Sheltered

Chapter 57

"So what's gonna happen if the trackers don't find Peterson?" Cadence pouts, sitting down on Ian's lap.

"She's easy to handle." He kisses her gently.

Pulling away abruptly, she stands up.
"Why is she so obsessed with you, Ian?"

"Come here, mi amor." He beckons her over with his fingers, but she doesn't move.

"You're always so focused on work. Work, work, work. Peterson, Griffin, the stupid Acesinos... why can't it be about me?"

Ian rolls his eyes and picks up an unlit cigarette.
"Got a light, baby?"

She grudgingly sparks a lighter and holds it to his cigarette.
He winks at her in thanks, the smell of nicotine fogging the air.

His phone buzzes in his pocket.
"What's up, brother?"

"We have a problem, dude." Griffin sighs from the other end of the line.

Ian glances at Cadence, her brow raised as she crosses her arms.

"What's the issue? I'm busy."
He mutters.

"You want good news or bad news first?"
Griffin's voice stalls.

"You already know I'm in need of some good news around here." Cadence gasps silently, tossing a pillow at his head.

"Damn!" Ian laughs, watching her storm off.

An annoyed sigh echos through the phone.
"Good news is that the trackers are close. I don't know why you're having us spend so much energy on Savanna. But yeah."

"Mmkay." Ian draws in a lung full of smoke.
"Bad news?"

"Well there's no way to be completely sure..."
The line goes quiet.

"Hello? Tell me already."
Ian urges him.

"Whatever. Just don't go blaming me for any of this, okay?" Griffin growls.

"Yeah, yeah. What's up?"

"We know who that unnamed signal is coming from."

Another few moments of silence.

"Don't tell me." Ian rests his forehead in his hand.

"Ian... it's Lucas."

He smiles. "I miss that son of a bitch." Ian's face suddenly takes on a serious expression.
"How did he end up with Savanna?"

"That's what we don't know. He could be looking for a way back in, but I'm sure he's figured out that we don't need Peterson anymore." Griffin explains grimly.

"Right, right." Ian nods his head, deep in thought. "Well! Guess we won't be seeing Lucas again. What a shame." He frowns sarcastically even though Griffin can't see him.
"Go ahead and send the snipers if they get too close to us."

"Gotcha. How's Cadence?"

Ian laughs. "Talk soon, Griff."