Page 19 of Burn

A lamp became my next weapon. Then a fake plant. Then an old clock, it was heavy as hell and he was right there. So I just bashed him with it. The blow staggered him.

But he jerked the clock out of my hand and threw it. Parts went everywhere as it smashed against the brick. He fisted my hair and yanked me forward. I tried to slam my knee into his junk, but he avoided it—narrowly.

A whistle cut through the chaos and my captor jerked his head up. “Catch,” Lunchbox said as he launched something. The grip on my hair fell away as the air fryer from my kitchen slammed into my assailant’s chest.

“Come on, Pixie,” Alphabet was just there. “Time to go.”

“No…” I didn’t want to go. The man on the ground was getting up. But Lunchbox was already there and he delivered four hammering blows and the man collapsed.

“It’s better to go,” Lunchbox said. “There were four others. We took care of them. But sending a five man team for you means they aren’t giving up. They know where you live.”

The explanation made sense and at the same time—we’d just gotten here. Alphabet clasped my hand. “Come on Pixie-girl. Goblin’s waiting and we can grab some food on the way back.”

Back where?

Before he could tug me another step, I yanked away and grabbed two of the photos from the mantle. One was of Am and I, the other was us with ourMaman. I grabbed the blanket next.

If I was going, then I wanted things with me. The wreckage of the room around me registered then. There was a splintered french door leading into the kitchen.

There was another body there too. Maybe we should go out the front.

“Nope,” Lunchbox said, hooking my arm and turning me around. “Back door is better.” Then without waiting, he just picked me up. The man was a full body shield, my feet didn’t even brush the floor. “Lots of broken glass, I’ll put you down outside.”

Alphabet wasn’t waiting for us. He led the way and it was like walking through a war zone. I hadn’t even heard this fight. Had it happened while I’d been screaming and throwing things?

My whole world was turning upside down. They’d found the narrow alley behind the buildings and diverted down it. True to his word, Lunchbox put me on my feet. With one hand against my lower back, he ushered me toward the SUV.

The vehicle was parked exactly where I’d left them. Goblin was in the backseat, tail wagging as soon as I climbed in. “Buckle up and then keep your head down.” Lunchbox didn’t wait to see if I obeyed, he was already closing the door.

Alphabet was in the passenger seat. There was a slide and rasp of a gun being checked, then Lunchbox was in the driver’s seat.

“Chances for a backup team?”

“Not even going to risk it.” Lunchbox already had the vehicle started and we were pulling away. “Head down, Gracie.”

The snap in his voice had me pulling the seatbelt across me even as I slid my head down. Goblin sprawled on the seat next to me then moved to settle against my lap and I was laying against his back.

It was—nice.

“Three cars back,” Alphabet said.

“I see ‘em.” He shifted lanes. Manhattan wasn’t a great place for car chases, but they didn’t seem to be slowing down much.

“Dry river?” Alphabet said.

“Not in the city,” Lunchbox replied. “Too many civilians.”

“Could be a combo dry river with a little Pride and Prejudice.”

It was like they were talking a completely different language.

“Going for Dale Earhardt right now. Get Bones on the line. If we’re going to be on the run, I want to at least have friendlies on their way to us.”

The two went quiet for a moment, then Alphabet said, “Hey, we ran into a problem with the last delivery. Porch pirates tried to lift it before we’d even left.”

Silence.

“We cleared the building, but it’s going to need maid service—sooner rather than later. Might need to make sure there’s an exterminator with the maid. At least one of the pests was still breathing.”

---