Page 39 of Shelter (The Wanderers 4)

CHAPTER13

Braylon had never been so nervous in his life. He’d spent the last four days scrambling to get everything in order. How does one plan for a trip when they’ve never done so in their life and they don’t intend to return? What does one take with them?

He knew Riggs and Storm had done the same thing. Gathering whatever meant the most to them and stuffing it in one small pack. That was all they could risk bringing. One backpack each. There was no telling how far they might end up traveling on foot. They couldn’t run out the back door pulling fifty-pound suitcases.

On top of that, they each needed to carry some things for Haley. She had no possessions she cared about since she’d only arrived six months ago with the clothes on her back. Everything she’d acquired since then hadn’t yet felt like hers.

Haley had spent the better part of the last four days in bed. Luckily, she hadn’t continued spotting, but they’d all agreed to milk the situation to its fullest to keep her away from Braylon’s mother. He simply didn’t trust his own mother with his wife. She was conniving and bordering on cruel and abusive.

She hadn’t always been that way. She’d never been the most involved parent by any stretch of the imagination, but she’d always treated Braylon and Riggs with respect. Even Storm had ranked pretty high.

Lately, it was as if she were obsessed with making sure the family had an heir. Perhaps, like Marian said, it was a competition with her peers, several of whom had successfully purchased a wife for their sons who had birthed them at least one grandchild.

Braylon thought maybe his mother was concerned someone would find out they’d used donor sperm. He’d come to realize that Rush had been brought to the estate in the middle of the night and no one in the surrounding area knew he was being held against his will.

There wasn’t exactly any other way to be held. Hell, Braylon felt like he too was being held against his will. Even though he wasn’t locked in the house, he certainly didn’t have permission to leave permanently.

Tonight was the night. It happened faster than Braylon expected. The only reason for the new timetable was that Marian had knowledge of an underground system. All she’d had to do was give the word and dozens of people were ready and able to help move five souls.

Braylon went to work as usual. So did Riggs. They did their best to act as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Neither of them would tell a soul about their plans. Storm wouldn’t either, though Braylon knew he’d written a letter to his father and left it in the care of Marian.

Braylon knew Storm’s father would be relieved when he found out about the escape, assuming the five of them were successful. The kind, older man would give a silent toast to his son. He was a good man.

Marian still refused to join them, even though Braylon had brought the idea up to her several times. She insisted she would be a hindrance and that she wouldn’t leave this area and risk her daughter ever looking for her.

It was understandable, but Braylon worried about what might happen to her if anyone found out she had anything to do with their escape. Hopefully, that would not be the case.

The plan was incredibly simple, considering how risky it was. Storm had already given Rush a key to his own jail cell. He’d also given the man a watch and a spare backpack. At two in the morning, the five of them would make their way to the back door off the kitchen and slip into the night.

It was getting close to that time now, and Braylon was pacing his room in the dark, checking and double-checking his backpack to ensure he had everything he wanted to take with him. He’d included a few photos and some special letters and notes from his childhood.

More importantly, he’d packed several weapons. It hadn’t been difficult to get his hands on guns. There were plenty in the house, and Braylon, Riggs, and Storm had been taught to shoot from a young age. It was common among the aristocracy and their guards.

It was amazing how easily one could simplify their life down to one backpack if push came to shove.

His biggest problem was impatience and stress. If he failed, God knew what might happen to the people he loved most in the world. It wasn’t an option. They had to get out.

He’d asked himself countless times if this was the right thing to do. Why not stay here, take over the family business when his father retired, raise his child in a life of luxury? He could probably even convince his mother to let him share a room with his wife and at least make her existence bearable.

Every time his mind went down this path, he reminded himself that no matter what, they didn’t have freedom, and freedom was more important than money or nice things.

He didn’t want his child to grow up under the rule of The Republic. And God forbid if the baby was a girl.

Haley was one of the lucky ones. She hadn’t been taken from her parents until she was six, and her parents had done an amazing job of educating her beyond her years right up until the moment she’d been discovered and taken into state custody.

Because of that, she could at least read, but Braylon wanted more for her. She was bright, smart, and inquisitive. She deserved to learn and figure out what interested her. She deserved to live someplace where she had the freedom to explore her options.

There was no question. They had to go. And it was time.

Grabbing his backpack, Braylon quietly opened his door right as the clock struck two. Riggs was stepping silently into the hall next to him. There was no evidence of Storm, but he expected that. He’d intended to head downstairs with Haley five minutes before the others just in case they happened to get caught. It would be better if they weren’t all together.

It felt like it took an hour to descend the back stairs and emerge into the kitchen, and Braylon was relieved to see that Storm, Haley, and Rush were standing at the back door.

Marian wouldn’t be seeing them off. It was too risky. She’d given them their instructions and gone to bed at her normal time.

Haley looked nervous, but Rush looked worse. Not surprising. Of the five of them, Rush knew the least about what would happen next. He had no knowledge of the area. He didn’t have a single clue where they were.

Without a word and only a silent nod between each of them, Storm opened the back door and held it for the rest of them to pass. Luckily, it was a nice night. The weather was cooperating.

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