against the window.
âNervous?â said Gabriel.
Chris looked away from the window and glared at him. âNo.â
Nick turned in his seat. âMake sure you open the door for her. Girls eat that crap up.â
âNah,â said Gabriel. âPlay it cool. Make her work for itââ
âFor godâs sake,â Chris snapped. âShe just broke up with Hunter, like, yesterday, so itâs not like that. Okay?â
Jesus. Someone was worked up. Gabriel glanced back again. âBut she asked you for a ride.â
Chris looked back out the window. âI offered.â
Nick turned his head to look at his twin. âVery nervous,â he whispered.
Gabriel smiled and turned into Beccaâs driveway. âVery.â
âWould you two shut up? â
Becca was waiting on the front step, her arms around her knees and her hands drawn up into the sleeves of a fleece pullover, dark hair hanging down her back.
âShe looks upset,â said Nick.
She did, her eyes dark and shadowed, her shoulders hunched. Or maybe she was just cold. Gabriel wasnât one for figuring out emotion.
Her face brightened when she saw them, and she sprinted for the car almost before Chris had time to jump out and hold the door for her.
She stopped short in front of him, spots of pink on her cheeks. âHey,â she said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
âHey,â Chris said back, his voice soft and low.
Then they just stood there breathing at each other.
Gabriel hit the horn.
They jumped apartâbut Chris punched him in the shoulder when he climbed back into the car.
Becca buckled her seat belt. âIâm glad youâre all here.â
Her voice was full of anxiety. So Nick had been right.
Chris shifted to look at her. âYou all right?â
She shook her head. âMy dad just called. He wants to meet with me. Tonight.â
No one said anything for a moment, leaving her words floating in the warm confines of the car.
Her dad was the Elemental Guide whoâd been sent to kill them all.
When they escaped and didnât hear anything for two days, theyâd all started to think heâd run off again, the way he had when Becca was eleven.
Chris took a breath, and his voice was careful. âDo you want to meet with him? â
Gabriel glanced at her in the rearview mirror. She was practically hunched against the door, staring out the window. âI want him to get the hell out of here .â
Chris was still watching her. âHe is your father.â He paused. âYou sure?â
âHe might have made a âcontribution,â but that man is not my father.â
âI want to see him,â said Gabriel. His shoulders already felt tight.
She hesitated. âWait. Youâd . . . go with me?â
âYeah. I owe him a little payback.â
âWe,â said Nick. There was heat in his voice, too.
âDid he say why he wanted to meet?â asked Chris.
âHe said he wants to help us. That theyâll send another Guide if he doesnât report back that you were . . . um . . .â
âKilled.â Gabriel hit the turn signal at the end of her road.
She swallowed. âYeah. Hey, make a left. We need to pick up Quinn.â
Gabriel glanced at her again. He wasnât a big fan of Beccaâs best friend, so the last thing he wanted to do was pick her upâespecially when there was so much left to talk about. âAnyone else?â he said. âShould I pick up Hunter, too?â
Becca faltered and glanced at Chris. âIâm sorry . . . I should have askedââ
âItâs fine,â he said, and Gabriel could feel his youngest brotherâs eyes in the rearview mirror. âIâm sure heâs not intentionally being a dick.â
Gabriel ignored him. âWhat time tonight? Did he say where?â
âAnnapolis Mall. Eight oâclock. Make a right at the stop sign.