Chapter 33

I lookedout the bus's window. Connecticut was hillier than I'd imagined. Somewhere behind me, a child sobbed. This was the third day I'd ridden on a bus, and I had not grown used to the various smells.

Plus, my body ached. I rested my forehead against the window. I'd been running low-grade temperatures since I'd arrived in Chicago a week ago. A kind traveler I sat beside on my last flight allowed me to use her cell phone. I'd wasted no time asking Roman to pick me up from the airport.

He hadn't asked questions until I sat on their sofa, wrapped in a blanket, sipping a mug of Julieanne's tea. "What happened?"

I wasn't sure where to begin. I didn't know how much I could tell them before they would think that I'd lost my mind. "Things there were…different."

"Different, how?" Julieanne jumped on my statement. She was upset that my arm was still in a sling. It would take only a few moments for her to become hysterical.

"The job was bigger than I anticipated. I don't think Talia knew how many prints she'd stowed away."

"Don't hold back, trying to protect us, Sage. Something happened. You're pale, and your eyes are shiny. Plus, you've lost weight." Julieanne leaned forward and pressed her palm to my forehead. "You're burning up."

"That's why I wanted to come home," I lied.

"You will go to the doctor tomorrow," Roman decided.

I would after I visited the bank. I needed to make a list of what needed to be done. This wasn't over. My gut told me that, and I needed to be better prepared.

The clinic's doctor was surprised by the bite. "I've never seen marks like that."

"How many bites have you seen?" I was curious.

"You've got me there. Only two." He loosely secured the tie on the back of the gown. "It's infected. I'll prescribe an antibiotic and a topical cream to apply twice a day."

I nodded. My energy was gone. I needed a nap.

"Rest, fluids, and in a few days, you should be better. If not, you'll need someone knowledgeable about an animal's bite."

"Thank you." I waited until the door closed before I dressed.

Roman got to his feet when I entered the waiting room. "I need to get you home."

I didn't argue. I also appreciated his steadying hand on my elbow. Walking to the car felt like it took a great deal of effort.

I slept for two days, only waking to take my meds and go to the bathroom.

By day four, I'd showered and had soup and a soft-boiled egg.

Roman took me to my apartment under protest. He thought I needed to rest another day.

I couldn't wait. My gut was telling me to get ready to run.

We'd only been inside for a few minutes when my neighbor knocked on the door.

"Hey, I'm glad to see that you're okay," Mitch said as Roman motioned for him to come in.

"I was away working." The building was small, and there wasn't a high turnover rate. So, most tenants interacted.

"There have been some men coming by and asking about you at different times."

"What?" I dropped my purse on the table. "What men?"

"They didn't have badges." Mitch had experience with law enforcement. I'd long ago pegged him as a mid-level dealer. His clients didn't come around, and it was wiser for me not to show interest in his profession.

"They were asking about Sage?" Roman joined the conversation.

"They were bad dudes." Mitch stared at me for a long moment. "You've pissed off somebody with power, girl."

I tamped down my terror and focused on Mitch. I trusted his instincts.

"You need to go. Put miles between you and everybody you care about," Mitch began. "Men like that; they don't care how they go about catching you."

Panic hit so hard that I thought I would vomit my breakfast.

Mitch headed to the door, paused, and turned to face me. "You've been cool, but I never want to see you again."

Roman locked the door behind him, then turned to me. "Don't let him upset you, kid."

"He would know," I said, my voice shaking with emotion. I began to pace.

"Calm down." He walked to my window and peered out.

He dealt with Julieanne's daily outbursts, but Roman didn't want me to lose my shit.

But I knewthe truth. I headed to my bedroom to pack a few items. When I returned to the living room, Roman was texting. "You need to go back to Julieanne."

"What about you? Are you coming with me?" He slid his phone back into his pocket.

"I'm going to listen to Mitch." I opened my purse and began dividing my cash into stacks. When traveling with Judith, I'd learned it was better to hide your money in multiple places in case you got robbed or pickpocketed.

"Sage, you aren't well. Now is not the time to leave. Besides, what will I tell Julieanne?"

"Tell her what Mitch shared. He'd know if something was wrong." I widened my eyes because Roman had been the one to warn me about Mitch when he'd moved in. "I need you two to be safe. That's why I need to go." I hid some bills in the bottom of my tote.

"Mitch could be sampling his product. He might have imagined all of this." Still, Roman looked unnerved.

"I hope that is right, but it's wishful thinking. I don't know what those men want, but I don't want you or Julieann involved."

"You've done nothing wrong," Roman's deep voice thundered.

"From the start, I knew there were things that Talia didn't say. I don't think she could. Bredon…there were times that I knew." I tapped the space over my heart. "I knew, Roman, that he wanted to say things." Things like he could turn into a wolf, which I hadn't shared with the couple. "Anton, the Leader of the group, might not know what I learned, and he might not care that I know very little." I stuffed bills into a bra cup, cradling my breast.

"I don't like this."

I zipped my purse closed and grabbed the handles of my tote. "I know. But it doesn't change things. I have to go."

"Will you call us, check in?"

"I'll try." I didn't want to make any promises.

"This will break Julianne's heart."

"I'm sorry, but I love you both. This is the only way I know that you can be safe."