Page 67 of Haunted By the Shadow of Death

“You need to resist her,” he said, walking closer until he was in front of me.

“Even if I don’t give in, I can’t stop her.”

“We keep trying,” he said, grabbing my arms.

I nodded, giving him what he wanted. I could agree with him every hour of the day, and it wouldn’t matter.

“I’m not letting you give up. Buddie and Rastin are supposed to stay in Florida for a couple weeks. We still have some time to figure this out.”

He walked away, staring off into the distance. It was what he did when he couldn’t figure out an answer he was searching for. He wasn’t going to find one. I knew where this ended, and it wasn’t anywhere good. Death would kill anyone that could fix me.

“I need to talk to Charlie.” If there was no way out for me, I’d at least make sure he landed somewhere safe. If I couldn’t get Kicks to leave me, maybe that would be at Maddocks’ pack with Buddie and Rastin for now. He couldn’t come with me. Not like this.

Kicks nodded, locking eyes with me. “We’ll figure this out.”

I nodded again. I didn’t have the energy to fight him. I had to save what I had left to figure out a plan for Charlie.

Kicks dug out the satellite phone, turning it on. He left it off most of the time, only turning it on to check in with the pack once a day, trying to conserve the battery.

“Hey, we wanted to check in on Charlie.” He looked at me as they spoke. “Okay.” He hung up and then handed the phone to me. “They’re calling right back as soon as they get him.”

The phone rang. “Charlie?”

“Hi, Piper!” Charlie’s voice was like a beacon of light compared to my current mood.

“Are you having fun?” I asked, trying to match his enthusiasm, despite the disappointment I’d just been dealt.

“Yes! I went on two different roller coasters, and another ride that went over this city at night. They said they’d turn on the boat ride today.”

“I’m so glad. Are you being good and listening to Buddie and Rastin?” I clung to the phone, as if it were a piece of him right beside me.

“Yes, I promise! Are you going to come here soon? It’s so much fun.”

I took in a deep breath, trying to make sure I had control of my voice before I answered. Kicks squeezed my shoulder.

“Piper?” Charlie said.

“Yeah, I’m here. I’m sorry. There was a bee. You know how they scare me,” I said, trying to fake a laugh to sell my lie.

“Are you going to come?” he asked.

“I told you I can’t come this time. Right now Kicks and I are taking care of some issues, but maybe in the future?”

“Okay,” he said, his voice a little quieter.

“So you like it there? You’re going to have to tell me all about it.” Even if I had to leave him, it didn’t mean I wouldn’t be able to talk to him. Even if Kicks wasn’t with me, I’d find a way to get a satellite phone. And eventually this mess would get straightened out, even if it wasn’t until Death finished me. I refused to believe I’d never see him again. I just hoped I was still enough of myself to care.

“I love it. Oh! Buddie says the boat is on.” He was almost yelling in my ear, and I loved every second of it.

“Okay, go. Don’t leave them waiting. I’ll talk to you soon,” I said, as it felt like my heart was being put into a meat grinder.

Kicks turned to me after I hung up. “I told Dirkin we’d be back tonight. We take a few days or a week to figure it out and decide what’s best.”

“Okay.” I already knew what was best. I’d just have to convince him.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Kicks was on one of the larger buildings, nailing in a piece of roof. He’d been at it for hours, helping Dirkin do a few repairs around the place. I wasn’t sure why the people who lived here couldn’t do them, but it didn’t feel like my place to intervene. Plus the distraction was keeping us from the fight that we’d had every day for the last three days we were here.

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