Page 9 of Deep Within Me

Liz frowned at his obvious lie then at another thought she’d had earlier when she’d been in Zeke’s stronghold. “How did his men even know where to find you and your clan?”

Zeke sighed.

The sound was more telling than words, the same as when he’d spoken of Kele fighting beside him and Jacob. “Oh my God, did she lead Carreon’s men there because she was pissed about Jacob wanting me? Is that why she’s not with him now? Did your clan banish her from—”

“They wouldn’t do that without asking me first. Kele’s probably helping the others who were injured.”

And his people were allowing it, especially without his blessing, considering that she’d brought a boatload of misery on them?

As Liz was about to ask, she saw the outline of Carreon’s mansion. Her stomach twisted, the pain so acute she couldn’t speak. The building’s decorative lights were still on, the same as when she’d come here earlier, hoping to stop Carreon, even if it meant risking her life. All that had mattered was saving Zeke, his people, her father.

Zeke stopped the Jeep well back from the one she’d driven then warned her, “Do not get out of this vehicle.”

“Let me drive the other one to your stronghold. I can follow—”

“No. I don’t want you driving anything. We’ll have to leave it here.” He spoke to her father. “Don’t let her take any of the weapons.”

“I won’t.” He scooted closer to the cache, his body blocking them.

With his assault rifle in hand, Zeke exited the vehicle and ran toward the other Jeep.

Liz leaned against the dashboard, dividing her attention between him and the surroundings. Her palms were wet, her belly churning at the prospect of Carreon’s men charging out of the shadows, weapons drawn, aiming them at Zeke.

Oh God, oh God, oh God, not that, please.

The area remained quiet, deserted.

Zeke entered the vehicle and turned the key to illuminate the dashboard without starting the motor. His features looked ghostly in the faint light.

“We can’t let anything happen to him,” Liz said.

Her father sighed as though he feared responding.

“We can’t,” she insisted, wanting to face him but afraid to take her focus off Zeke.

Her father murmured, “If anything does happen to—”

“Oh, please, don’t say that. It can’t.”

“I know, I know.” He softened his voice even more, the way he always had when Liz was a child and something had frightened her. A monster she just knew was waiting for her beneath the bed. A spider on the ceiling. A growling dog. “He’ll always have me to heal him. I promise you that.”

Liz tensed at her father’s words. She found it difficult to pull in a full breath. Why had he said Zeke would always have him for healing? What about her abilities? She still had the gift. She’d proved it by healing her father’s ankle not more than a half hour earlier.

She was all right, damn it. He must have known that.

Liz blurted, “I didn’t pass out or fall asleep before.”

He didn’t comment.

“You know that, don’t you?” Liz pressed.

“We’ve all been under a strain tonight.”

What kind of an answer was that? Liz should have asked but couldn’t bring herself to do so.

Minutes ticked by. Zeke’s upper body continued to move as he either deleted the data on the GPS or disabled it.

Liz squirmed in her seat, wondering why he didn’t simply shoot it out and get it over with. Unless he was as worried as she that someone nearby might hear the gun’s report and race here even faster.

---