Page 58 of Blood Illusions

He clasped my arm. “You don’t have to do this crazy mission. You could wait for Damon and me.”

I sighed. “That’s probably the right thing to do.” I put my hand over his. “But Dad needs me.”

Tim nodded in understanding. “Get going.” He gave me a gentle push toward the door. “Don’t go falling off the map. Keep in touch,” he called after me.

I glanced over my shoulder and smiled. “I’ll call if I get in trouble.”

He threaded his trembling fingers through his hair. “Damon’s going to have my head on a platter for not stopping you.”

He was right. Damon would be furious that I was doing this without him and trusting my life to a vampire. I forced myself to leave. I couldn’t shake the feeling Dad was in serious trouble.

With his arms crossed, Justice leaned against the sleek red Fairlane. His lip curled into a sly smirk. “Still want to do this?”

I walked around to the driver’s side and opened the door, motioning for him to get in. “Get in. We’ve got a long drive.”

Justice slid into the seat and slammed the door shut. “Do you really think this plan of yours is going to work?” Doubt laced his voice, but there was an underlying current of curiosity.

I started the engine, the car rumbling to life under my hands. “There’s only one way to find out.” I fixed my gaze on the road ahead.

The Ford pulled away from the police station, its tires kicking gravel as it sped away. I felt Justice’s worried gaze as I turned onto the highway. The lights of the city blurred behind us. The silence in the car was strained, filled with unspoken questions and uncertainties.

To distract myself, I switched on the radio to take my mind off what lay ahead. The familiar chords of AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” filled the car, and I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at the irony.

Justice glanced at me, his expression questioning. “What’s so funny?”

I looked at the radio. “The song.”

He snorted in amusement, but his eyes soon turned serious again. “Hopefully, it’s not a premonition.” His words hung heavy in the air, and my stomach twisted with anxiety.

After taking a deep breath, I forced myself to focus on the road ahead. “Have a little faith, vampire.”

Justice crossed his arms. “What happens if your plan doesn’t work?”

My grip tightened on the steering wheel, the weight of our mission pressing down on me like a ton of bricks. “We keep fighting. We don’t have the luxury of giving up.”

Conversation ceased, the only sound in the car the loud rock music blaring through the speakers. My hands clenched the steering wheel as adrenaline coursed through my veins, ready to fight for my father’s life. As the sun set behind the mountain range, a stunning display of purples, pinks, and oranges painted the sky. The beauty was overshadowed by my determination to save my dad.

My jaw clenched as I pulled up in front of the safe house. The neighbors’ cars were parked in the driveway, making it impossible for us to sneak into the yard and dig up the phoenix feather grass undetected.

Justice peered out the window, his expression mirroring my frustration. “Looks like they’re home,” he muttered.

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to come up with a solution. “We can’t give up now.”

He raised an eyebrow skeptically. “What do you suggest we do?”

I opened the car door determinedly. “We’ll have to dig up the grass tonight.”

He followed suit, shutting his door behind him. “Where exactly are we supposed to go?”

I pointed toward the safe house. “Inside, of course.”

He caught up with me, a sly smile on his face. “You don’t know the combination to get inside.”

“No.” A triumphant smile spread across my face. “But you do.”

“True.” He punched in the code, and the lock clicked. “After you.”

As I stepped into the safe house, the scent of polished wood and leather surrounded me. The vaulted ceiling echoed my footsteps as I headed to the living room. Justice turned on the gas fireplace. It crackled with warmth, and the plush leather furniture invited me to sink into its embrace.

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