Hunted (3 page)

“So you were always different, but then things changed, made you sense the Cavallo when they were getting close and you became telepathic with me.”

That one had caught her by surprise. When Alex showed up in her hospital room and she called out to Will in her mind, she never expected him to answer. “And telepathic with Jake.”

Will stood up and paced the floor. “Yeah, that’s right, before the truck exploded and the Cavallo took Jake, you could talk to him, too.”

Just the reminder of living nearly twenty-four hours thinking that her son had died in the explosion sent her reeling and she braced her arms on the mattress. Thank God he’d come to her in her dreams. “And after my dream,” she said, “when he told me he was alive.”

Will stopped and turned to her in disbelief. “What? Why didn’t you tell me before now?”

She sat up. “It was in the woods, when you taught me how to shoot the shotgun. I talked to him then, but he said it was too dangerous to talk to me. You already didn’t believe that he was alive so I knew if I told you, you’d think I was crazy.”

His eyes narrowed. “Obviously, I don’t think you’re crazy now. You should have told me. Why haven’t you asked him where he is and save us a lot of time and effort?”

“You don’t think I’ve tried?” Did he really think she was that stupid? “I can feel him out there somewhere, but he refuses to talk to me. It’s like he’s built a wall to keep me out.”

“Why would he do that?”

She tilted her head with a sneer. “The same reason you were going to leave me with those nut jobs in South Dakota. He thinks he’s protecting me.”

His jaw clenched and he ran his hand through his hair, averting his gaze. “Emma, you know I didn’t want to leave you.”

She shook her head. “I know, I know. We’ve been over this. But right or wrong, it’s his reasoning too.”

Will sat on the edge of the dresser, staring at the wall over Emma’s head, a frown tugging his mouth. A car back fired and Will whipped around to look through the drapes into the parking lot. He turned back with a sigh, rubbing his forehead.

Emma knew he hadn’t wanted to leave her in South Dakota. The Vinco Potentia had threatened to kill her if Will didn’t cooperate, but it still stung. She still wasn’t convinced she should rely on him completely. What would it take for him to leave her again? The past two weeks she’d had no choice, but she was almost recovered. Emma had spent her entire life taking care of herself and the last five years taking care of her son. On her own. She wasn’t sure she could let someone help her now. Everyone in her life she’d ever counted on had hurt or left her. What made Will any different? At the same time, she’d promised Jake she’d stay with Will, a promise she didn’t take lightly. She glanced at Will, and the trident shaped brand Jake had burned on his arm, reminding her that Will was bound to her, too.

Still, the Vinco Potentia wasn’t a group to trifle with. A secret political organization founded by Columbia University graduates, it was run by powerful men used to getting what they wanted and with enough money to get it. Right now they wanted her.

Will stood, snapping her out of her reflection. “So, you’re changing. Just like Jake and everything else. What’s made you and Jake change?”

She raised her eyebrows. Wasn’t it obvious? “You. You’re the catalyst. Even Jake said so.”

He shook his head. “Maybe I’ve started things changing, but things were freaky with Jake long before I ever showed up. And with you to a lesser extent. Alex sought you out, knew you were significant enough to…”

Her chest tightened. “Yeah, I don’t need to be reminded of what Alex did.”

“The point is, you were chosen yourself, long before I entered the scene. Before Jake was born and before he could see the future. If you could heal faster than normal, you’ve always been special.”

Emma shook her head.

“Do you remember something significant happening to you when you were a kid?”

“You mean other than the parade of boyfriends my mother brought into the house and the massive quantities of alcohol they consumed? No.” Her bitterness oozed through her words.

“What about your father?”

She twisted the hem of her dress in her fingers. “I never knew my father. He left long before I was born. I figured he was just another of my mother’s one-night stands. She never told me when I asked.”

“Does your mother have any special qualities or powers?”

“Other than her ability to consistently pick losers? No.”

“Maybe your father holds the key to your and Jake’s abilities. We need to find out more.”

“Yeah, well good luck with that. My mother refused to tell me anything. What does it matter anyway?”

He stared into her eyes. “Emma, the Vinco Potentia wants you, not Jake. You have significance. I suspect they want you for
you
and not just the baby, otherwise why would the prophecy call you a queen? Why not just a vessel or a baby momma?”

Emma glared, not just because of his flippant remark. Her possible pregnancy wasn’t a subject she was willing to discuss. The Vinco Potentia wanted the baby they believed Emma was carrying. A baby who was supposed to be Jake’s enemy. Some centuries-old prophecy said that her baby would have powers equal or greater than Jake’s, somehow giving the group that possessed him power to control the world.

Emma thought it was a crock of bullshit.

Will sighed. “What if your significance has something to do with one of your parents? Especially your father since you have no idea who he is. Emma, we need to talk to your mother and find out more. Where is she?”

Memories of her mother flooded her with anger and shame.

“Emma?”

She realized she must look as horrified as she felt. “That’s really not a good idea.”

“Why not?”

“Let’s just say my mother and I didn’t part on good terms and seeing me again is probably the
last
thing she wants.”

Will sat next to her on the bed and took her hand. “We have to try. Maybe it will lead us closer to Jake.”

She had sincere doubts talking to her mother would lead them to Jake, but Will knew which carrot to dangle. She’d do anything to find him. Even if it meant seeing her mother.

***

Will packed what few belongings they had, which wasn’t much. When the Cavallo, a splinter group from the Vinco Potentia, kidnapped Jake, they’d blown up Will’s truck, burning up everything he had with him as well as Emma’s suitcase. Even though he’d leased his apartment under an alias, he’d hesitated going back. The people looking for them were powerful enough to sniff it out. But the little money he withdrew with his debit card the night they got away, and what the chop shop paid for the BMW he stole to escape, was running out. They needed money so it might be worth the risk. Even if they knew about his apartment, hopefully they’d stopped watching after nearly two weeks.

“Where’s your mother?” Will asked. “I’d like to try to go back to my place. I can plan it into our route.”

Emma hesitated long enough that Will suspected she wasn’t going to tell him.

“Missouri. Joplin, Missouri. I’m sure she’s still there.”

Will raised his eyebrows. “You grew up in Joplin? My apartment’s in Kansas City, only a couple hours north.”

Emma eyed him warily before she frowned. “What a lucky coincidence.”

These were things people usually discussed on a first date, not after spending several weeks together. There was so much he didn’t know about her, most of which she kept guarded even after everything they’d been through together. Maybe she used it as leverage to get him to share his own secrets.

Emma lifted herself off the bed. “Will, I can help.”

“Emma, I can do this. I don’t need your help.”

“I’m not a fucking invalid, Will. You saw my leg. I’m healed.”

The exasperated tone in her voice was something he’d become well acquainted with over the last week. “I know, I just don’t want you to overdo it.” He pulled her into an embrace and nuzzled her neck. “I can come up with something else for you to do.”

She pushed him away, but she wore a small grin. “I don’t even think so.”

He laughed. “Yeah, no time to do it justice anyway. Though if you’d said yes, I would’ve had a hard time turning you down. Come on, let’s go to Missouri.”

“Funny, I thought we were already in misery.”

“You must be feeling better. Sarcasm
and
wit.”

Will grabbed the remote off the bedside table to turn off the television, when images of a fire on the local news caught his eye. He turned up the volume.

Emma watched Will, cocking her headed in confusion.

“...the bodies of two teens were found next to the burning home. Officials won’t release the cause of death, but word has leaked that the boys’ deaths were unrelated to the fire.”

Will tensed and tossed the remote on the bed. “We’ve got to go.”

“Were those the two kids you—”

“Yes.” Will moved to the window and looked through the slit between the cheap polyester drapes.

“But I thought you said you didn’t kill them.”

“I didn’t.”

“Then—”

He turned back to look into her strained face. “Exactly.”

Chapter Three

He doubted they’d followed him here. He’d checked and double-checked to make sure he hadn’t been trailed. But he was less than twenty-five miles from the burning house. Too close for comfort.

“Have you felt sick?” While her violent nausea and vomiting triggered by the close proximity of the group was a hindrance, it had saved their lives on several occasions.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

She glared. “I think you’d have noticed the uncontrollable retching.”

He eased through the door, holding Emma back in the room with one hand. The rundown motel parking lot was mostly empty.

“Stay behind me and if I tell you to run, run.”

“Okay.”

The car was close to the door. He reached for the passenger door handle.

“That’s not our car.”

“It is now.”

“Where did you get it?”

“I traded it in. Now get in.”

She stood in front of the car with her hand on her hip checking out the vehicle. He’d come to recognize it as her defiant stance. “Do I want to know where you got it?”

“Probably not. Now get in.”

“No way. You show up with a Camaro and expect me to ride shotgun. Hand over the keys.”

“Emma, get in the damned car. We don’t have time for this.”

She held out her hand. “Exactly. Hand over the keys. You and I both know I’m a better driver than you.”

His eyes narrowed. “Better driver, my ass. You just know how to street-race.”

“And if the people who killed those kids find us, who better to be driving? Hand over the keys, Will.”

He hated to admit she was right. While he’d love nothing more than to insist she was still recovering, he knew she was well enough to drive. He tossed the keys to her and shoved the duffle bag with their clothes and weapons in the backseat. “Then get your ass in the car,” he said. “Don’t just stand there waiting for someone to take a shot at you. I’ve had enough fun playing nursemaid.”

She slid into the driver’s seat, looking happier than he’d seen her in weeks.

“If I’d known all it took to turn you on was a fast car, I would have got you one ages ago.” Will teased, but his nerves were shot to hell. The sooner they got out of there, the better.

“Shut up, Will.”

When she pulled out of the parking lot onto the two-lane highway, Will reached for the glove compartment. “The car came with a surprise you’ll be sure to like.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“I finally found that Tim McGraw CD you kept asking for.”

***

Emma smiled in spite of herself. Leave it to Will to take an insult she hurled at him when they first met and turn it into something bordering on sweet. As Will watched for her reaction, she wondered where she’d be if he hadn’t climbed into her car mere weeks ago. It left a mixture of gratitude and irritation.

He reached over and laced his fingers through hers, sending shivers up her spine. This new Will was growing on her and that scared the shit out of her. Had she finally found a man worth taking a chance on? Emma had spent so much of her life simply surviving that she’d never had the luxury of considering happiness. Yet, there were moments with Will that teased her with its promise. Of course, she could never consider happiness without Jake. But the reality was that even once they found him, their lives would never be normal. Too many people wanted them.

Her mind wandered to the possibility of a baby. The signs were all there, though she’d never admit it to Will. This poor baby was already hunted, not even born but burdened with prophecies and expectations. Acknowledging its existence opened a door to questions she wasn’t ready to face.

Emma drove for a few hours, with Will constantly checking around them for signs of being followed. When he wasn’t checking, he was asking her how she felt.

“For the fifty thousandth time, Will, I’m fine.”

“You’ve been driving for a few hours and I don’t think we’re being trailed. I think I should drive.”