“Four.”
He slapped her. It was harder than I thought he had in him. Her eyes popped open, and her vacant gaze traveled around the room.
“Gabby,” I said as if talking to the hearing impaired. “Check your sonar.”
She blinked at me, and I could see her trying to focus.
“Check your sonar,” I repeated.
“Is Clay safe?” she asked softly.
“You’re sitting on him. He’ll be safer if you can tell us if there are any bad guys around.”
Gabby blinked again and looked at Clay. She reached up and ran her fingers through his beard.
“So handsome,” she murmured.
“Focus, Gabby,” I said loudly. “Check your sonar.”
She sighed.
“They’re netting again. None are close.” Her eyelids fluttered.
“Keep her awake, Clay,” I said, heading toward the stairs.
Ethan and I returned to the kitchen. The older man and woman were frowning at me. I struggled to recall their names. Winifred. I frowned back at the older guy as I tried to remember. Sam.
“Gabby says they’re not close. I’m not sure you’ll get specifics out of her for a while. Clay needs to try to keep her awake so she becomes more lucid.”
A wave of desire and love hit me hard. It came from upstairs. Time for me to retreat.
“Since it sounds like we’re in the clear, would anyone be willing to loan me a set of car keys and a map so I can grab some things to replace what I lost?”
All eyes turned to Grey, Sam, and Winifred. They, in turn, looked at each other.
“It’s safer to stick together,” Winifred said. “You’re welcome to borrow what you need from us.”
“Yeah, unless you have some stretchy clothes hidden somewhere, it’s not going to work.”
They looked at each other some more, and I got the creepy feeling they were somehow communicating with each other.
“I’m sorry, Isabelle. It’s just not safe.”
“Well, I’m asking to borrow a car, not for permission to leave. You’re just deciding if I drive or go on foot.”
Silence met my statement along with threads of anger. But I didn’t back down and unease drifted through the room.
“Let’s go check out the barn,” Emmitt said to Michelle.
“We’ll come too,” Thomas said, placing a hand at the small of Charlene’s back. Both men steered their women out of the house. The third man, Jim, followed.
Their departure left us alone with Grey, Carlos, Winifred, and Sam. They stared at me, and I stared back. Upstairs, Clay continued to flood the air with love potion number nine. I wasn’t sure how much more I could take.
Grey broke the silence with a sigh.
“How do we know you’ll come back?” he asked.
“Told you,” Ethan whispered. I ignored him.
“I guess you don’t. But, I’m telling you my plan is to get clothes and come back. It’s a clearer plan than you’ve given us.” I changed my voice to mimic Bethi’s. “We need your help to make the next Judgement. It should make your powers disappear.” It ended sounding more fairy godmother. “Look, I’m putting a lot of trust in complete strangers. Why is it weird for me to ask you to do the same?”
They glanced at each other again.
“You do know I could just knock you all on your butts and take the keys, right? I’m being nice and asking.”
Ethan snorted. I gave him a quick glare. He’d be the first one lying on the floor.
“We’re concerned for your safety as well as our own. Take Carlos with you and leave Ethan. If you run into trouble, Carlos can protect you. And, if you should need to use your ability, you won’t need to worry about hurting Ethan,” Winifred said.
Did they read minds?
I glanced at Ethan. He shrugged and handed over his wallet.
“Just remember what I said,” he added.
Don’t let your guard down. I nodded but was more worried about leaving Ethan alone than I was about any attempts at matchmaking.
“Be here when I get back,” I said to Ethan.
His lips tilted up in a half-smile.
“I’m not the one leaving.”
I looked at the old people. They had better keep Ethan safe.
“Let’s go, big guy,” I said to Carlos.
He took a set of keys out of his pocket as he opened the door for me. Feeling weird going somewhere alone with him, I stepped outside.
The temperature had dropped with the sun, and I shivered a little. Still, I was glad to be free of the emotions boiling inside the house and breathed deeply as I waited for Carlos to indicate which vehicle.
I kept pace with him as we walked toward the last car, then he stepped ahead to open the passenger door. Gallantry or security? Were they really afraid I’d bolt again? Without comment, I got in, and Carlos closed the door. I studied him as he walked around the hood, then I turned slightly to sit at an angle as he got in.
Carlos adjusted his seat, straightened the mirror, then turned to look at me. Every move he made was so constricted and concise.
“Are you a robot?” Ethan would have cracked up at the question. The big guy didn’t react at all.