One train and two buses later we were only a couple blocks from Jaden’s house. I’d told Nina that I already had a meeting set up, and that it was at a place she wouldn’t have to worry about anything happening to us. I just didn’t tell her it was their house. We’d grabbed some food at the airport, but I was starting to get hungry again already. One annoying thing about the regenerating, when I got nervous I burned a huge amount of calories, like my body was just waiting to heal.

Nina had started looking suspicious when we left the shopping district and moved into a more residential area. I stopped us in front of the Martan’s home.

“This doesn’t look like a restaurant or other public place,” Nina said, crossing her arms.

“I know, I’m sorry,” I answered.

Nina eyes widened. This was probably the first time I’d ever told her sorry sincerely.

“Before we go in, there’s something else I need to tell you.”

Nina tipped her head and raised an eyebrow.

“This is a family, just not my family,” the words tripped out of my mouth. Forgive me, please, I begged silently. “One of my friends, his family is in trouble. I’m helping them get out of the city.”

Nina closed off, her face going blank. “Don’t you think you maybe could have mentioned this earlier? Dan might have been able to fix things. What’s going on? How are we going to help?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me.”

I didn’t even know where to start. Trusting was definitely not one of my strong points. Trust Nina to want what was best for me, sure, trust her not to freak out and call some government agency? Not happening.

“There are some people threatening them. We just have to get them somewhere safe.”

“How did this job fall to you? And why haven’t they called the police?”

“It’s complicated.”

“I think I can probably handle it,” Nina said. She stared straight at me, arms still crossed tightly across her chest. She wasn’t even a real mom and she still had the mom look down, how did that happen? “We are going somewhere to discuss this before we get into something that I don’t understand.”

The front door flung open and banged into the wall inside, Jaime popping her head out. “We’ve been waiting for you,” she yelled in our direction. Her little pigtails flopped to the side as she tilted her head, clamping her mouth shut and staring at Nina.

Nina looked at me. “Who’s this?”

I shrugged.

“How many kids are involved? What kind of danger are they in?”

Man she asked a lot of questions. “I’ll answer all your questions in a few minutes.” I turned on my begging face.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

“Please? We’re already here, they already know we’re here, it’s too late.” Nina huffed at that, but followed me through the gate over to the front door.

“Hello,” Nina said once we were closer to the kid. “I’m Nina. And you are?”

“I’m Jaime. I’m not allowed to let strangers in the house, so only Trisha can come in. Mom said we were waiting for her.”

“Who’s here?” Rebecca’s voice, from inside.

“It’s me,” I called in past Jaime.

Rebecca showed up behind Jaime and opened the storm door. “About time. Where’s Cray?” Her gaze flicked over to Nina. “And who’s this?”

Nina held her hand out to Rebecca. “Hi. I’m Trish’s mom, Nina.” Trish’s mom, without the foster. I liked that.

Surprising she’d admit it right now, when she probably wasn’t very happy with me, but I still liked it.

“Oh, so you’re one of them too?” Rebecca asked. She didn’t look very happy about another fae being involved.

Shoot. “Foster mom,” I clarified, giving Rebecca a look. She must have caught on, her expression definitely changed. I looked over at Nina. Her face had changed too, gone all mask like. I’d hurt her feelings, no doubt about it, right after she’d claimed me. My conscience squirmed, but I hadn’t had a choice. I was saying that a lot lately.

“About time you got here is right,” Jaden said from behind his mom.

I crossed my eyes at him but didn’t answer. Nina had been exposed to enough in the last five minutes, she didn’t need me talking to an invisible guy.

“We got the van packed,” Jaden continued. “Without any help from you.”

“Not much help from you either, I bet,” I answered before I could stop myself, then instantly felt bad. Not like he didn’t want to help.

“What?” Nina asked.

“Never mind,” I answered. “So you’re totally ready to go?” I asked Rebecca.

Rebecca looked at me weird for a second, like she knew I’d been talking to Jaden. But she must have caught on to the fact that Nina was in the dark about all this because she didn’t ask. “Yes, we’re ready. I found Jaime a dialysis center, already made her an appointment for Monday. We should be settled in by then.”

“Be where?” Nina asked.

There it was again, that creepy feeling. What was with that? It was starting to annoy me. I glanced over at Jaden, but he didn’t seem to notice anything. “Glad you’re set. I think we should get out of here. Something doesn’t feel right.”

“What about Cray?” Jaden asked.

“He’ll be fine. He just won’t be able to go with us. Maybe he can distract Starren.”

“I’ll go check on the house one more time,” Jaden said. “Make sure they got everything important.”

“Who’s Starren?” Nina asked, looking a little concerned. Probably for my sanity since what I’d just said to the empty air didn’t follow the conversation we’d been having with Rebecca.

“Hopefully you’ll never have to find out,” I muttered. It almost made me feel bad. Starren had tried to take care of me while I was on her team. But I wasn’t under any illusions about what would happen if she found out I was helping Jaden’s family.

“Will someone please explain to me what is going on here?” Nina asked.

“Trish, get them in the car, now!” Jaden’s voice, from inside the house.

“Load up, everyone to the car, now,” I said, not waiting to find out what had Jaden so upset.

Rebecca instantly picked up on the urgency. “Here,” she shoved Jaime toward me. “Buckle her in, I’ll get Lucy.”

I grabbed Jaime’s hand. “Come on.” I told both her and Nina.

“Not until you tell me what you’ve gotten us into,” Nina said, planting her arms across her chest. Great. There went the arms again. When she got like this there was no changing her mind.

“We don’t have the time right now, Nina. I promise, I’ll explain later.” Explain yes, everything, probably not. I half dragged Jaime to the side of the house, opened the mini-van door and tossed her inside. It looked like the back was full of stuff. It was going to be a long ride to Indiana. Six people in a seven person mini-van, not too bad except for the boxes. “Get in the back, get your seat belt on.” Jaime looked at me like I was about to murder her or something, eyes all wide.

Silly kid, I was trying to help.

Nina stepped in close and popped her head in the open van door. “Everything is going to be okay, sweetie. Just buckle up, okay?”

Jaime nodded and reached for her belt.

“Thanks,” I said. Credit where credit was due and all that. “Would you stay with her while I check with everyone else?”

Nina nodded. “But we aren’t getting in this van until I have some answers.”

Ugh, adults. If we got this far and then she put her foot down… No. I’d have to figure it out. These people needed me, and I wasn’t going to let them down.