Chapter 49 – Cards On The Table (Samson Conrad POV) Pt.1
While Fatima showers, Imogen and I rearrange our traveling plans. "Nearly five hundred miles apart," Imogen murmurs to herself as she reaches for a small stack of manila envelopes.
She was right though.
Instead of heading to Bozeman, we were basically going out of our way to Sun Valley, Idaho.
Frustrated after only maybe an hour or so of being awake, I shook my head. Scanning the book mom made, rolling my eyes. "Of course the shorter way to get to Sun Valley would be littered with packs," I click my tongue.
I'm not sure what Imogen was working on but she stopped, looking up at me, with a grimace on her face. "It's not like we could drive endlessly," I nod, "true, but-"
"Maybe we're looking at this all wrong," she whispers, eyes darting towards the bathroom. "We're going somewhere for who knows what... that's enough pressure Samson," she shrugs, "I –I-" she stammers, face heating.
"I've wanted to be with Luca like this, on a trip where he isn't married, and where we don't have to hide. To experience time together – it doesn't – it would not have mattered what we were doing, as long as we were together," the gleam in her eyes grows.
Oddly, I understand what she's saying.
Even at home, it did not matter what I was doing with Fatima, as long as I was with her.
"All I'm saying is we have to be alert, but you aren't alone. If you want to stop somewhere, experience, then do that. It's stressful as it is; we have no idea what is in Williamstown, Massachusetts. From what Faith was saying, the rush was to get out of Bend, not showing up all weak, sleep deprived and flustered in some town."
Nodding slowly, I take off my glasses, immediately closing my eyes and rubbing the lids roughly before slipping the glasses back in place.
It was in my nature to worry, but contemplating Imogen's words, a part of me remembers the detour Fatima and I made to the hot springs. The happiness in her eyes-
Swallowing thickly, my eyes widen when I remember the feel of her face against my neck. Shaking my head at my stupid reaction. I did not understand it then. Hell, it was as though Fatima had me under a spell. I had forgotten that this place was somewhere I wanted to avoid.
All I cared about was that Fatima was at ease. She was smiling and it wasn't the forced type either. Her face was flushed, and God she was just radiating exuberance.
We were going to learn something but at the same time, who knew what that actually was? How long would it take? Hell... if that was all we concentrated on we'd be on edge, for the next week or so until we arrived to Williamstown.
"Okay so I'm looking at this from a different perspective," Imogen says already focused back on the envelope. Our things packed and ready to go, Luca comes over standing behind Imogen. "What are you looking for?"
I lean forward pushing aside the laptop.
"I'm trying to get an idea of how far apart these properties are," my face scrunches up, "Why?"
"Well... why these properties?" she waves her hand at the laid out envelopes. "I mean, there are over four in California, two in Montana, Wyoming, and six other states. Why those? Does location matter? And does the distance between them have significance?"
Luca tilts his head to the side gazing at Imogen.
"Your mind must be a fascinating place to live," I chuckle, hunched over. Here she was telling me to relax but was analyzing more factors.
Their easy banter continues, and when Fatima exits the washroom, hair wet, but tied up, fresh faced we work on our travel plans, setting everything so we did not encroach on packs, dens or Fae covens in the area.
Around nine, we pack up, turning out the lights, and heading back to the Conquest. As we arrange everything in the truck, Fatima goes to the first hunting closet that we entered, and comes back with four white suits, folded in her arms.
Biting on her lip, she sighs, shrugging though none of us ask her a question aloud. "Just in case," she says coming forward and handing them to Imogen who was stuffing our clothes behind the back, along with two blankets and pillows.
With no objections from us, she waves me forward to follow her back into the room. "Uhm, lets bring the tanks as well," I nod, gathering four and heading out to Imogen, so we could put the tanks at the bottom instead.
As I do, and Fatima closes up the hunting closet, shutting the lights off leading up to the stairs, I wonder if I've officially become an enabler.
If Luca, Imogen and I, had all taken that role by accepting Fatima's request to bring the HAZMAT suits and tanks? On the one hand, should we need them, we would not be scrabbling like many others, but on the other hand... by bringing them along, it felt as though we had began to accept the belief that Fatima had.
Then again, you don't think of buying insurance after you've wrecked the car. When it comes down to putting things away, and Fatima stands to the side, her face utterly unreadable, I step away from helping Imogen, going to her instead.
She's back to being that girl when she first showed up at our house. The one that looked lost, as though she did not belong. Testing her level of comfort with my proximity, I take a step keeping only a few inches between us.
Slowly, giving her time to rebuff my advances, I reach for her hand, practically holding my breath. Aware that we aren't alone, but not caring either as my free hand reaches for her face. Wanting more contact.
Welcoming my touch, Fatima takes a step closer, leaning her head into my palms, green eyes boring into blue. The flush of her face warms even my heated hand.
"You're not alone anymore," I repeat words I've said many times to her, hoping she'd take them, and plant in her heart. Her response is imperceptible, only felt because I hold her face in my hand.
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