Page 110 of Wanted

Lifting his butt up, off the seat, he pulls out his wallet and thrusts a card at me. “This city is practically owned by the Order. Word of what I’ve done may have already reached the local hunters. I can’t risk you getting captured.”

I look down at the card then back up to his face. “And what if you get caught? Or she doesn’t want to leave?”

Father McCall takes a deep breath, as if to steel himself, then pushes the card into my hands. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

I try to push the card back. “I’m willing to take that risk, too.”

“No,” he says sternly.

Raising his voice at me for the first time.

I shrink back in my seat, wondering for the umpteenth time if trusting him was a mistake. Everyone I’ve ever trusted has hurt or betrayed me in some way…

His firm expression withering at the look on my face, Father McCall sighs deeply. “I’m sorry, lass, for raising my voice at you. I’m just a wee bit on edge right now and we’re running out of time.”

Reaching up, he lifts his glasses and rubs the bridge of his nose. “I’ve already put you at risk by bringing you to this city. And the longer we sit here, arguing about this, the more likely we’ll both be caught.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to say let’s just drive away, but I know in my heart that would be the wrong thing to suggest. Not to mention completely selfish. He’s hellbent on saving this othermarked woman, and I’m lucky he’s put all his plans in jeopardy by helping me.

So, I nod instead. “It’s okay, I understand.”

“You do?” he asks, surprised.

I nod again.

Smiling now, he reaches over and pats my thigh in an affectionate, grandfatherly way. “Good.”

He starts to open his door as if he’s ready to get out, but pauses and looks over at me. “Did they teach you anything about how to avoid vampires?”

Frowning at him, I shake my head. The Order didn’t teach me anything except how to scrub the floors clean.

He closes his eyes as if he’s in pain and mutters something in a language under his breath that I don’t understand.

When he opens his eyes again, he looks at me pleadingly, “If I don’t come back and you have to go into the bus station, don’t talk to anyone except for the ticket person. Avoid every man you see and keep to yourself. If someone starts to bother you, go to the ladies’ room and try to find another woman to help you.”

I wasn’t planning on talking to anyone anyway, so I smile at him reassuringly. “Okay.”

He returns my smile but his strained. “Hopefully it won’t come to that… But if it does, do whatever you need to do to survive.”

Those words send a strange chill through my entire body.

Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, he says firmly, “One hour and not a minute more. Promise me, lass.”

“I promise,” I say out loud, but deep down inside I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep it.

I’d rather sit in this car for days than do what he’s asking of me.

He better come back.

Hehasto come back.

Because I don’t know what the heck I’ll do if he doesn’t.

I don’t know how to survive on my own with nothing to my name.

Finally pushing his door all the way open, Father McCall gets out and says, “Lock the doors behind me.”

As soon as his door shuts, I hit the button. My fear at being left alone already becoming nearly paralyzing.

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