Love's Cruel Redemption (The Ghost Bird Series)

“I will.”

I was the next in line for the cashier. I considered what I could to do make sure I left to where he could see me. Walk slow to the door so he had time to follow me out? Maybe I could walk the length of the stores...or meet him at the fast food place. Options went on in my head. I'd take his direction. As long as I kept him within eyesight, it should be safe.

I paid the cashier, and she bagged my few items for me. I thanked her. I had to cross in front of several rows of registers to leave, so I just slowed down. I adjusted the backpack and then pretended to search the bag for something, keys perhaps. Anything to allow Dr. Green the chance to catch up with me.

I sensed him coming up behind me, so I straightened up a bit, walking toward the door.

I stalled at seeing Wil standing just shy of the sliding glass door so they wouldn’t open for him. He waved to me. “Hey!” he said. “One second.”

I grimaced and then tried to warm my smile a bit. I had to go to him. I couldn’t imagine what he wanted, but I couldn’t just walk off.

After a few awkward steps toward him, I sensed Dr. Green following me just a little ways as he headed toward the door.

“Do they let you work this late if you've got school tomorrow?” Dr. Green asked him.

What was he doing? My heart raced. We just needed to get out of here.

Wil turned his attention to him to say something when the sliding door opened up and I heard a familiar voice.

“Sang?” a woman called. “Is that you?”

My heart froze. The guys turned.

Erica Lee stood with her purse over her arm, her hair and jacket wet.

She gazed over at me, an eyebrow going up. “I thought you were out with Kota.” She stepped forward and then looked at Dr. Green. “Sean?”

Oh no. Did Kota leave the house? And then told her he was with me? Wasn’t he supposed to stay at home? In my panicked state, I couldn’t remember.

“Hey, Erica.” Dr. Green appeared to brighten and gave her a short wave with a few fingers. “You’re up late.” His tone was so casual, even though I knew he had to be just as surprised as I was to see her.

I said nothing. I stood with a bookbag on my back, a small grocery collection in my arm. The florescent lights above our heads seemed to brighten in intensity, like it was exposing everything I had done since that afternoon. I wanted to shrink and disappear.

“Kota?” Wil said with a raised eyebrow. “I thought you were going out with the tall one...”

Don't say it!

“Silas,” he said.

Dr. Green laughed a little too loud to cut him off but approached Erica, hugging her just for a second and then let her go, waving to me. “I just came in to get some of this.” He raised his bag for a second to show her the small bulk of yogurt containers. “You’re working the late hours like me, aren’t you?”

Erica looked from Wil to me to Dr. Green and back. “Yeah,” she said and then waved to me to follow her. “Did you get everything you needed? I can give you a ride home.”

I wondered if she assumed I was with Dr. Green, but her tone suggested she’d rather I went with her.

Wil piped in. “Good idea. You won't get caught in the rain on your way home.” He waved to me shortly. His concern seemed to fade. “See you at school.”

I had to go with her. I couldn't just excuse myself, could I?

Dr. Green flashed a very small alarmed expression at me but then changed it completely to something more relaxed. “I should be going, too. I'll see you tomorrow.”

Was he saying it was okay to go with her? I didn't want to ride in the car alone with her. No doubt she’d ask me a ton of questions.

What choice did I have? Dr. Green needed to stay for North. It felt like Wil wasn’t happy to let me go unless with was with Erica.

I swallowed thickly and followed her out into the parking lot.





Stay Cool Under Fire




Erica hurried, covering her head from the rain that was coming down. I scanned the lot, checking for the Jeep, for signs of Volto.

Erica motioned to where her car was parked. “Come along,” she said. “Did you really walk here? That's pretty far.”

“It didn't seem that far when I stared,” I said and paused when my voice cracked at the end. My nerves had me shaking, as well as the chill and cold rain that splashed down around me, not to mention the lies. I shifted my bag, pushing the groceries into it, careful around the eggs. I tried to keep my head down so rain didn’t splash into my face.

I bit my tongue, too. Hard. With the rain splashing around me, I felt light headed. I needed to focus, to stay upright. The rain seemed to charge my senses, making my nerves rise up. But I held them back, somehow. Maybe because I could protect my face, or it wasn’t a shower that it didn’t trigger me fainting. Or perhaps the week of rest and Dr. Green’s care made it harder for it to happen, like he said.

I couldn’t do that to Erica.

Erica just raised her arm over her head, and I followed close behind, swallowing back words. My mind reeled.

“Get in the back,” she said quickly.

I went for the seat without question. I opened the door, tossing the bag onto the seat gently before getting in and shutting the door again.

I sat back and found Nathan twisted around in the front passenger seat, staring back at me. Wide eyed. His reddish hair was matted down around his face, soaked, his body entirely drenched, part of it much muddier than myself.

Uh oh.

Erica got in, strapped her seatbelt on and then held the steering wheel. The rain pelted at the windshield. She didn't start the car. She just looked at the wheel for a few moments.

Silence loomed between us. I looked over at Nathan. He looked ahead at the rain, waiting.

“I don't know what happened tonight,” she said slowly. She twisted her hands against the wheel and then fished in her purse for her cell phone. She put the purse on the middle console, dialed on the phone with one hand and started the car. She switched to reverse and started backing out, holding the phone to her ear.

Nathan sat back in his seat, folding his arms across his chest. He gazed out the window, and then looked back at me through the rearview mirror.

We shared the same questions. What happened to you? How did you end up in this car? What in the world do we do now?

Something went terribly wrong for him, too. I could tell. He was supposed to be in a car with Luke. Where was Luke? Where was the car?

And where was Kota?

Erica spoke into her phone as she turned the car to leave the lot. “Kota? Where are you?” Pause. Her tone lowered. “Don't lie to me.” Pause. “Kota, she's sitting right here in my car. Don't tell me you're out with her.”

I closed my eyes, sat back, crossing my arms over my body and holding myself. This might be worse than her finding out about Nathan kissing me. There was no way to explain what was going on.

I had nothing to offer, nothing to help explain this. My cheeks were on fire. My body shook, not just from wet clothes, but from fear.

Suddenly, Erica reached back to me, handing me the phone. “He says he needs to talk to you.”

I took the phone and held it to my ear. “Hello?” I breathed into it.

“I'll fix this,” he said. “Try not to say anything until I get there.”

Did I need to tell him something else? Maybe I should warn him about Nathan? “Hey,” I said carefully and then considered what I could mentioned in front of Erica at this moment. “Yes, I think Luke has it?” I didn't know how else to tell him. I didn't want to mention where Luke was.

He paused on the phone. “Are you asking me about Luke? I don’t know yet but he’s okay. I need to find Nathan.”

“Yes,” I said. “That. I found it.”

“Really?” He blew out a breath hard into the phone. “Okay, okay. Is Nathan okay?”

“Yes.”

He paused. “Wait, is he in the car with you?”

“Yes.”