rounded as she looked over at Danny in excitement then back to me. “Are you serious? Where the hell did you get this, girl?”
“Like she said, it’s a long story,” Blake interjected.
“I can give it to you guys, roll up your sleeves,” I said. Dad had trained me to do it years ago and it was pretty simple.
Mila went first, allowing me to inject her with the vaccine and it warmed my heart to know how much she trusted me. When I’d given it to Danny too, Blake slid an arm around my waist and drew me a step back. “This sucks balls, but we’ve really gotta go. There’s some assholes out looking for us.”
“No shit,” Danny breathed, glancing over his shoulder nervously.
A decision flashed in Mila’s eyes and she grabbed my hand as Blake tried to draw me away. “What can we do to help you?”
“I have an idea,” Saint’s cutting voice filled the air and I nearly jumped out of my skin as he appeared beside me like a damn ghost.
He held out a bunch of phones to Mila. “Take these. Turn them on and make a call on at least one of them. Then drive south for a hundred miles before tossing them.”
Mila gaped at him. “Is someone tracking you?” she asked in shock.
“Obviously,” Saint said coolly and I elbowed him in the ribs.
“This is some action movie shit, I swear,” Danny said, looking kind of excited by that.
“We’ll do it,” Mila announced.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I asked, my throat tight with emotion at leaving her, unsure when I’d ever see her again. But hopefully there was a time beyond this when I could. I just didn’t know how we’d get there yet.
“Of course not,” Mila said firmly and I pulled her into another hug as my heart beat painfully against my ribs.
“Thank you,” I breathed.
“Love you, girl. Call me as soon as you can, okay?” she begged and I nodded as I released her, swallowing down the sharp lump in my throat.
I hugged Danny too then Blake embraced them before they got back into their car, waving to us as they turned around and headed in the opposite direction. A heavy breath left me as they disappeared and I really hoped I’d seen them again soon.
“Well, I suppose the stop was worthwhile after all, but we should have discussed giving out that vaccine, Tatum,” Saint said sharply, taking my hand and guiding me back to the car at a fierce pace.
“They deserve to have one,” I said fiercely. “And I don’t have to ask your permission. They’re my friends. And the only reason that vaccine was created was because of what I went through in that lab. I at least want some good things to come from me suffering through all of that.”
“I will not allow rash decisions to put any of us at risk,” Saint said, not backing down one bit despite my more than valid points.
“Well unfortunately for you, you’re not a dictator, so it’s not up to you all of the time,” I said curtly and he wheeled me around, shoving me up against the side of his car and glaring down at me, making my heart judder violently.
“I will protect you at all costs, siren. I will protect all of us, and if being a dictator is what it takes to do that, I am more than suitable for the role.”
“Come on, bro, chill. We need to get on the road,” Blake called from the other side of the car.
Nash stepped out, walking around to us and posturing at Saint. “Watch how you place your hands on her, Memphis.”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion, Nash.” Saint didn’t take his eyes from mine, his muscles bulging against his t-shirt as he kept me in his grip.
As much as I appreciated Monroe looking out for me, I didn’t need to be saved from Saint. We had our own language, and this was a part of it.
I slid my hand up his chest, resting it against his furiously thumping heart and his throat bobbed. “I make my own decisions, Saint. And my decisions will always be for the good of the people I love. That includes my friends. So you can be pissed at me all you like, but I’m not sorry.”
“We don’t have time for this,” Monroe snarled, reaching out to grip Saint’s arm, but he jerked his shoulder to shrug him off.
“Foolishness breeds dangerous situations,” Saint breathed. “I’ll punish you the