3 Hit the Road Jack (27 page)

“We need to get out of here,” Kai bit out, stalking towards the door.

“I’ll send someone in to clean up this mess,” John offered.

“Thanks,” Kalel said, heading after Kai.

“They left a note for you Leka,” Kai called as he pushed open the door. Dread settled in the pit of my stomach. It’d been one heck of a night already
, and it hadn’t even been five hours since Jack delivered his last note.

I took it from his hand, walking outside as I opened it, trying to brace myself, but lacking preparation time.

You’ve slain eighteen
Now you must slay me
No second chances Lexi
See you in El Yunque
   -Jack

“Where’s El Yunque?”

“Puerto Rico,” Kai answered.

“I guess we’re going to Puerto Rico,” I sighed. Kellan read the note and passed it around to everyone. “At least the end is near; whether it’s good or bad
doesn’t matter.
A
t least it’s near.”

Chapter 26

Back at the new hotel we all showered and changed, agreeing to meet in Kalel’s room as usual. This hotel had an actual living room in each suite. I curled up on the loveseat, tucked into Kellan’s chest in my Juicy Couture velour outfit Aunt Claire had given me for my birthday. Gabi was getting around just fine
now
, and while Aunt Claire had regained consciousness, she needed to be seen by the doctor and under a watchful eye as she recovered. I tried not to let the guilt consume me, but couldn’t help my conscience which was adamantly blaming me for the entire experience. I’d broken down and called Auggy when we returned. We were leaving for Puerto Rico soon anyways, so it wouldn’t matter if he knew our whereabouts at the moment. He’d agreed to come out himself though, which was surprising.

I heard the thud on the hotel room door and knew it was him. He’d been in Scotland and had agreed to charter a flight right away. I didn’t know what to make of it truthfully. One minute he was helping us, the next hindering. I was on the fence about him entirely.

“What took you so long to answer?” he grumbled the second I opened the door.

“Don’t start with me. I’ve had a hell of a day no thanks to you.”

“What the hell does that mean?” he pressed, walking in behind me.

“Who knows about this mission Augustine?”

“I take it by the use of my full first name you think I’m to blame somehow.”

“Kiss that brain!”

“There’s no need to be a smart ass. That’s my job. Now just what in God’s name do you think I’ve done?”

“First off, I didn’t appreciate being thrown to the wolves at the
v
ampeen
h
eadquarters.”

“Cut the shit Lexi. You’re the first and only vamp to ever mouth off to me. If you c
ould
do that with me, I knew you could handle a room full of sharks.”

“What all did you tell them prior to this meeting of the wolves?”

“That you were going after Jack. Nothing more and nothing less. I told them all questions had to go through you
,
that I wasn’t saying anything else.”

“Then who the hell leaked our location every time?”

He narrowed his eyes as he thought for a bit. “Did you use credit cards o
r
cash for all your purchases?”

My face blanched. “Crap.”

“Uh huh. I won’t bother to ask for an apology. Now where is that aunt of yours?”

“Resting in Al’s room.”

“What’d they hit her with?”

“Al will tell you everything. I don’t really want to talk about it.”

“Fair enough. For what it’s worth, you’re doing a hell of a job so far. You’ve surprised me, which is hard to do. John’s been relaying.”

I cut my eyes at John who didn’t even have the decency to look sorry. He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. “You’re gone mister!” I declared.

“Suit yourself. I was getting tired of having to fight off your advances anyways.”

“My what?! You are such an egotistical-“ He shut me up with a kiss. One second his lips were pressed to mine and the next he was across the room pinned to the floor by Kellan. “He’s not even worth it Kellan,” I huffed.

Kellan jerked him up off the floor by the throat for good measure and leaned into his space. “Lay even a finger on her again and you’ll be
nothing b
ut
ashes.”

“Whatever man,” John laughed. Kellan tossed him away. John walked towards Auggy, still cocky as ever. “I would say it was a pleasure, but I’d be lying. Lexi, if you ever decide to leave this punk, give me a call,” he winked
, choosing the American accent for his goodbye
. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head.

“Don’t mouth off to the lady,” Auggy yelled, smacking John in the back of the head.

“I’ll take you to Al’s room,” I offered. He was just two doors down, but it felt like a world away.

I hesitated at the door before knocking. I had avoided seeing her because they said she wasn’t exactly doing great. I knew I was being a coward when she needed me the most, but couldn’t muster the courage to face my fears.

Al promptly opened the door, stepping back inside as he motioned us in.

“Hey Aunt Claire.” I tried to sound as cheerful as possible, b
ut sounded flat even to myself. She smiled up at me, weak as it was though. She didn’t look nearly as bad as I’d talked myself into believing she was. “Aunt Claire, this is Auggy. He’s one of the High Authorities. He’s going to take you back to one of their bases so you can recover.”

“I’m not going with him,” she fussed.

“Ma’am-“ Auggy started.

“Don’t you ma’am me Augustine. How dare you send my niece out on this mission! How dare you risk her sixteen year old life while you sit behind your cushy desk and study military maps all day! You can turn your butt right around and go back where you came from,” Aunt Claire exclaimed. I’d never seen her so worked up. I stood frozen off to the side. I should have been embarrassed, but I wasn’t. She had a valid point from a parent’s perspective.

“Well, I see where you got your mouth Lexi,” Auggy said, not an ounce of inflection in his voice.

“Get him out of here!” Aunt Claire yelled, throwing a pointed finger at the door.

“How dare you talk to me like that! Did you forget who you’re dealing with here lady? I could buy, sell and imprison you at the snap of my fingers.”

“You wouldn’t dare! And if you did, good luck pawning my niece into doing your dirty work again!” Aunt Claire was nearly screeching by this point. I looked to Al who seemed just as lost as I was as to what to do. John, of course, was amused by it all.

“Well then Auggy, I’m just going to be heading out old man. It seems like you’ve finally met your match and I’d rather not be privy to all the gory love making details on the flight. I’ll book my own. Catch you on the flip side Lex,”
John waved as he left the room, throwing on a pair of Aviator glasses on his way out.

“Bye,” I waved.

It was when he left that I finally realized what had been an overwhelming pull towards John had dissipated. It was gone as quickly as it came. Imara’s words about misinterpretation flashed in my mind.
The only thing that had happened was that I’d saved his life in the warehouse. This was definitely an angle to consider. Maybe I felt a strong connection to the people I was meant to save. But that would mean I was meant to save Mel, Kai and Kellan’s lives at some point as well. I would have to reevaluate it all later, after I dealt with Jack.

“Lexi, you would
n’t
really torture your wonderful, lovable aunt by send
ing
me with
him
, would you?” Aunt Claire asked, eyes wide and trying to feign innocence.

“Torture! You haven’t even begun to experience torture woman!” Auggy yelled, his neck color
ed
red as his vein bulged.

“Well being forced
to sit
next to you in tight quarters for God knows how long will be the closest thing to it I’ve ever experienced!”

“Well it’s my fucking plane so you sure as hell aren’t kicking me off it!”

“Um, guys?”

“What?!” they both yelled in unison.

“Nothing,” I shook my head. “Nevermind.”
I looked to Al who gave me the same raised brow I was giving him.

“Children, they think they can monopolize your attention for nothing these days,” Auggy scoffed.

“Tell me about it,” Aunt Claire laughed. The atmosphere of the room abruptly changed.

“Now we’re going to go get on that plane and fly back to our London base where I’ll be sure that Dr. Higlenburge takes extra special care of you little lady.
Then, once you’ve recouped, I think you owe me dinner. It’s the least you can do to apologize for your rudeness earlier,” Auggy said as he lifted Aunt Claire into his arms.

She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Apologize? I never apologize, especially when the man has acted like an ogre,” she snipped.

“Well this ogre apparently has more manners than you.”

“Manners? Do you even know the definition of the word? Last I heard you bossed everyone around without so much as a please or thank you, right Al?”

“I’d rather not get involved.”

“Smart man,” Auggy stated. “Bancroft, report to me once you’ve completed the mission. It seems my time will be monopolized by a needy woman at least until then.”

“Needy! I don’t need any man. In fact, put me down and I’ll charter my own plane you… you…” Her face scrunched as she prepared to launch another word attack on him.

“Aunt Claire!” I shouted. “I… love you, and I’ll see you again soon. Please, please, please be good. Listen to the doctor,” I pleaded.

“Honestly Lex, I’m the adult and you’re the child. I don’t need instructions or pampering, especially from an ogre!” She emphasized the last part
, returning her attention to Auggy
.

“You’re really trying my patience woman,” Auggy bit out.

“Good, because you’ve already run through mine in under five minutes,” she countered.

“What’s the record? Two?”

“I happen to be a very patient person,” she claimed. I tried not to role my eyes.

“Hm. We’ll see how patient you are when I tie you to my bed and teach you the meaning of the word torture,” Auggy said, leaning in and nipping Aunt Claire’s flushed neck.
Oh God. They like each other. Auggy like –
likes my aunt, and she apparently feels the same way if the goose bumps that just broke out on her skin or her suddenly erratic breathing were any indication.

“Um, be safe Lexi,” Aunt Claire said, her eyes locked on Auggy the entire time she spoke it though.

“You too Aunt Claire. Auggy, you better take good care of my aunt in whatever way she wants or else I’ll hunt you down and sabotage your institution from the inside out; after all, I do have a security clearance,” I smirked. That got his attention.

“Believe it or not I do know how to take care of a woman,” he frowned.

“Oh I’m sure you do. I know you’re not innocent. But I’m not talking about any woman; I’m talking about my aunt. Now stop doddling you two and run along. The sooner Dr. H looks her over, the better,” I said, shooing them out the door.

“Love you honey,” Aunt Claire beamed, winking as Auggy headed straight for the door. “What about my luggage?”

“I’ll buy you a new wardrobe,” Auggy replied.

“I don’t think the army can afford my taste sweetie.”

“Maybe not the army, but I can,” he assured her.

“Bye guys,” I waved.

“Bye,” Auggy gruffly stated. “Hey Claire, reach in my pocket and grab the radio for me.” The door closed behind them and the room suddenly felt too quiet.

“Wow. Who would have thought? Aunt Claire and Auggy. Never pictured them two together,” I s
tated
.

“There are a lot of odd couplings on this earth Lexi. What matters is that the love is there,” Al stated, looking poignantly at me.

“You don’t have to worry Al. I love Kellan.”

“I’m not worried about him Lexi. I’m worried about you. You’re a lot like Beth. You love too easily, even the ones who don’t deserve your love.”

I couldn’t argue. I didn’t know if he was right given the amount of hatred I’d built for Mike before I lashed out at him, but I couldn’t find an example to prove him wrong with either.

“Thanks Al. I really do appreciate everything you’ve done to help us.”

“You’re like a daughter to me Lexi. I’m not warm and fuzzy like Beth, but it doesn’t mean I don’t care.”

“I’ve known. I don’t think you would be here if you didn’t.” He nodded, shoving his hands in the pockets of his trousers. “Thanks again.” Giving in to my whim, I hugged him. His arms went around me, reminiscent of my own father. The tears immediately began to gather at the thought of him. I tried not to think about my parents because they would always be my vulnerable spot. I’d accepted that I couldn’t have changed what happened, but I didn’t accept what happened quite yet either. I pulled away, running my fingers beneath my lids to stop any tears from falling.