t know,” his voice cracks, “I don’t know OK? I was hiding.”
“Sage? What do you wanna do?” Loyal asks, staring at the open front gate.
“I wanna lay this shit to rest.”
She dips her chin, then slowly inches forward. We’re a moving target, and as much as the DRMC values safety, safety costs money. I’m pretty sure these SUVs aren't bullet proof. We roll forward, through the gates, down the drive to where it widens. Damian’s SUV pulls up beside us, Justice’s arm resting on the open window.
“Damn that man is fine,” Joe whispers, eyes glued to Justice.
Damian leans forward, making some type of elaborate hand actions. Takoda’s brows fly up before he returns them. He settles back into his seat with a grin on his face. I stare up at him,waiting, but he doesn't say a word until I nudge him with my elbow.
“What?” he has the gall to ask, raising a brow at me.
“What did Damian say?”
“He’s going on ahead. Don’t wait up.” A slow grin grows on Takoda’s face.
