***
Kevan started screaming as they surged towards the closed gate, certain that they were about to crash. Suddenly the gates began swinging inward, and Brody’s heart sang with another injection of gas, sending them flying through the barely opened gate into Caleb’s, and safety. It was only then he knew they were going to make it.
The first SUV slid to a screeching stop, barely avoiding a crash into the still swinging gates, and the other two acted like bumper cars as they bounced off each other’s fenders, leaving the stench of burnt rubber hanging in the air as they sped away.
Brody skidded to a halt in front of Caleb’s front door, suddenly surrounded by a half dozen cairbare warriors, armed and ready for anything that might be coming their way.
Kevan felt hands on her waist, and the sensation of weightlessness, followed by the crush of arms holding her close.
“Are you okay?” Caleb demanded. Kevan was confused, and stunned silent by Caleb’s actions. Being in his embrace, protected, felt more than right.
“I’m fine. Brody?” At the mention of Brody, Caleb placed her back on her feet and turned.
“Caleb, don’t say a word,” Brody stated, throwing his hands up in surrender, “I know, I know. What I did was irresponsible, I put us both at risk, we should never have left Roderic’s estate. I’m sorry, who’d have thought taking Kevan for ride would put her in danger?” Caleb stared for a second, before giving Brody a bear hug.
“If you ever do anything like that again, I’ll kick your ass, you idiot,” he warned. “By the way, brilliant driving,” Caleb finished, stepping back, pulling Kevan back into his arms.
“Uhh, thanks,” Brody stared at Caleb, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“What?” Caleb questioned him.
“Nothing ...!” Brody told him, as he watched Caleb stroke Kevan’s back.
She pulled back, saying, “I’m such an idiot! What about my family, are they okay?”
“One of Kayne’s guy’s is watching the neighborhood,” Caleb assured her, “Don’t worry, he’s very good, your family will never know he’s there.”
“Caleb?” He looked to a worried Brody.
“Yes?”
“Something weird was happening.”
“What do you mean something weird?” Caleb questioned him.
“We couldn’t shake them, no matter what I did.”
Kevan piped up, “He’s right, we thought we’d lost them several times, couldn’t see them, and suddenly there they were again. It was like they had a tracking device on us.”
Caleb looked to Kayne, who nodded.
“Looks like I’ll get my wish after all!” Caleb cheered. “Tear down the bike, and search it for a tracking device. If there’s one, I want all the information you can get on it, and I want to know how the hell it ended up on Brody’s bike.”
“On it,” Kayne told him, directing some of the men to move the bike into the garage.
“My bike, my beautiful bike,” Brody whimpered, watching them wheel it away.
“Brody, relax. I’ll get you a new one, but I want you with Kayne. You know your bike better than anyone; you’ll spot something out of place.”
“All the bells and whistles, Caleb?” he pleaded.
“Yes, everything you want,” Caleb agreed.
“Thanks Caleb, and I’m sorry,” Brody told him.
Caleb nodded before turning to Kevan, his hand on the small of her back, escorting her into the house, “Can I get you anything?” he offered.
Kevan smiled, looking at the polite man standing beside her. “Who are you?” Kevan asked, “and what did you do with the grouchy ‘he man’ we know and love?”
“I’m sorry?” Caleb questioned, with a confused look in his face.
“Oh, would you chill out, I’m just teasing.” She looked at him and muttered, “Not much of a sense of humour.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Where’s the crazy man who was screaming on the phone just a short time ago?”
“You’re safe and where you should be, Brody should have never ….”
“Stop!” she held up her hand. “Brody saw that I needed to get out. He was just trying to help.”
“He should have known better.”
“Caleb, he was trying to make me feel better. In the last day, I’ve been in a fight with races that most of the world doesn’t believe exist. I’m still having some problems with what I had to do to survive; I’ll never be a surgeon, yuck. We just discovered a lot about our family's history is a lie, and I’ve met you, who just happens to be an immortal, from the very Race that we’ve been warned about our entire lives. Believe me when I say, I needed the distraction, and someone waiting to follow us certainly wasn’t what popped into my mind when Brody suggested a ride. I mean, seriously, why would anyone want to follow me? It’s just a coincidence that I happened to be with him.”
“Kevan, I don’t believe in coincidences; besides, it was an unnecessary risk.”
“But it was my risk to take,” she told him. “Look, don’t think you can tell me how to live my life. I have enough problems with Brennan trying to do the same thing,” her anger rose as she lectured.
“If you’re going to risk it foolishly ...” Caleb roared at her.
“Foolishly?” Kevan shouted back, “It’s my life. If I want to take a ride on the back of my friend’s bike, nothing you say will stop me.”
“Fine, if you needed to go for a ride so badly, I would have taken you. All you had to do is ask.”
“Whoa, are you kidding me?” Kevan sputtered.