Page 14 of Wind with a Chance of Wolfsbane

“Not that big of a deal?” echoed Dwayne. “We saw those men trying to force one of you into the van. I can’t tell you apart to know which, but you know what I’m saying. And your sister was nearly run down. I call that a huge deal.”

“Honestly, that’s kind of small in the scope of things,” said Mina. “We’d have been fine on our own. Thanks for the totally unnecessary assist and for not letting me bash the one guy’s head in.”

“Speak for yourself,” I said to her before glancing at the men. “Thank you.”

“Please,” said Mina with a snort. “We could have taken the van losers.”

Dwayne blinked several times at her. “The youth of today scare the hell out of me.”

“Cool,” said Mina.

White-Shirt Guy reached for me but stopped shy of touching me. “Are you sure you’re all right?”

I nodded. “Thank you so much for everything.”

“What’s your name?” he asked.

The bus we’d been waiting on pulled up and stopped one lane out into the street because the SUV and the white van were blocking the bus lane. The driver, who was an older gentleman, opened the door, glanced at us, and never raised a brow at the sight of bodies on the ground. He acted as if it was any old night and this type of thing happened regularly. “You coming?”

“Yes,” said Mina, grabbing her suitcase with one hand and me with her other.

White-Shirt Guy lifted my suitcase and handed it to me, stepping closer. “You should stay and get checked over. File a report even.”

“Come on,” said Mina, dragging me faster. “We’re going to miss our flight.”

I met White-Shirt Guy’s gaze. “Thank you!”

Mina practically shoved me onto the bus.

I turned and stared out of the windowpanes of the bus door as the driver pulled away.

White-Shirt Guy continued to watch me as well.

“That was wild,” said Mina, pulling me toward a bench seat area.

I followed, dragging my suitcase with me.

We sat.

“I cannot wait to tell Helen,” Mina said with a snort. “She’s gonna flip.”

I grabbed my sister’s knee and squeezed gently. “Don’t tell her.”

“What? Why?” she asked.

I stared at her. “Because I got a better look at two of the men.”

“And?”

“They’re from Lester’s crew of misfit human helpers,” I said.

“No way,” returned Mina with a shake of her head. “It’s dark out, and your glasses are totally jacked. You just think it was them. You’re kind of crap under pressure, and this was only your second brush with attempted kidnapping.”

I cocked my head to the side. “Second? What was my first?”

“Those guys in Vegas last summer at the casino Helen had us staying at,” she said, nudging me slightly.

“You mean the security team that pulled us into that back room because they thought you were playing slots even though you’re underage?” I asked.

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