Page 30 (1/2)

Daemon moved back "See you around, Lane"

Tires wheeled and kicked up gravel as the Expedition pulled back onto the road, puffing out exhaust

What the heck just happened? Better yet, as Blake still on top ofrunt followed "Get off"You like to hit"

I scraht noe don’t need to deal with you"

"Good point" He backed off, his grin fading "See you later tonight"

"Whatever," Iup the driveway I trotted out of the woods and over to his side "Is everything okay?"

Daemon nodded "Did you hear any of that?"

"Yeah, I was heading back when I saw hi all Creepy McCreepsters before we raided Mount Weather, it was a good thing "Do you believe him?"

"I don’t know" He dropped his ar uy, but this doesn’t sit ith me"

I wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned into him "Which part?"

"All of it--this whole scenario," he said, sitting down on the step one fro his arms around me "The fact that the DOD--even Lane--knows damn well that Dawson’s back, and that they have to realize we know they lied And they’re doing nothing" He closed his eyes as I pressed ht--it can work, but it’s so insane Part of "

Sainst his cheek, wishing there was so into a trap?"

"I think we’ve been inside the trap the entire ti closed" He captured my dirty hand in his and held on

A breath shuddered throughto still do this?"

The deterh "You don’t have to"

"Neither do you," I reasoned softly "But we both are"

Daethis because we had a death wish or that ere stupid, but because there were two lives at stake, probably more, that orth as much as ours Perhaps this whole endeavor was sacrificial, but if we didn’t go through with it, we’d lose Beth, Chris, and Dawson Blake was an acceptable loss

A tendril of panic seized htened out of otten us to this point and noas bigger thanin a shaky breath, I dippedto spend some time with my mom before we leave" My throat felt thick "She should be awake soon"

He kissedwith a hint of desperation and acceptance If things went badly tonight, there really hadn’t been enough tih

Finally, he said in a rough, raw voice, "That’s a good idea, Kitten"

…

When the time came to pile into Daee Mountains, theto do with Blake’s presence

There were outbursts of laughter and curses, but everyone was on pins and needles

Ash was getting into the passenger seat of Matthew’s vehicle She was decked out in all black--black tights, black sneakers, and a skintight black turtleneck She looked like a ninja Next to her, Dee was in pink Apparently Dee had gotten thein the vehicle Unless Ash planned to blend in with the seat cushions, I wasn’t sure why she was dressed that way

Other than the fact she looked insanely hot

On the other hand, I wore dark sweats and a black therer fit Daemon It must’ve been from his preteen years, because it wouldn’t even fit over his head now, and I looked like I was going to the gym

I was a total fail next to Ash, but Dae his clothes that sent blood rushing to every part of my body and I didn’t care if I looked like a hunchback next to her

Dawson and Blake were riding with us, the rest with Matthew As we pulled out of the driveway, ht The few hours I had spent with Moreat

The first thirty minutes of the trip wasn’t bad Blake stayed quiet, but when he started talking, things went downhill fro to stop the vehicle and throttle him

I didn’t think Dawson or I would’ve stopped hi his head into his hand "Do you ever stop talking?"

"When I’," Blake replied

"And when you’re dead," Dae when you’re dead"

Blake’s lips thinned "Point taken"

"Good" Dae up for a while"