Page 35 of Redemption

Just as I think that, the car hits a particularly big bump in the track and we’re all bounced about pretty fucking violently.

“Did we hit something?” Ever asks, as she sits up.

We all look behind us, but we can’t really see much since it’s pitch black outside and there are no lights.

“I didn’t see anything run out in front of the car. I was trying to miss a pothole. I must have hit it,” Atlas says with a frown as he looks in his rearview mirror. “I’m going to have to check and make sure that I didn’t hit something though. It’ll keep me up worrying if I don’t. I need to know that I didn’t hit an animal.”

The track is wide enough that he easily turns back around and then shines his headlights back the way we came. We drive back up the road slowly, keeping an eye out for anything in the road or on the edge of the road that might have crawled there after it was injured.

“I don’t think we were this far back,” I say as the gates come back into view.

“You must have just hit a pothole wrong,” Rage says. He frowns as he pulls out his phone. “It’s Trick.”

“Did you guys find anything?” He asks, a thread of worry in his tone. “We figured it was a pothole.”

“It must have been if you guys hit it too,” Atlas says as he turns around again and heads back to where the guys are waiting for us. As we approach, the car bounces and jolts again. “Definitely a pothole. We just hit it again.”

“Good, I was worried it was a deer or something,” Trick says with relief. He adds. “Let’s get home.”

My smile widens as Ever settles back in the same position. Having Ever in my arms will always be my happy place.

The drive back home is reasonably quiet, and thankfully completely uneventful. I have been keeping an eye on our surroundings a little bit closer than I was when we arrived.

Mostly because I wanted to make sure that Matthew and his wannabe gang didn’t get any ideas and decide to follow us or do something equally stupid. Fortunately, they seem to have taken our threats seriously, and they’re nowhere to be seen.

It’s a good thing, I know that, but at the same time I wouldn’t mind going for another round with them.

I know Jensen’s disappointed he missed out on the fight. He’s hoping that they give him a reason to get involved next time.

Ever

I loved spending some time with Zemi.

It was great fun, and I feel a lot closer to them all now. I am so tired though, it’s been a long day, and I’m still feeling the aftereffects of yesterday's escapades, even more so now that I’m tired.

My social battery is at zero.

My bed is calling my name.

Finally, we turn into our town, and as we drive through it and then take our turn onto our land, I can’t help but think that it would be really cool to have some gates like Zemi has. I stand by my earlier thought though. I’d want them up at the cabin so we can see them properly, and also because they’ll be more inconspicuous up there. The cabin is in the middle of our land, and we own a lot of land. The only people who come up this road are us, Pete, since his house is closer to the entrance, and the others when they come to visit.

That’s it. If we had such beautiful gates at the bottom of the track, then they would gain attention, and people would stop to look at them, and we don’t want that.

As we pull up outside, I realize that not only is Pete’s car still here, but so is his four-wheeler, which means he must be here somewhere.

“Pete?” I call as we walk through the front door, greeting Shadow with lots of love before I stand up again and call out again. “Pete? Is everything okay?”

“He’s coming home!” Pete screeches as he launches himself at me, and I only manage to stay upright because Atlas puts a hand on my back and stops me from falling over.

“Elijah’s coming home?” Trick asks. “I thought they were going to be gone for a while? That’s the last brief that I got.”

Pete pulls back, his happy expression falling from his face. “Yeah, that’s the bad news. He tried to call you, but he couldn’t get through. I guess you didn’t have any bars at Zemi’s place. Anyway, the job is going to take a few months, probably even longer. Mr. R suggested that they come home for a visit while they can.”

“Oh Pete, I’m so sorry,” I say, immediately pulling him back in for a hug. “When is he going to be back?”

“Four days,” he replies, swallowing thickly. There’s a mix of emotion playing across his expression. “They have to make sure that they time it right. It will give us just enough time to get to the island and check it out. Then they have to head back three days after the meeting with Hunt. If we manage to get the meeting when we want it.”

“What island?” Riot asks, his eyebrows drawing down in confusion.