Page 48 of Wrecked

Even though the idea didn’t sit all that well with him, Crow knew it was the right thing to do. If Rebel stayed with Dave, then he would have a chance to go to college and have more than this fucked up job.

The door clicked open and Rebel stepped outside, closing it behind him. Leaning against the wall, Rebel gazed out over the parking lot.

“You can take a turn on the queen bed, I can watch until morning,” Rebel said.

“You only got two hours of sleep.”

“That’s about normal for me.” Rebel shoved his hands into the pockets of his dress slacks and gave a small shrug.

When was the last time Rebel had a good night’s sleep? Knowing how Rebel had grown up and lived, the answer was probably never. It was that moment that Crow decided he would take the time to convince Rebel to get out of this line of work.

To become something more than the profession forced upon him first by Solomon and then by Tanis.

Rebel never had a chance at a normal life and Crow fiercely wanted that for him.

Now, he just had to convince Rebel of the idea.

Dave sent US Marshals Axel Bains and Whiplash Tauber to collect Angel.

It was the right thing to do. They talked to her at length about testifying.

“If you testify, we can put James Lincoln behind bars,” Whip said.

“It’s your call though,” Axel added.

The three were sitting around the small table in their hotel room. While Axel and Whip tried to talk Angel into testifying, Rebel kicked back on one of the queen beds. Crow was on the other bed, cleaning his weapon.

“Would I have to leave here?” Angel asked, tossing Rebel a quick glance.

“Yes,” Axel said. “You would be put into protective custody with a custodian until you turned eighteen.”

“What does that mean?” Angel asked, shifting in her chair.

“It’s a foster-like care system within the program.”

“Program?”

“WITSEC.”

Rebel launched from the bed and marched over to the table. He pulled Angel up from the chair and out the hotel door.

Crow was there before Rebel could shove the door closed.

“Give us a minute,” Rebel said with an annoyed sound in the back of his throat.

“Okay, just pretend I’m a fence post,” Crow said, crossed his arms, and planted his big body against the wall next to the closed door.

Rebel pulled Angel farther away, but not far enough so Crow would panic. The last thing he wanted was to worry Crow, but he needed to talk to Angel.

“Look, I did some research about WITSEC, and from what I can find, it’s legit. You would appear in court and testify against Jimmy. You could put him away for a long time. But, there’s a price to pay.”

“What price?” Angel gazed up at him fearfully.

“You need to leave everyone you know behind. Being in WITSEC would give you a clean slate. Nobody in your school would know what happened. Nobody would know who your father was. You could even change your first name.” Rebel rattled off everything he’d gleaned from online over the past half an hour.

“What about you…about us?”

“What about me?” Rebel frowned at her.

---