Once Bess put her mind to helping me, she was a dynamo. How she did it, I’ll never know. It occurred to me it was better I didn’t. But within forty-eight hours, she’d procured enough medical supplies to outfit a second clinic.

“You sure about all of this?” I asked her.

“No.” Bess stood in the alley with her hands on her hips. “I think I can do better.”

“This is plenty for now. We need to pace ourselves.”

“You sure you don’t want me to come with you?” she asked. “How are you planning on carrying all of this stuff?”

I curled my bicep and kissed it, teasing her. “Let’s just say I have unusually strong friends.”

“Right. You know, the minute I saw that guy in the alley, I knew he’d be all over you.”

My heart tripped. It’s the first time we’d really talked about that first night when Liam showed up. I went to her.

“You sure you’re okay with this? I know the risk you’re taking.”

Before I could say another word, Bess put a hand up to stop me. “Don’t. Believe me, I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t want to. I more than anyone know about risk. I just hope it gets put to good use and helps.”

“It will. You have no idea.” I got a little choked up. Bess Kennedy had frustrated me to no end over the years. But, she was a friend and always had been. Never more so than now.

“Just do me a favor,” she said, giving me a hollow smile.

“Anything, you know it.”

“Just tell your unusually strong friends to save some room for me wherever these supplies are going. I have a feeling I might need it someday.”

I hugged her again. I answered her promise with a nod. Nothing more needed to be said.

It was already half past seven. Keara would be prompt. Excitement fluttered in my gut as I slammed the lid on my trunk and slid into the driver’s seat. Bess had no idea how much she’d helped. Nothing would ever make up for the loss of Brady and the Langleys, but this was at least a solid start.

The moon rose low in the sky as I headed to the outskirts of town. Mammoth Forest loomed large and the tang of pine filled my nostrils. Liam was out there somewhere. Watching. Waiting. Soon, I’d have a decision to make. It had been a half-innocent comment, almost a joke on Bess’s part, but a deeper truth rang through it.

The time would come when it wouldn’t be safe for me to stay above ground either. I trusted Bess, but I couldn’t trust those around her. As strong as she’d been to help me this far, I couldn’t trust her with my life...not yet.

As I made the turn into the trailer park, my skin pricked. I hadn’t realized I’d been on the precipice of a decision, but once I’d made it, I knew it was right.

I wouldn’t be going back to the clinic after this. I would follow Keara back to the caves and stay there. The pull to Liam was far too strong. And as confident as Bess was about what she’d done, there was no way the disappearance of this amount of meds wouldn’t raise questions somewhere.

The moment I’d made the decision, my heart soared. I would see Liam again. Tonight.

I could barely contain myself as I took the last winding road leading to the back of the trailer park. I passed Lisa. She sat on her front porch with tonight’s date and waved as I went by. I didn’t wave back. I was too keyed up.

Keara waited on the front porch. I cut the engine and got out. Keara’s bright smile helped settle my nerves. I motioned for her and popped the trunk. Keara’s eyes grew wide when she saw. My entire backseat and trunk were filled to the brim with cardboard boxes.

“This is all medicine?” she gasped.

“No,” I answered. “I mean, about half of it is. I also picked up some foodstuffs from the wholesale food place. We’re not talking a year supply or anything, but I figured every little bit will help.”

Keara hugged me. “It will, my God. You have no idea how much.”

When she pulled away, she read something in my eyes. “What is it?”

Shrugging, I leaned against the car. “I’m coming with you,” I told her. “It’s time.”

“Molly.”

“Don’t try to talk me out of it. I need you on my side. Liam’s going to put up a fight. I mean, not so much Liam. But Jagger and the others will. That is...unless you can convince them otherwise.”

Her expression softened. “I’m selfish, you know. It’s a hundred percent safer for you to stay here, keep working at the clinic. But, I won’t deny the idea of having a true friend who’s not...well...furry in her off hours is tremendously tempting.”

I laughed. “Shows how much you know. Give me a day without a razor and then we’ll talk.”

“You’re sure though. I mean really sure?”

“Yes.” I put a hand on her shoulder. “I’m miserable without him. And it’s only a matter of time. Bess has been a good friend, but I can’t trust her all the way. She doesn’t have the best judgment.”

“You haven’t told her about this?” Keara asked.

“About the caves? Oh, good God, no. It’s better if I’m just gone.”

I felt a pang of doubt when I said it. It wasn’t Bess that I worried about leaving. The thought of not even getting to say goodbye to Jason and Michael stung though. Hot tears stung my eyes.

Keara understood. She’d made the same choice herself not long ago. She drew me into a hug again. When she let go, my heart raced with excitement. Hard as it might be, I’d made up my mind and Keara supported my decision. I hadn’t realized how much I’d worried about her reaction. A thrill went through me. I was keyed up again and eager to get moving.

Maybe that’s why I didn’t hear the truck behind me. Or maybe it’s why I didn’t fully register the change in Keara’s expression. The flood of headlights hit her and she shielded her eyes against them. Keara’s eyes widened with fear I couldn’t understand. She shouted a warning, but it was as if no sound came out.

I turned. That’s when I saw the pickup. Zeke was driving. He cut his engine and got out. Except this time he wasn’t alone.

Before I could even react, three other men poured out of Zeke’s truck. He sat there behind the wheel grinning with menace as his companions surrounded us. One of them went straight for Keara. He cut off her scream with an elbow to the face.

It happened so fast. The other two men got to me. One put a hand on my shoulder and forced me to the ground. They were so big. So strong. So deadly. I recognized one as Tenley, the volunteer fireman from the other night.

Behind me, Keara did find the strength to scream. But, that’s the last thing I heard before the lights went out.