Page 94 of Crown of Death
I reach forward, holding her hand, and squeezing on for strength. “Thankyou.”
She smiles. “Any time. Even if you’re about to be half way around theworld.”
I smile sadly, hating that I have to keep letting her believe the lie. “I loveyou.”
“I love you, too,” she says as she pulls me in for ahug.
Tanner pops his head out of the door and Amelia lets me go. “Call me when you get to your newplace.”
“I will when I can,” I say, the only promise I can makeher.
She waves and climbs out, and walks back into her apartment with her normal boyfriend and her normallife.
I sit there for a minute longer, contemplating everything she justsaid.
It’s too hard. I don’t want to accept it. To be the grown up who can have such an adult frame ofmind.
But this is my life. And it’s rushing at me with supersonicspeed.
With a deep breath, I put the car into drive, and I headhome.
When I arrive, it seems quiet. Though I know most of the House of Valdez has been in the shadows, watching the perimeter, I don’t see any traces of them. Looking around, I get out of my car and head to the frontdoor.
“Has the repairman arrived yet?” Fredrick says, looking out the door as soon as I walkin.
“Repairman?” I question as I set my box of things on thetable.
“The internet,” Fredrick says. “It went out yesterday afternoon. The company is supposed to be sending someone to fix ittoday.”
“And that doesn’t seem suspicious to you all?” I say, raising aneyebrow.
“Of course it is,” Fredrick says, though his accent is so thick, it’s a struggle to understand any of his words. “Do not think that we won’t be on highalert.”
My heart rate jumps. “I assume Cyrus isn’t here with therisk.”
Fredrick looks back at me and glares. “Your challenge seems to have gone to his head. He refused to leave as aprecaution.”
That was in fact my doing. But still, sweat breaks out onto mypalms.
A utility van drives up just then, bright colors and words painted all over the side of it. As a man climbs out, I hear the trees and bushes rustle, and know the Valdez crew has stirred toaction.
The man grabs a bag from the back and walks up to the door where Fredrick and I standwaiting.
“Afternoon,” he greets casually with the tip of hishat.
Fredrick doesn’t say a word, but I see his nostrils flare. He takes a deep inhale, smelling the man without beingobvious.
I cover, giving agreeting.
“The equipment is in the living room,” Fredrick says stiffly. “I’ll accompanyyou.”
The man nods and heads into thehouse.
“Human,” Fredrick whispers as he follows theman.
I look out the door, searching for signs of the guards, but see none. I close the door, and wander backinside.
The repairman searches through a cabinet where the equipment is, quietly speaking with Fredrick. I can feel the tension, rolling through the house like waves. I wonder how many guards are inside, hiding where I cannot seethem.