Page 50 of Kill Me Sweetly

I looked up at Nick. “No, Plan B.”

Gabe nodded. “I’ll let Mason know.”

“I got JJ.”

Nick started driving and went to the first place he saw, which was a diner. We’d need to camp out a bit until we knew the others were safe.

How could we have been so stupid and not seen this for what it was? A way to trap us all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

JJ

Aziza was concentratingon helping Four come up with coping mechanisms. She wanted to do the hypnotizing and uncover all that was done to him, but it was far too soon. Helping him learn to take care of himself mentally was most important to her.

Shep had texted me that no one had shown up at the laundromat, and I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.

It was ten o’clock, and Aziza was finishing up with Four when my phone vibrated in my pocket.

“Hello?”

“Babe, listen, the five of us are headed to a diner…” I listened as Shep explained everything to me.

I walked into the kitchen and saw that Mason was also on the phone.

Gabe?I mouthed to him, and he nodded.

“Aziza is still here. She’s getting ready to go but after she’s gone, Mason and I will get Max and Four out.”

“Be careful. We’ll meet up with you guys when we can.”

“Love you.”

There was a breathy laugh. “I love you too. See you soon.”

Mason was still on the phone so I went to the living room, where Aziza told Four she’d see him tomorrow.

“Aziza, before you leave, I need to talk to you privately.”

We walked to the foyer while Four gravitated over to the television. I spoke low so he couldn’t hear me.

“We have a situation. Seems that the people who hurt Four might have found him…or at least are closing in. We need to move from this location.”

She gasped. “Oh, no. Of course you do. I can meet wherever you’re all at.”

“Can I call you once we’re there? I don’t know if they might figure out who you are to us and follow you.”

She nodded. “Sure thing. We could do a telehealth session just to keep the consistency for Four. I promise to be safe and vigilant. Angel explained a lot to me when I first decided to help Four, and now I’m invested.”

“Thank you, Aziza. I will call you as soon as I know more.”

She gripped my arm. “Please be careful, JJ. All of you. These people, they’re monsters.”

I mustered a small smile. “I know.”

Once Aziza was in her car and on her way off the property, I returned to the kitchen, where Mason was packing food.

“We don’t have time for that.”