Page 53 of Deep Within Me

Some nodded immediately. A few of them glanced at Isabel before doing so.

Liz pleaded, “We have to help the boy.”

“We can bring him here,” Kele said as she had earlier.

“No,” Isabel said. She leaned up in her chair. “The woman needs to go to him.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Zeke countered. “Not while I still lead this clan.”

Isabel’s expression darkened. She pressed her lips together as though to keep herself from saying anything further.

“You’ll regret stopping me,” Liz murmured to Zeke. “Allowing Pedro to slip away.”

Everyone looked at him as they awaited his decision. Zeke wanted to take Liz’s hand and run. To go somewhere no one would ever be able to find them.

Where he wouldn’t be responsible for a kid’s death.

Seeing no other choice, Zeke blurted, “If we bring Pedro here, one of us would have to go with Diaz to protect him from Carreon’s men and to make certain they don’t follow him on his way back here.”

Jacob spoke above the clan’s murmurs. “I can go.”

“No.” Zeke wasn’t going to lose his brother either. If Carreon’s men murdered Jacob and disposed of his body, there would be no chance for reanimation. “Not you.”

None of the other men agreed to make the run.

Diaz grew more agitated. “I told you, I know how to avoid them. I’ll be careful. I can go alone.”

“You don’t have to,” Kele said. “I’ll go.”

The men stared at her. Isabel looked uneasy. Jacob spoke first. “No, that’s crazy.”

“Especially since we canreallytrust her,” Paul said, heavy sarcasm lacing his words. “Considering what she’s already done.”

“That’s enough,” Zeke said. “Kele proved herself in battle. We don’t bring it up again, got it?”

Again, his men nodded.

Kele pulled her attention from Isabel and glimpsed at Jacob, making it seem a guilty pleasure she had no right to indulge in. She’d pinned all of her hopes on a man who’d never been able to give her what she’d wanted and needed. Zeke thought he saw her expression softening with love that she’d never be free of. Before he could be certain, her features hardened in resolve, as though she needed to make things right.

“It makes sense for me to go,” she said. “If anything happens, I’m the only one the clan won’t miss.”

“Don’t say that,” Jacob snapped.

“Why?” She gave him a sad smile, determined yet defeated. “It’s true.”

He pushed out of his chair and strode to the other side of the room, putting distance between them.

In the past, Kele would have followed. She would have tried to entice, and if that hadn’t worked, she would have begged.

Today, she remained seated. A changed woman. Beaten finally.

Zeke spoke as kindly as he could. “You’ll have to plan this out. No one’s leaving here until I have a full report on what’s going down.”

“We can work on that now,” Kele said to Diaz.

“After we bring Pedro here, you’ll heal him?” he asked Liz.

She nodded. “Of course.”