Page 78 of Dangerous Command
A car passed around the side of us on the two-lane highway. The headlights went out of view.
“I’m a friend of Derek Adler’s.” That was a generous term for us right then, but I didn’t know how else to describe it.
The phone crackled, then a woman’s voice answered: “Hello?”
“Hi,” I said, a small wave of relief coursing through me. “You must be Teagen.”
“Who are you?”
“My name is Maddie,” I said. “What are the chances that you’re in the state right now? I’m a few miles outside of Brackston. I need your help.”
“That’s funny. We’re actually really close.”
We set up a meeting point in one of the rest stops off of the highway. The darkness gave a faint outline of the trees and restroom. A man, I’m assuming Ethan, leaned against the car as Teagen came forward. Her brown hair fluttered in the wind, her eyes and face soft, the kind of face you could trust.
I had no one in the world. I was almost positive that Axe and Wil would kill me once they found out what had happened, so I had to take care of Mack first. I couldn’t let Derek’s sacrifice mean nothing. He had done this to save Mack. To save us. To save me.
Then I realized something. Ididhave someone. Derek.
And now, I needed to be there for him.
“I need you to take care of my son,” I begged, my voice filling up with tears. I had to do what my mother had never done for me; I had to make this right. “Protect him for me. Please.”
“What’s going on?” Teagen asked. She glanced at my car. A look of recognition crossed over her face, and Ethan stepped forward, putting a hand on her lower back, his eyes cast on mine.
“Mack doesn’t have a normal upbringing,” I said. “His father is a monster. He wouldn’t be welcome in most places.” I turned to Ethan. “Please,” I said. “Protect him. Give him a good life.”
Teagen forced a smile. She glanced up at Ethan, he gave her a subtle nod, and they both turned to me.
“Until you’re back,” Ethan said.
“If I come back,” I said.
“You will,” Teagen said.
Tears slipped down my face as I kissed Mack on the cheeks.
“You’ll be okay with them,” I said. “They’ll protect you.”
“But I want to go back. I want to help Derek.”
“Sweetheart,” I said. I kissed his forehead, clutching his body close to mine, sniffing in the scent of his hair. “I can’t let you come. You have to do this for me. Be brave. Protect yourself. Be safe.”
Like I never was.
Mack’s eyes flicked back and forth at the tears rolling down my cheeks. “Okay,” he said.
I hugged him tightly, hoping that it wouldn’t be the last time that I held him. But as long as he was safe, that didn’t matter. I couldn’t live with myself if I let Derek die for us. I had to help Derek, even if it meant dying myself.
I wouldn’t let myself become my mother. Muro had to die.
Teagen held Mack’s hand. I mouthed my thanks to her and Ethan, unable to say the word aloud without fear of collapsing. Then I got in the car, and I drove.
Now, I had to call Wil and Axe.
Wil picked up after one ring. “All right. Spill,” Wil said. “You better tell me where my brother is.”
“The old Midnight Miles Headquarters,” I said. “I’m almost there.”
