The Unleashing
Page 45
The dog moved toward a clump of trees and Kera assumed this was just another way to the house that Brodie had learned from her walks the day before.
But as Kera came around the corner of the local coffee house, she and Brodie walked right into Erin Amsel.
The two women froze and stared at each other, Amsels large cup of coffee hovering near her mouth.
Kera braced herself for the woman to toss that coffee in her face. She wouldnt put it past her.
Slowly, watching her very closely, Amsel lowered her coffee. After a full minute of mutual staring, Amsel suddenly did something Kera never ever expected.
Im sorry.
Kera blinked. What?
Im sorry. About yesterday. She glanced down at Brodie. And Im sorry about what I said about Brodie. Im sorry about all of it . . . and I hope we can start over.
Keras eyes narrowed and she studied the woman closely. Really closely.
Then, after a deep, cleansing breath, she said . . .
Yeah. Okay.
Erin wasnt sure shed heard Watson right. Was this a setup? Was she planning to stab Erin in the back when she turned away?
Okay?
Yeah. And Im sorry, too. About all of it. So we start again. Watson switched Brodies leash from her right hand to her left and stuck her right hand out. Erin gawked at it a moment before she finally grasped and shook it.
And like that . . . it was all over. No begging. No self-flagellation. No purchases to make up for everything.
Then again, maybe Erin should have known. Kera Watson was, as she was quick to tell anyone whod listen, a former Marine. She probably got into it with people all the time, but with all the shit they had going on around them in war-torn countries, there probably wasnt room for holding grudges. Not when you needed someone to cover your ass. So shed let it go. And now, so had Erin.
Do you need a lift back to the house? Erin asked. Im parked right here.
Sure.
They walked over to the Mercedes and Kera nodded. Nice car.
Its yours if you need it.
You dont need to lend me your car.
Its not my car. Its the Crows car. She grinned. Get in. Ill show you.
They drove up to the house and then past it, going far to the left on a dirt road that Kera assumed was a hiking path. Finally, they arrived at a large garage.
We keep all the Crow cars here, Erin explained as she parked the car and turned off the ignition. You can use any car in here whenever you want. The keys are kept in the kitchen. If you want your own car, and some of us do, theres a separate garage you can use about half a mile that way. Amsel kind of flungher arm in the general direction of the second garage.
Kera stepped out of the car and, with Brodie next to her, gaped at the contents with her mouth open and her eyes wide.
She couldnt believe all the cars the Crows had in there. Clearly these women had a bit of a car fetish.
There were a few standard-issue cars, like Fords and Chevys. Four-doors that reminded her of cop cars. Those were the dented ones. Someone definitely used these vehicles for violent purposes. There were also several Jeeps and Range Rovers in varying colors. Plus quite a few Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and BMWs. Some were cars, others were SUVs.
They also had a couple of Bentleys, Ferraris, and a making-her-twitch Aston Martin convertible.
I can drive any of these? she asked.
Yes, including the Aston Martin, since thats the one I see you drooling over.
Its an Aston Martin, of course, Im drooling over it.
Erin chuckled. We also have a couple of Lamborghinis, but good luck getting your mitts on those. When you can fly at night, its really hard not to need some serious speed in your vehicle during the day, and the other Crows are always fighting over them.
I bet.
Theres also a couple of motorcycles in the back. Two Harley-Davidsonsthe older Crows love thoseand about six sports bikes. If youre interested.
Hey, she asked, turning to Kera. Have you gotten your stuff from your old place yet?
Oh my God. I forgot all about that. No, I havent. Most of it I can get rid of. The furniture and stuff, but I cant just leave it there for Mrs. Vallejandro to deal with. Shes the building manager.
Why dont we go over there now and get that sorted so you can make this place your home.
Okay.
We can also grab an early lunch or whatever. And you can ask me any questions you may have. About everything.
Vigs been filling me in.
Erin smirked. I just bet he has.
Hey, Annalisa greeted as she and Leigh walked toward them.
I thought you had a court case this morning, Erin said.
Its delayed and I was going to hang out here, but
We found some private eye spying on us from the trees, Leigh finished.
Erin closed her eyes. Shit.
Yeah. Chloes not happy.
Is he alive?
Barely. The birds attacked his ass, knocked him out of the tree. He landed on his face. Paulas trying to trace who hes working for. Until then, we figured wed get out of here while Chloe was stomping around, being pissed off at the world.
But as Kera came around the corner of the local coffee house, she and Brodie walked right into Erin Amsel.
The two women froze and stared at each other, Amsels large cup of coffee hovering near her mouth.
Kera braced herself for the woman to toss that coffee in her face. She wouldnt put it past her.
Slowly, watching her very closely, Amsel lowered her coffee. After a full minute of mutual staring, Amsel suddenly did something Kera never ever expected.
Im sorry.
Kera blinked. What?
Im sorry. About yesterday. She glanced down at Brodie. And Im sorry about what I said about Brodie. Im sorry about all of it . . . and I hope we can start over.
Keras eyes narrowed and she studied the woman closely. Really closely.
Then, after a deep, cleansing breath, she said . . .
Yeah. Okay.
Erin wasnt sure shed heard Watson right. Was this a setup? Was she planning to stab Erin in the back when she turned away?
Okay?
Yeah. And Im sorry, too. About all of it. So we start again. Watson switched Brodies leash from her right hand to her left and stuck her right hand out. Erin gawked at it a moment before she finally grasped and shook it.
And like that . . . it was all over. No begging. No self-flagellation. No purchases to make up for everything.
Then again, maybe Erin should have known. Kera Watson was, as she was quick to tell anyone whod listen, a former Marine. She probably got into it with people all the time, but with all the shit they had going on around them in war-torn countries, there probably wasnt room for holding grudges. Not when you needed someone to cover your ass. So shed let it go. And now, so had Erin.
Do you need a lift back to the house? Erin asked. Im parked right here.
Sure.
They walked over to the Mercedes and Kera nodded. Nice car.
Its yours if you need it.
You dont need to lend me your car.
Its not my car. Its the Crows car. She grinned. Get in. Ill show you.
They drove up to the house and then past it, going far to the left on a dirt road that Kera assumed was a hiking path. Finally, they arrived at a large garage.
We keep all the Crow cars here, Erin explained as she parked the car and turned off the ignition. You can use any car in here whenever you want. The keys are kept in the kitchen. If you want your own car, and some of us do, theres a separate garage you can use about half a mile that way. Amsel kind of flungher arm in the general direction of the second garage.
Kera stepped out of the car and, with Brodie next to her, gaped at the contents with her mouth open and her eyes wide.
She couldnt believe all the cars the Crows had in there. Clearly these women had a bit of a car fetish.
There were a few standard-issue cars, like Fords and Chevys. Four-doors that reminded her of cop cars. Those were the dented ones. Someone definitely used these vehicles for violent purposes. There were also several Jeeps and Range Rovers in varying colors. Plus quite a few Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and BMWs. Some were cars, others were SUVs.
They also had a couple of Bentleys, Ferraris, and a making-her-twitch Aston Martin convertible.
I can drive any of these? she asked.
Yes, including the Aston Martin, since thats the one I see you drooling over.
Its an Aston Martin, of course, Im drooling over it.
Erin chuckled. We also have a couple of Lamborghinis, but good luck getting your mitts on those. When you can fly at night, its really hard not to need some serious speed in your vehicle during the day, and the other Crows are always fighting over them.
I bet.
Theres also a couple of motorcycles in the back. Two Harley-Davidsonsthe older Crows love thoseand about six sports bikes. If youre interested.
Hey, she asked, turning to Kera. Have you gotten your stuff from your old place yet?
Oh my God. I forgot all about that. No, I havent. Most of it I can get rid of. The furniture and stuff, but I cant just leave it there for Mrs. Vallejandro to deal with. Shes the building manager.
Why dont we go over there now and get that sorted so you can make this place your home.
Okay.
We can also grab an early lunch or whatever. And you can ask me any questions you may have. About everything.
Vigs been filling me in.
Erin smirked. I just bet he has.
Hey, Annalisa greeted as she and Leigh walked toward them.
I thought you had a court case this morning, Erin said.
Its delayed and I was going to hang out here, but
We found some private eye spying on us from the trees, Leigh finished.
Erin closed her eyes. Shit.
Yeah. Chloes not happy.
Is he alive?
Barely. The birds attacked his ass, knocked him out of the tree. He landed on his face. Paulas trying to trace who hes working for. Until then, we figured wed get out of here while Chloe was stomping around, being pissed off at the world.
