I hoped that it worked that way, but I had come to learn that nothing ever went as planned anymore.
Cade settled down on the other side of me. He draped his arm around my shoulders pulling me tight against his side. I closed my eyes as I lost myself to the reassuring beat of his heart. His warmth enveloped me. Abby snuggled closer, her head resting against my shoulder as her breathing evened out and her body relaxed. A moment of solace enveloped me as the warmth and love of my family surrounded me.
Cade would keep us safe, I thought sleepily. His hand moved idly through my hair, he twirled it gently around his finger as his lips rested briefly on the back of my neck. I shivered slightly before lifting my head and smiling at him. His ebony eyes gleamed with warmth and love.
I turned my attention away from him before I became lost. Aiden was staring at us, his eyes narrowed questioningly. Cade shifted slightly beside me, his hand clenched me tighter as he caught sight of Aiden. I wondered how long it would be before my brother confronted me, I was surprised he had waited this long.
Bret was suddenly before us, kneeling down as he handed me a plate of beans, beef jerky, and a piece of bread. “I know you hate jerky, but we’re running low on food.”
“It’s fine, thanks.” I smiled at him as I took my plate. At least it was meat. I shifted uncomfortably, hating that realization, but it was true. Cade’s hand slipped off my shoulders as he accepted his meager lunch also. Abby did not stir but I took her food and placed it beside her for later.
“Make sure you eat it. It’s going to be a long night.”
I nodded and Bret rose and walked swiftly away. I forced the dry jerky down my throat, choosing to eat it first in order to get it out of the way. This was not the time to be picky about food; I doubted I would ever have that luxury again. I choked down the last swallow before eagerly digging into the cold baked beans that remained.
I tried to sleep before night settled in, but I was wound so tight that I found it nearly impossible to do so. Once we hit the city our pace would be far more frantic, more rushed. None of us wanted to stay there for any longer than we had to. I only hoped that everyone would be able to keep up with the harsh pace that Darnell had described.
Eventually I was able to drift off, but it felt as if I had barely closed my eyes before Cade was shaking me awake again. “It’s time,” he whispered in my ear.
I nodded, swallowing heavily as I rose to my feet. I joined the others at the top of the hill, gazing down at the now dark ribbons of highway. One of the cars had its lights on; it must have had an automatic nighttime sensor. Though the battery was dying, its dim glow was enough to light ten feet in front of the car, giving the road an eerie radiance that caused the hair on the nape of my neck to stand up.
Darnell jerked his head to the side, signaling for Mick to take the lead. We moved swiftly forward, staying low as we took the hill as carefully, and rapidly, as possible. The city was a whole new world than the one we had been living in, and I was terrified of everything it hid within its concrete depths. There was no knowing what Boston had in store for us.
No knowing what was to come of his leg of our journey but I couldn’t shake the feeling that hidden within these high walls, dark roadways, and numerous hiding spots was far more danger than we had already encountered.