Chapter 12

12

Jason’s knuckles turned white as he gripped the grab bar on the passenger door, his stomach lurching with each swerve of the sedan. Alex’s driving was insane, more like a Hollywood car chase than a discreet escape. The blur of passing cars and honking horns created a cacophony that set his teeth on edge.

In the rearview mirror, he caught sight of Gravy’s ashen face. The guy’s fingers dug into the armrest like it was a life preserver. At least he was quiet for once.

“Maybe ease up on the gas there, Dale Earnhardt,” Jason suggested, wincing as they narrowly missed clipping a minivan.

Alex frowned. “I don’t recall asking for a driving instructor. How many cars do you even have in Redemption Creek? Rush hour must be a complete stress-zone, what with all those stray cattle and tractors.”

Her sarcasm was as sharp as her turns. Jason bit back a retort as she whipped around another blind corner, nearly rear-ending a delivery truck.

“How about we don’t draw so much attention to ourselves?” he managed through gritted teeth.

Alex’s shoulders slumped slightly, her speed decreasing. The man was not wrong.

The momentary relief was short-lived as her voice turned icy. “I’m just SO angry that you led this Seven-Five group straight to my door.”

Jason’s eyebrows shot up. “How could you know that? Maybe they were after Gravy.”

“Hey!” Gravy’s indignant squawk from the back seat was the first sound he’d made since they’d peeled out of the safe house parking lot. “Maybe they were already onto RAVEN.”

The car fell silent, save for the hum of the engine. He glanced at Alex, seeing his own concern mirrored in her eyes.

Gravy might be onto something. The thought was more unsettling than Alex’s driving.

As they merged onto the freeway, Jason’s eyes darted between his phone and the road, his mind working overtime to plot the safest route. “Take the next right,” he instructed, feeling the car swerve in response. “These side streets should keep us off most of the traffic cams.”

Alex nodded, her earlier bravado replaced by laser-focused concentration. The quiet residential areas they navigated were a stark contrast to the chaotic freeway they’d left behind. The soft purr of the engine was almost soothing in the relative silence.

He spotted a secluded alley. “Pull over here. We should switch drivers.”

“I know these streets,” Alex protested.

“Exactly.” He waited for his logic to sink in. They’d do far better with her navigating.

She turned the corner and braked, shoving the vehicle into Park. Once they switched seats, Gravy leaned over the seat back. “What now?”

Alex didn’t take her eyes off her phone. “I’m finding us a place to hunker down.”

“Sweet!” Gravy’s excitement was palpable. “Got a spare mansion around here somewhere?”

“Not exactly,” Alex replied, her tone cryptic. “We’re going more old school.”

Jason drove, following Alex’s directions through a maze of back roads and industrial areas. The scent of exhaust and city gradually gave way to something ... earthier.

He wrinkled his nose. “Is that ... hay?”

Her lips quirked in a small smile. “Can’t say I didn’t warn you. Welcome to our five-star accommodations.”

As they pulled into the parking lot of a decidedly un-five-star motel, Jason caught sight of the nearby racetrack. Santa Anita. Of course.

“A cheesy motel by the racetrack,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve got to hand it to you, Mendoza. When you say ‘old school,’ you don’t mess around.”

The smell of hay and horses permeated the air as they stepped out of the car. It was about as far from Alex’s high-tech world as they could get. And that, Jason realized, was exactly the point.

While Alex headed into the office to check in, Jason stood watch outside the vehicle, ordering Gravy to stay inside. Once Alex emerged with a keycard, Jason herded them into the motel room, his eyes darting to every corner. The door shut with a dull thud, and he inhaled sharply, wrinkling his nose at the overpowering scent of cheap air freshener barely masking a musty undertone.

Alex wasted no time pulling out her tablet and setting up her tech with practiced efficiency. “Alright, let’s get to work. We need to process Gravy through the disappearance protocol ASAP. New identity, new life, clean slate.”

Jason shook his head, his jaw tightening. “Hold on, Alex. That needs to wait.”

“Wait?” Alex’s fingers stilled on the tablet. “Why?”

“Seven-Five ... they’re not your average bad guys. We can’t rush this.”

Alex’s eyes narrowed. “What exactly are we dealing with here?”

He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the weight of his past pressing down on him. “They’re ruthless, with resources that would make most governments jealous. We need to be smart about this.”

“So what, they’re after you specifically?”

“Probably. But at this point, anything connected to me is now?—”

“Compromised,” she finished, her voice flat. “Great. Just great.”

Jason leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “Look, I know you want to act quickly, but we need to be cautious.”

Alex set her tablet down with more force than necessary. “Cautious? We’re sitting ducks here. Every minute we wait is a minute they could be closing in on us.”

“And every hasty move we make could lead them right to us,” he countered. “We need a solid plan.”

“I have a solid plan. It’s called getting Gravy off the grid and out of danger.”

“It’s not that simple.”

She crossed her arms. “Enlighten me.”

“Let’s say I head off on my own, draw them out. What’s the first thing they’re going to do to ensure I cooperate once they find me?”

He could literally see her mind working. Her shoulders slumped. “Copy that.”

Gravy scratched his chin. “I don’t.”

Alex shot him a steady look. “They come after you and me. Use us as bait to trap Army.”

Gravy’s jaw dropped. Message received.

“There’s got to be another way,” she argued.

“We’re safer together,” he insisted.

Their voices rose as they argued back and forth, the tension in the room ratcheting up with each passing minute. Gravy’s eyes bounced between them like he was watching a particularly intense tennis match.

Finally, Jason held up his hands. “Okay, okay. We’re both exhausted and on edge. Let’s table this for now and revisit it in the morning with clear heads.”

Alex glared at him for a long moment before deflating slightly. “Fine. But first thing tomorrow, we figure this out.”

As an uneasy truce settled over the room, the air still crackled with unresolved tension. Jason knew this was far from over, but for now, they had a momentary respite. He just hoped it would be enough to get them through the night.

Alex retreated to a corner, phone in hand. “Gabriel? You okay? Are Liv and Mac with you?”

Jason watched as her expression softened, the furrow between her brows smoothing out. It was like watching a different person emerge.

“No, I need you to follow protocol. Disappear. All of you ... I know, I know. But your VR breakthrough can wait ... Fine, the alternate facility, but you promise me ... Okay. I’ll contact you when it’s safe. Love you, be careful.”

As she hung up, Jason couldn’t help but comment. “You two seem close.”

Alex’s smile was tired but genuine. “We’re more like siblings than cousins. My parents took Gabe in after his folks died. We grew up together, fought together, hacked together.”

The affection in her voice was palpable, and Jason felt a twinge of envy. Or maybe it was just a reminder of what he’d left behind in Redemption Creek.

He eyed the cramped room, taking in the two king-sized beds with their faded floral spreads.

Gravy’s voice cut through the tension. “So, uh, sleeping arrangements?” The kid’s eyes darted between the beds and the three of them. “Because I gotta say, I’m not really a cuddler.”

Alex rolled her eyes. “Relax, Gravy. You get your own bed. Jason and I can share.”

Jason’s eyebrows shot up, a retort on the tip of his tongue, but Gravy barreled on.

“Cool, cool. But, uh, more pressing question ...” His stomach let out an audible growl. “Any chance of room service in this five-star establishment? ‘Cause I’m starving.”

“I think we passed a vending machine by the ice maker,” Jason offered, already dreading the thought of stale chips and ancient candy bars.

“Ooh, gourmet,” Gravy quipped. “Living the high life now.”

Jason caught Alex’s eye. The mix of exasperation and amusement in her expression mirrored his own feelings.

“It’s going to be a long night,” he muttered.

Alex’s lips quirked in a half-smile. “Welcome to life on the run, country boy. Hope you like the sound of horse races and Gravy’s snoring.”

As if on cue, the distant neigh of a horse drifted through the thin walls. Jason sighed, settling onto the edge of the bed. The pulsing ache in his side echoed his heartbeat.

A long night for sure.