Break Free The Night (Book 1) (15 page)

              The walk seemed much shorter as the firehouse loomed ahead. Jack was walking just slightly in front of Kaylee. An explosion of sound broke the stillness followed by a loud whooping from the roof.

             
“
Emm
a’
s improving
,”
Jack said, stopping with his face turned toward the roof. There was a faint outline of a girl jumping up and down
.“
Quinto
n’
s really enjoying her company. Actually
,”
he stopped to chuckle
,“
so am I. Sh
e’
s a good time
.
”

             
“I’
m lucky to have her
,”
Kaylee agreed. She stepped up to Jac
k’
s side and watched Emma celebrating her improving skills
.“
And I understand why you have to leave
,”
she added in a soft tone. She saw him nod, both in acknowledgement of her words and in acceptance of his fate. He gave a sidelong look and offered a small smile before he started walking again.

             
“
Oh, and Jack
?”
Kaylee said, stopping him. He turned to look at her and she momentarily forgot what she was going to say. The moon was high in it
s’
orbit now and it cast him in soft shadow. The normal olive tone to his skin was glowing pale and his dark, endless eyes were watching her. He smiled as he waited
.“
Seventeen
,”
she said in a breathless whisper. The night was so still that he heard her easily.

             
“
Hmm
?”
he hummed in confusion. Kaylee saw his brow wrinkle as his head tilted to the side.

             
“I’
m seventeen
,”
she clarified, walking past him towards the firehouse. She noticed his grin return as she passed.

Chapter Seven

             
“
Kaylee
!”
Andrew shouted, grabbing her by the forearm and dragging her into the garage
.“
Where the hell have you been
?
”

              She scowled at him as she shrugged out of his hold, Jack ducking into the firehouse beside her
.“
I went out for a walk
.
”

              He stared incredulously for a moment and Kaylee could practically see the thoughts flying through his brain. Emotions flit rapidly across his expression and Kaylee knew him well enough to identify them: shock, anger, fear, betrayal. But he finally settled on one. Rage. And it was not directed at her.

             
“
You
!”
he growled, rounding on Jack
.“
You have been nothing but trouble. Sh
e’
s never been injured before, not until you came around. And now yo
u’
ve got her running all around the city! I
t’
s not safe out there, you know that
!
”

             
“
Andrew
,”
Kaylee pacified, rolling her eyes as she stepped between them
.“
I
t’
s dark, ther
e’
s nothing to worr
y
—”

             
“
The dogs
?”
he shouted, still staring Jack down
.“
What about them
?”
Kaylee looked from Andrew to Jack in confusion.

              What dogs?

              In response, Jack lifted the corner of his shirt. Tucked into the waistband of jeans, held tight by a leather belt, gleamed the handle of a gun.

             
“
Oh perfect
!”
Andrew snarled, pushing past Kaylee and into Jac
k’
s face
.“
Now you listen to me
,”
he warned through grit teeth
,“
yo
u’
re to stay away from her.
I’
m not going to stand by and let yo
u
—”

             
“
Wait, what dogs
?”
Kaylee interrupted, this time her voice was loud and forceful.

             
“
The wild dogs
,”
Andrew answered, turning back to look at her
.“
They run in packs throughout the city
.
”

             
“
Towards the edge of the city
,”
Jack corrected, leaning casually back into the wall
.“
You were in no danger
.”
Andre
w’
s eyes flashed and Kaylee thought he looked ready to explode. Kayle
e’
s mind was reeling.

              Packs of wild dogs? Where did they come from? And how dangerous was it really? If he had to carry a gu
n
…

             
“
Get out of here
,”
Andrew growled in Jac
k’
s direction. Jack stared at him, not moving, his jaw set, until Kaylee spoke.

             
“
I
t’
s okay, Jack
,”
she said, unsure that was true
.“
Maybe you should go upstairs
.”
Jac
k’
s eye flit towards her and it took a moment, but eventually, he nodded.

              Andrew turned away from Kaylee as soon as Jack disappeared up the rope ladder that was now hanging by the fire pole. His shoulders were tense, rigid, from the stress and worry he was exuding. He leant heavily unto outstretched arms that reached for a shaky, wooden workbench.

             
“
Please do
n’
t go anywhere without one of us knowing
,”
he whispered, his back still to her.

             
“
Quinton kne
w
—
”
she started in a small voice but he cut through her.

             
“
One of
us
,”
he insisted through grit teeth. His grip on the wooden work surface tightened and the screwdrivers resting there trembled, clanking into each other.

             
“
Okay
,”
she agreed, watching him in concern. She had never seen Andrew loose control like that. He rolled his shoulders and rotated his neck. His fists remained clenched
.“
Andrew, why are there wild dogs
?
”

              His frame relaxed by degrees and he offered a rough laugh
.“
They were
n’
t always wild
,”
he said, turning to face her. He was
n’
t smiling but he looked more at ease answering her benign question
.“
Some still have collars on. The
y’
re the dogs, the pets, of the city. Their owners obviously ca
n’
t take care of them anymore
.
”

             
“
But you said they were wild
?
”

             
“
They are now. Ther
e’
s not exactly any Kibbl
e‘
n Bits set out in bowls for them. Dogs have to eat and the
y’
ll eat whatever they find: smaller dogs, cats, us, whatever
.”
Andrew shrugged and leant back into the tool bench, the old wood creaked as his back pushed it into the wall
.“
The
y’
ve been hunting in packs for a while now
.
”

              Kaylee drew a breath. She had
n’
t expected that. Anna had a dog; she knew that she did. His name was Pavlov and he was a fluffy, old thing. Kaylee never stopped to think what Pavlov had done when Anna escaped the building. He was
n’
t with her, tha
t’
s all Kaylee knew.

             
“
I did
n’
t know
,”
she whispered, feeling foolish and then a bit irritated.

              Just how much has everyone been keeping from me?

             
“
Your Dad did
n’
t wan
t
—”

             
“
Of course not
,”
she spat, her feeling of foolishness coming to her aid in the form of anger
.“
Why would anyone tell stupid, fragile, little me anything? Do you think I ca
n’
t handle it? That
I’
ll fall apart, breakdown
?
”

             
“
You know I do
n’
t
!”
Andrew retorted, kicking away from the old bench and coming to stand in front of her. He grabbed her by the arms and held her still, shaking her a bit in an attempt to get her to look at him. She stubbornly kept her eyes past his left shoulder
.“
But you do
n’
t go out there, or you did
n’
t
,”
he corrected with a grunt
,“
and it was
n’
t necessary informatio
n
—”

             
“
Not necessary
?”
Kaylee interrupted, staring incredulously at him as she backed out of his hold
.“
I
t’
s dangerous for you, you could get seriously hurt
!
”

             
“I’
m careful. I know what
I’
m doing
.”
Kaylee frowned at him. His tone was defensive, as though Kaylee had insulted him. An awkward silence fell and Kaylee huffed in frustration, crossing her arms. She was so sick of how awkward things had become with Andrew. She did
n’
t understand where was the nice easy friendship she had once so enjoyed had gone.

             
“
Did you have a nice time
?”
he asked. He was staring over her head now, his jaw muscles jumping.

             
“
It was fine
,”
Kaylee shrugged, watching him. He nodded but would
n’
t look at her. She sighed
.“
Andrew, i
t’
s going to be okay. H
e’
s leaving
.”
The last part was said in a low whisper, the words catching in her throat as a pang of regret beat through her chest.

             
“
I know he is
,”
Andrew said, stepping closer
.“
I do
n’
t think you should forget that. H
e’
s leaving you.
I’
m not
.
”

             
“
I
t’
s not like that
,”
Kaylee protested, shaking her head. Andrew reached out and grabbed her chin. He held her face still, tilting her head back slightly so he could look her right in the eye.

             
“
I
t’
s exactly like that
,”
he whispered, searching her face. She knew her features were arranged in an expression of confusion, confusion and terror perhaps. She did
n’
t want this to happen now. She had
n’
t the time to process how she felt. Jack and Quinto
n’
s appearance had shaken her. And Andrew was asking her for a commitment that she did
n’
t know she could offer.

             
“
Andrew please
,”
she whispered, closing her eyes against his penetrating stare.

             
“
Why Kaylee
?”
he asked, his face now so close his breath passed over her, it was clean and warm and comfortable and so very Andrew
.“
Why not try? You love me; I know you do. Maybe you could love me like that, love me the way
I
—”

             
“
Andrew do
n’
t
,”
she said in a rush. Her eyes blinked open and she inhaled sharply. He was very, very close. She could count every freckle across the bridge of his nose, see each eyelash individually
.“
You ca
n’
t take it back if you say that
.
”

             
“
I would
n’
t wan
t
—”

             
“
Do
n’
t
,”
she pleaded. Her eyes lowered to watch her hands finally move from her side and land on his chest. She did
n’
t push him away, but he could
n’
t get closer either. His chest rose and fell under her touch as he sighed in frustration. But he released her chin and turned away. His back muscles were taut again, tension rolling off him.