The Switch, Debra Kayn [best books for 20 year olds .txt] 📗

warned Prez of what was happening to them, he needed to talk with Bonnie. He needed to fulfill Speeder's request to take care of Trina, and from what he'd witnessed of Bonnie, she was the only one who would make sure Trina stayed safe.

He couldn't trust anyone within the program. Not with the new information about the changes happening inside of them.

If they found Speeder, they could take Trina away. Once away from Avery Falls, the club couldn't protect her.

When all the children's heads were turned, he walked out of the woods. He was halfway to the house when Kenny spotted him and waved.

He lifted his hand. "Is your mom around?"

"Mom," yelled Kenny. "Company."

Striding to the front door, he spotted her through the screen door and let himself in. She opened her mouth, and he held up a hand, quieting her.

"I need to talk to you." He grabbed her upper arm and guided her into the kitchen, away from earshot of the kids outside.

"What are you doing?" She pulled away from him. "You can't barge—"

"Speeder's gone, and someone needs to take care of his daughter."

"Gone?" She frowned. "Like, he skipped town and left his daughter?"

For the moment, that was as good of an excuse as any. He nodded. All he needed was more time to figure out what to do.

"Can she stay here?"

Bonnie blew her breath out. "Isn't there someone else who can—"

"Nobody I trust." He paused. "I've seen you with your boys. You're a good mom. Zach's struck up a friendship with Trina. She'll be comfortable staying here."

"I don't know." She palmed her forehead and looked around. "Besides beds for my boys, we don't have furniture. I'm not set up to bring another child into my house."

"Only for a few days." Hopefully, by then, he'd know what was going to happen.

Right now, he needed to inform Prez of the flaws and then find Speeder before the handlers arrived in Avery Falls next week.

"If she doesn't have anyone." Bonnie shrugged in resignation. "I guess she can stay."

"Good." He walked backward to the door. "I'll be back in a few days."

"Wait." She came after him. "You're leaving, too?"

He stopped at the door. "If anyone asks, you haven't seen me."

"What?"

"Just watch Trina. That's all you need to do."

"You want me to lie?"

"Just tell anyone who asks that you haven't seen me since the get-together."

"I'm not going to lie."

"You have to." He cupped her face and tilted her head. "My life and Speeder's life depends on it."

"I don't want to be involved—"

"You're not." He let go of her and walked out the door.

She stood behind the screen door and watched him. The heat of her stare warmed his back as he slipped past the children and ran through the woods.

His next stop, he needed to contact someone within the program who could get word to Prez. The most secure place for that to happen was the cave.

Chapter Ten

The angry outbursts from the men in the cells echoed in the cave. Trip whistled from the shadows.

Hank lifted his head, dropped the clipboard on the table, and walked toward him. Trip stepped away from the wall and put his finger to his lips, indicating silence.

He held up six fingers representing the originals and brought his hands together in a sign that they needed to meet.

"When?" mouthed Hank.

"Now," he whispered.

The men in the cages quieted, picking up on his voice despite whispering. They'd all advanced in the program past receiving super-human hearing.

Trip pointed toward the opening. They'd all need to meet outside on the mountain, guaranteeing that no one could hear them.

Hank nodded, understanding.

They split apart. Trip disappeared into the woods, finding a spot where he could watch the road for the others while Hank went to complete his request.

The call wouldn't normally cause alarm. But they would've realized Speeder was missing by now.

Forty minutes later, Prez, Keenan, Johnny, and Hank stood in the heavily foliaged area amongst the pine trees with him. Stronger with the others surrounding him, the effects of going the last two days with no sleep failed to penetrate his determination to keep them all safe.

Prez shifted his stance, making sure not to break any of the tender, dry twigs under his boots. "Where the fuck is Speeder?"

"I lost him." He kneeled and cleared the ground of debris and drew a map of the cave and the direction Speeder had gone. "I've covered this area over here." He swept his finger through the dirt. "Shewolf Mountain." He looked up at the others. "I've run out of time to spread out."

"Have you seen any signs?" asked Hank.

"Hell, no." He straightened. "He's faulting out, but he's still capable of never being found."

Prez pulled on his beard. "How long have you seen signs of his programming not working?"

"A month. Two months at the most." He shook his head. "Little things, I shrugged off. His daughter came into the picture, and that upset him."

"He shouldn't get upset over that." Keenan used his foot to scratch out the rough map on the ground.

All eyes landed on him. Without handing himself over to the handlers, the others knew he'd broken protocol going after Speeder. The only way he'd make that decision was if his training had failed.

The CIA won't allow an experiment to go rogue, roaming the world. The controller or the handlers will get involved. They'll switch him.

"I'll put a call into our contact." Prez pulled out his cell phone.

"No." He grabbed Prez's wrist, stopping him. "It's not just Speeder."

The last two days had given him time to think back over the past six months. Each of them had adapted to society over the years. They were aware of current events, others' behavior, and the ability to connect with tourists versus locals. Most of all, they'd banded together with brotherhood leading their way as a member of Avery Falls Motorcycle Club.

He'd brushed off the changes as a natural acclimation to their surroundings. Speeder finding out he had a daughter was only one thing that had