Devil's Pass (The Harlequin Crew #.5) - Caroline Peckham Page 0,41

kill.

I padded to Fox's side and gave him a look that said we'd hidden Rogue and he didn't have to worry. He nodded, his features softening a little as we marched through the door and downstairs into the underground garage. The storm was howling now and a chill ran through me as Luther directed us into the back of a large black van. It looked like a murder van if ever I saw one, but what was I gonna do? Say no and run like a frightened lamb back into his house? I mean yeah, that was tempting as shit, but I wasn't gonna abandon my brothers.

I lifted my chin and climbed into the back of it after Fox, sitting on the floor of the van between him and Maverick while Chase sat beside Fox.

Luther looked in at us, his hand gripping the sliding door. "Listen up," he said darkly. "You helped out your friend by covering up Snake Eyes' murder. Fox and Maverick have explained everything. So you don't need to worry." His tone said we definitely needed to worry, but I nodded along with the others. "You've made this decision real easy. And you all wanna be men, don't you?"

We shared glances, but said nothing.

Luther nodded like we'd agreed. "I wanted that at your age too. But what makes a real man is taking responsibility for your actions. And if you can show me that you can do that tonight, then I'll let your girl go. I'll send her somewhere she'll be safe. But you all have to cooperate, you hear me? Every last one of you. That's what being in the Harlequins is about. And I see that potential in all four of you. So let's see what you're made of." He slammed the door, plunging us into darkness and the cab door opened a second later as he got into the driver's seat.

My breaths came heavier and I closed my eyes, focusing on slowing my heartbeat, thinking of Rogue and the shit storm we were currently caught up in.

Luther started the engine and we were soon moving along the road at a brisk speed.

"Where is she?" Maverick growled.

"Safe," I promised, not wanting to say too much just in case his dad could hear us, then I angled my head towards Fox. "You have a plan, right?"

"We just have to do whatever the fuck he wants," he said in a quiet voice. "When it's done, he'll send you guys home and you can go to Rogue."

"That's it? That's your master plan?" Chase hissed.

"What do you want me to say, man?" Fox snapped. "Dad's not gonna let me and Maverick out of his sight tonight. So if he keeps his word, we'll have to let him send her away and then-"

"No," Maverick snarled. "If he sends her away we'll never see her again."

"We know the way to Fairfax," Fox reasoned. "Dad won't always be watching us this closely. It might be a while, but we can tell Rogue to wait and-"

"I said no," Maverick snapped aggressively, making my heart jolt. "I don't trust his word for shit. He could send her anywhere or drag her off somewhere and kill her. How would we know?'

"I'll make sure we have proof. And Dad might be a royal asshole, but he keeps his promises," Fox swore.

"To you maybe," Maverick snipped.

"He'll keep his word to you too," Fox impressed.

"Bullshit," Maverick growled.

"Just stop fighting," Chase implored. "It's not going to help. And we need to be on the same team right now. Where the hell is your dad taking us?"

"He said something about responsibility," I muttered, knotting my fingers together. "I don't like the sound of it."

"Well whatever it is he wants us to do, we'll do it for Rogue," Maverick said firmly.

"Agreed," Fox replied. "Everyone say it."

"I'll do anything to protect her," Chase said, his voice full of emotion.

"So will I," I swore, but something in my soul told me I wasn't going to like whatever awaited us at the end of this journey.

The van soon bumped along an unmade road and I steeled my nerves as I fought away the cloying fear in my chest. Everything was going to change. I'd felt this time coming and I'd done fuck all. Why hadn't we run when we'd had the chance? Fox had never wanted this life even if he was born for it. Nothing had been stopping us.

But maybe, deep down, we liked it here. If it wasn't for the Harlequins, the