Page 58 of Dark Mate

WITHDRAWALS

Aria

Johnny found me the moment we crossed the state line.

I didn’t bother explaining to Reese how I knew he’d found me. I could scent him. He was in one of the cars on this road with us, and he’d smelled me, too, because he’d been following us for the past few miles.

I thanked Reese profusely when she pulled into the nearest rest stop. Johnny’s car skidded to a halt next to hers, and he jumped out.

I felt Reese freeze next to me, which was understandable. Johnny was dressed in all black, wearing a murderous expression as he moved towards the car. Reese hit the locks just as he reached for the handle.

“Is he family?” she asked quickly.

I could see that she was weighing whether or not I’d left one abuser for another. I didn’t doubt that, as tiny as she was, she would try to keep me in the car if she had even an inkling that he was just as bad as whoever she assumed had had me running through the forest at night.

Johnny knocked on the glass and motioned for me to get out. I raised my hand, signaling for him to wait.

“He’s my brother’s best friend,” I lied to Reese. “My brother’s in Europe now, so I’ll stay with him until he gets back.”

Reese seemed to accept that as she unlocked the doors. Johnny wrenched open the passenger side door of her car and glared at her.

“She helped me,” I managed to explain. Johnny’s expression gentled, his eyes flitting over Reese briefly before landing on me. “This is Reese. She found me after… um… after he—”

“You don’t have to talk about it,” Reese interrupted. “I’m sure he understands.”

I knew he didn’t. However, he wisely kept his mouth shut because it was obvious that she didn’t know who and what we were, and I didn’t want to find out how she felt about our kind.

“Take care of yourself, Joy,” she said, after scribbling her number down on a piece of paper and handing it to me.

Johnny stood eyeing every person that passed with a critical eye. I pulled Reese in for a hug, surprising us both. She was yet another person I’d met during this ordeal that had made an impression on me.

I was dizzy when she pulled away and warned Johnny that if she found out he’d hurt me in any way, she’d dismember him, to which Johnny replied with a grin that left her speechless.

He laughed, told her he’d hand her the knife himself, then helped her into her car and thanked her again for looking out for me.

My previous headache was beginning to turn into a migraine. It felt like someone had sunk their claws into my brain and were now trying to rip it out of my skull. My vision blurred a little as Johnny guided me to his passenger seat.

“What the hell happened?” he demanded as soon as we were back on the road.

I groaned. “Lower your voice, please,” I whispered.

“Are you hurt? Do you need a doctor?”

“I have a splitting headache,” I answered, swallowing around a mouthful of saliva.

“Did you hit your head? Fuck,” he breathed. “I can take you to—”

“No, we don’t have time,” I ground out as I turned to him. Just the simple movement felt like bombs had gone off in my head. “Azazel found us.”

“What the fuck?” Johnny exclaimed; the truck swerved when his head snapped in my direction. His eyes were wide, brows furrowed.

I yelped as the movement made my head swivel on the headrest.

“Sorry, sugar,” he apologized. “How the fuck did he find you at Credence’s house?”

“Lucy. Azazel told her Credence was in trouble, and you know she didn’t think twice about taking him right to us. Sariel gave himself up so I could escape; we have to get him back.”

“Of course Azazel would look for Sariel there.” Johnny swore. “How the hell did you escape?”

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