ready.”
My palms moistened. Beside me, James’s tics had increased to where his hands had a palsy-attitude as they shook on his legs. Shadows covered him in darkness. Dominic would never be able to see him clearly. Exactly when Dominic would be ready was anyone’s guess. The man had a bipolar perception of life and I had no idea how to read him at any given time – try as I might.
We watched. Waited. Tried to breathe normally.
I rubbed the upper portion of my arms. “Is anyone else freezing?” My fingers were graying again. I pointed at James’s forearms. “You don’t have to say anything. Your goose bumps are almost as bad as mine.”
Brian sh’d me, kicking the seat. I swiveled my head. Dominic walked our way, surrounded by five boys roughly my age or a little older obviously placed for protection. Oh, Dominic hadn’t changed, his oily car salesman brand stringently enforced by his gray polyester suit, black silk shirt open to mid-chest, and what could only be alligator boots. He raised his hand in hello, as if greeting an old friend. The rock on his hand, banded by bright yellow gold, reflected the white light from the parking lot lamps.
Holy shit. I had time to notice Dominic’s bling. The moment dragged on forever. He seemed to move slowly but too fast at the same time – the rustle of his soles through stray rocks on pavement echoed through the air, through the glass. I couldn’t focus. I glanced at James, startled by the droopy slant to his eyes and passive gaping mouth. I pinched the inside of my hand, where the nerves were most sensitive – not yet gray but close – and snapped my mind back to myself. Dominic didn’t have complete hold of me, he’d released me at the warehouse compound, but he had some kind of connection to me that I’d let my guard down against. Or maybe my open connection with Travis had increased my vulnerability to Dominic’s mind control.
No matter. I controlled it and Dominic was no longer in my head. I wished I could say the same about James.
I grabbed my brother’s hand and squeezed. But he’d never been released. He didn’t have enough time to practice or even enough exposure to Dominic’s ways to know what to expect.
Heather shrank further into her seat. The slight movement caught my eye in the mirror. Her eyes had trained on Dominic, true fear ruling her reaction.
Pure anger at the power Dominic had over James and Heather shot through me. Anger and I didn’t mix well and my reactions weren’t always smart. But whatever. I slid out of that SUV so fast no one knew what to do. Not the people still inside that I cared about and not Dominic or his minions.
I was down on the ground, clicking the door shut before Dominic’s guard could slide into a defensive stance. I pointed over my shoulder toward the SUV and called across three car lengths to the frozen group. “You can stop the charge. You’re not coming any closer.”
Dominic clapped his hands. “Dear Paul, I said I wouldn’t hurt you. Don’t you trust me?” He peered past me into the dark vehicle. “Is she with you? Where’s Brian?”
Just the idea that Dominic thought about Heather made my organs want to switch places with each other. I lifted my chin, the challenge difficult to remove from my voice. “They both are. Brian has a gun on Heather. I’d suggest you release his mother so he doesn’t harm Heather.”
Dominic inclined his head. Without another word, he twirled his finger over his shoulder. A door popped open from the side of the YMCA building, spewing two more young zombies and an older woman, about Connie’s age, dressed in jeans and a paisley shirt. They handled her roughly, growling deep in their throats. Discoloration on her cheeks and neck suggested torture and I hoped Brian couldn’t make out the details on her skin. Mascara streaked her cheeks, evidence she’d cried – but no indicator on length of time or how hard.
A glint in Dominic’s eyes promised something I
My palms moistened. Beside me, James’s tics had increased to where his hands had a palsy-attitude as they shook on his legs. Shadows covered him in darkness. Dominic would never be able to see him clearly. Exactly when Dominic would be ready was anyone’s guess. The man had a bipolar perception of life and I had no idea how to read him at any given time – try as I might.
We watched. Waited. Tried to breathe normally.
I rubbed the upper portion of my arms. “Is anyone else freezing?” My fingers were graying again. I pointed at James’s forearms. “You don’t have to say anything. Your goose bumps are almost as bad as mine.”
Brian sh’d me, kicking the seat. I swiveled my head. Dominic walked our way, surrounded by five boys roughly my age or a little older obviously placed for protection. Oh, Dominic hadn’t changed, his oily car salesman brand stringently enforced by his gray polyester suit, black silk shirt open to mid-chest, and what could only be alligator boots. He raised his hand in hello, as if greeting an old friend. The rock on his hand, banded by bright yellow gold, reflected the white light from the parking lot lamps.
Holy shit. I had time to notice Dominic’s bling. The moment dragged on forever. He seemed to move slowly but too fast at the same time – the rustle of his soles through stray rocks on pavement echoed through the air, through the glass. I couldn’t focus. I glanced at James, startled by the droopy slant to his eyes and passive gaping mouth. I pinched the inside of my hand, where the nerves were most sensitive – not yet gray but close – and snapped my mind back to myself. Dominic didn’t have complete hold of me, he’d released me at the warehouse compound, but he had some kind of connection to me that I’d let my guard down against. Or maybe my open connection with Travis had increased my vulnerability to Dominic’s mind control.
No matter. I controlled it and Dominic was no longer in my head. I wished I could say the same about James.
I grabbed my brother’s hand and squeezed. But he’d never been released. He didn’t have enough time to practice or even enough exposure to Dominic’s ways to know what to expect.
Heather shrank further into her seat. The slight movement caught my eye in the mirror. Her eyes had trained on Dominic, true fear ruling her reaction.
Pure anger at the power Dominic had over James and Heather shot through me. Anger and I didn’t mix well and my reactions weren’t always smart. But whatever. I slid out of that SUV so fast no one knew what to do. Not the people still inside that I cared about and not Dominic or his minions.
I was down on the ground, clicking the door shut before Dominic’s guard could slide into a defensive stance. I pointed over my shoulder toward the SUV and called across three car lengths to the frozen group. “You can stop the charge. You’re not coming any closer.”
Dominic clapped his hands. “Dear Paul, I said I wouldn’t hurt you. Don’t you trust me?” He peered past me into the dark vehicle. “Is she with you? Where’s Brian?”
Just the idea that Dominic thought about Heather made my organs want to switch places with each other. I lifted my chin, the challenge difficult to remove from my voice. “They both are. Brian has a gun on Heather. I’d suggest you release his mother so he doesn’t harm Heather.”
Dominic inclined his head. Without another word, he twirled his finger over his shoulder. A door popped open from the side of the YMCA building, spewing two more young zombies and an older woman, about Connie’s age, dressed in jeans and a paisley shirt. They handled her roughly, growling deep in their throats. Discoloration on her cheeks and neck suggested torture and I hoped Brian couldn’t make out the details on her skin. Mascara streaked her cheeks, evidence she’d cried – but no indicator on length of time or how hard.
A glint in Dominic’s eyes promised something I
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