Page 28 of Coerced

“What’s Hank been teaching you all this time?” He came in and headed toward my room.

“Well, we started with how to pee in the pot.” I rubbed a hand over my stubbly jaw and followed him. “Then we moved on to how to shower and shave.”

He stopped so quick, I almost walked into him.

“Sorry, son. I sometimes forget what you’re dealing with.”

“Just show me what a go bag is.”

Anyone can tell you I amnota morning person, but adrenaline kicked in, and I was suddenly wide awake.

“Call your team and get them in motion while we pack.” He gave me a wolf-like grin. “Unless you’re as chicken as everyone right now and don’t want to step foot in the Real World.”

I drew my shoulders back, pride stiffening my spine.

“I fear one thing, old man, and it ain’t the Real World. How many can I bring?”

“I don’t care. A dozen is probably too many. And I’m curious now. What’s the one thing?”

“I don’t evenknowa dozen people,” I scoffed. “And the one thing ain’t none of your business.”

“Then as many as youdoknow and want to come along. Not Kyo Yumi, though. He’s too young.” He shook his head. “I hope you’re ready for this.”

“Ready to do something, anyway.” I yawned again, stretched, and flattened my palms on the ceiling. “ ’M tired of just going to class. ’S boring! I ain’t used to so much down time.”

“I understand that. And Hank and I think you’d better disappear for a while after that incident with the Fanishell kid.”

“That wasnotmy fault.” Just hearing his name made me mad, and my skin glittered blue.

“I know. Calm down. I know it wasn’t. But as I’m sure Hank told you, several wardens on the Council see you as too dangerous to be at the Sanctuary, let alone go to school. We want to get you out of sight for a while until you’re out of their minds.”

“You and Hank can play politics all you want.” I shrugged. “I just wanna hunt something down and kill it.”

“Well, then, get on the horn to your friends.”

“Horn? What horn?”

“Never mind! Just call them!” His voice sounded strangled. “And tell them to pack for hiking in snow.”

I shook my head, grabbed my phone from the nightstand, and did as I was told. Meanwhile, he found a duffel bag in my closet and stuffed it with clothes.

“Leave room for snacks,” I said as I waited for Gemma to answer.

“Snacks? This is amission. We don’t worry aboutsnackson amission.”

“Um, yeah, we do. I get cranky when I get hungry.”

“Cranky?” He squinted up at me.

“Yep. You know what? I can use my backpack for snacks, so never mind.”

Gemma answered then, so I focused on her and ignored Clem as he muttered about how spoiled kids were these days.

#

Gemma

“We’re taking the bus on a mission?” Jax raised a skeptical eyebrow.

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