Page 100 of Blue-Eyed Jacks
“Hell if I know.Been a bit, hasn’t it?”
“Cara…” I started, but didn’t know what to say or ask first.
“Save it for someone who needs it.”
She sounded resigned.And more than a little angry.
“He doesn’t own you.”It was a long shot, trying to get through to her.
“Do you really think you can stand up to Shock?”Cara asked.
“If it comes to that.But if we can get out of here, then we don’t have to find out.Right?”
Cara’s eyes narrowed.“Run.You’re good at that.”
“We both were.”
Her eyes shot to mine.In that silence, she shook her head faintly.
The other hooker stood up.“My name is Tina.Hi.”She stuck out a hand.I took it and held onto it rather than shaking it.
“I’m pleased to meet you.”I meant that sincerely.If there was one thing I knew with my whole heart was that when someone really saw you and appreciated who you were, not what was done to you, it changed you.
The girl smiled.She wasn’t much older than Zoe.“Coco, I mean, Cara… and I are stuck up here because Shock doesn’t trust us.I’m… well, it doesn’t matter what I am, and Cara’s used to a different crowd.I’m more than ready to leave when you are.The trick is getting through the gates.”
I could tell by the quiver in her tone that she was barely hanging on.“Follow me.”
The stairs to the kitchen were in the same spot.I led Zoe, Cara, and Tina down them and tested the door to the outside.Unlike so many years ago, it was unlocked.“Does anyone have keys to a vehicle?”
Cara smirked.She dug inside her bra and pulled out a set of keys with a braided black leather strap attached.“I stole these off BamBam while he was busy.”
Tina snorted.In a sotto voce volume, she said, “Busy getting his dick sucked.”
It was uncomfortably obvious that my daughter was right next to me, soaking all of this in.I wanted to take time out to explain everything so she wouldn’t jump to conclusions, but also not adopt any remnants of the lifestyle Shock helped perpetuate.Hell, he made these women the way they were.I witnessed his methods first hand.
“Right.Here’s the plan—I’ll talk you through the gates.We drive.As soon as we are safe, you will drop Zoe and I off at a gas station.Then both of you get gone.Go as far as you need.Cara knows the shelter system.She’ll tell you what to avoid doing and saying.You can’t be totally honest with them, they’ll try to help; and that… well, that will get you caught.”I stared down at my old friend, daring her to balk.
Her face softened for a moment.There was a small break in her armor.Her mouth opened.Then the hardness of her expression returned.“Sometimes, others pay the price.”
My heart bled for her.She’d lived under Shock’s thumb for as long as I was free.Longer than Zoe’s entire life.I wondered if she hated me for it.
But that would need to wait.What was most important was getting out of this place in one piece.The gate was the least of our problems.
The prospect took one look at me and Zoe in the front seats of the van and waved us through.It was almost as if he’d been ordered to let us go.I wouldn’t have put it past Jackson to arrange a miracle for just such a scenario.
Which gave me a lot to think about as I drove away from the junkyard.
Cara pointed to the interstate.“We’re going toward Pittsburgh.It will throw Shock off.He’ll expect you to stay far away.”
With good reason.I had to admit she knew him much better than I did.I followed her orders but tacked on my own demand.“At the first gas station, Zoe and I are out.”
We had no phones and no weapons, but I still had my tracker tucked into my coat.No one found it during the pat-down because the brand-new coat was stiff and the tracker was small enough to miss.
Zoe’s RFID tag was also in place in her shoe.I had to count on Jackson to care enough to search for us.
Which would take me right back into Shock’s hands.I began to rethink the plan.That’s why I didn’t exit when I saw the first gas station sign.Or the second.
Tina leaned over my seat to check the road.“What are you doing?”
