a Wildling."
"Yeah, we get that. It's why a bunch of guys were able to beat you up as badly as they did yesterday. A kid like you wouldn't have a chance taking down a guy like Gaillard with his Seal training and everything."
"So why are you even asking me about it?"
"Just covering bases."
"Right," I say. "But the funny thing is, I've got a perfect alibi if I need one: you two keeping tabs on me. Did you see me leave the house last night?"
Matteson's eyebrows go up. "What makes you think we're following you?"
"Okay, play it that way," I tell him. "But I didn't do it, and I don't know who did."
"Good to know," Matteson says. "Thanks for your time."
He gets back into the car.
"Watch yourself," Solana says. "We don't always have your back."
Before I can ask him what he means, Matteson pulls the car away from the curb. I watch them go for a long moment. When I turn around I find Marina studying me with a considering look.
"What?" I say.
She shrugs. "Nothing. I've just never seen you so—I don't know. Forceful, I suppose."
"They're getting on my nerves. A lot of things have been getting on my nerves."
"I can see that. But the old Josh never mouthed off to cops like that. You're getting as bad as Des. Fighting, detention."
"Hey!" Des and I both say at the same time.
She grins and punches me lightly on the shoulder.
"Kidding," she says. "But," she adds in a more serious voice, "I don't think those agents actually believe you were involved. It seemed more like they were giving you a heads-up."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"I know. That's what worries me. Because then you have to ask yourself, a heads-up about what?"
Marina
I'm keeping secrets from Josh again and I don't like it. Especially not when we're all getting along so well again. But for now, I don't have any other choice. I know why Chaingang's worried. Just like him, I saw the video from the ValentiCorp labs with Josh killing that woman while he was in his mountain lion shape. If Josh thinks there's danger—especially any threat to the people he loves—he'll hunt this stranger down. I get it. I understand that need to protect your friends and family.
But if this old cousin's as powerful as Chaingang says he is, we need some serious intel before we go after him. First of all, we have to find out what his weaknesses are, and why he doesn't want any other Wildlings to know what he's up to. And we need to know why he wants Josh dead. Maybe some of the other elder cousins see Josh as some kind of chosen one, but killing Josh doesn't change the fact that there are all these other Wildlings running around out there—myself included.
So what's this guy going to do, just saying he could have Josh killed? Is he planning to kill everybody else next?
It's hard holding this new secret close to my chest as I'm walking home with Josh and Des. The pair of them are in such a good mood, laughing and joking. It's almost like old times. I'd so much rather just relax along with them for real instead of having to pretend. But neither of them seems to pick up on what I'm feeling.
"So, dude," Des says when we get to my house. "How much longer are you grounded?"
"Through the weekend. Five more days until I'm free."
"Bummer."
Especially since I need to get out and find Auntie Min as soon as I can. But I only nod in response.
"I know," I say. "First thing Monday morning, I'm hitting the waves."
"Can you have anybody over?" Josh asks.
"I suppose if you wanted to pray with us it would be okay."
Des's eyes go big. "Oh, come on. Seriously? I know your mom's big on the whole religion thing but …"
His voice trails off when he sees me grinning.
"Gotcha, dude ," I tell him. Then I turn to Josh. "It's probably not a good idea just yet. Seeing you is just going to remind her why she grounded me."
"And then she might add on a few days," he says.
"Probably not, but why take chances? I'm going crazy stuck at home day after day."
Josh looks sympathetic. "See you
"Yeah, we get that. It's why a bunch of guys were able to beat you up as badly as they did yesterday. A kid like you wouldn't have a chance taking down a guy like Gaillard with his Seal training and everything."
"So why are you even asking me about it?"
"Just covering bases."
"Right," I say. "But the funny thing is, I've got a perfect alibi if I need one: you two keeping tabs on me. Did you see me leave the house last night?"
Matteson's eyebrows go up. "What makes you think we're following you?"
"Okay, play it that way," I tell him. "But I didn't do it, and I don't know who did."
"Good to know," Matteson says. "Thanks for your time."
He gets back into the car.
"Watch yourself," Solana says. "We don't always have your back."
Before I can ask him what he means, Matteson pulls the car away from the curb. I watch them go for a long moment. When I turn around I find Marina studying me with a considering look.
"What?" I say.
She shrugs. "Nothing. I've just never seen you so—I don't know. Forceful, I suppose."
"They're getting on my nerves. A lot of things have been getting on my nerves."
"I can see that. But the old Josh never mouthed off to cops like that. You're getting as bad as Des. Fighting, detention."
"Hey!" Des and I both say at the same time.
She grins and punches me lightly on the shoulder.
"Kidding," she says. "But," she adds in a more serious voice, "I don't think those agents actually believe you were involved. It seemed more like they were giving you a heads-up."
"That doesn't make any sense."
"I know. That's what worries me. Because then you have to ask yourself, a heads-up about what?"
Marina
I'm keeping secrets from Josh again and I don't like it. Especially not when we're all getting along so well again. But for now, I don't have any other choice. I know why Chaingang's worried. Just like him, I saw the video from the ValentiCorp labs with Josh killing that woman while he was in his mountain lion shape. If Josh thinks there's danger—especially any threat to the people he loves—he'll hunt this stranger down. I get it. I understand that need to protect your friends and family.
But if this old cousin's as powerful as Chaingang says he is, we need some serious intel before we go after him. First of all, we have to find out what his weaknesses are, and why he doesn't want any other Wildlings to know what he's up to. And we need to know why he wants Josh dead. Maybe some of the other elder cousins see Josh as some kind of chosen one, but killing Josh doesn't change the fact that there are all these other Wildlings running around out there—myself included.
So what's this guy going to do, just saying he could have Josh killed? Is he planning to kill everybody else next?
It's hard holding this new secret close to my chest as I'm walking home with Josh and Des. The pair of them are in such a good mood, laughing and joking. It's almost like old times. I'd so much rather just relax along with them for real instead of having to pretend. But neither of them seems to pick up on what I'm feeling.
"So, dude," Des says when we get to my house. "How much longer are you grounded?"
"Through the weekend. Five more days until I'm free."
"Bummer."
Especially since I need to get out and find Auntie Min as soon as I can. But I only nod in response.
"I know," I say. "First thing Monday morning, I'm hitting the waves."
"Can you have anybody over?" Josh asks.
"I suppose if you wanted to pray with us it would be okay."
Des's eyes go big. "Oh, come on. Seriously? I know your mom's big on the whole religion thing but …"
His voice trails off when he sees me grinning.
"Gotcha, dude ," I tell him. Then I turn to Josh. "It's probably not a good idea just yet. Seeing you is just going to remind her why she grounded me."
"And then she might add on a few days," he says.
"Probably not, but why take chances? I'm going crazy stuck at home day after day."
Josh looks sympathetic. "See you
Similar Books
