Pregnant With His Liger Baby

Chapter 8

Reba stepped back out of Dr. O’Dell’s office at the end of the eight hour shift she’d given her and headed for her car. Because she knew it was highly likely that she was being watched, she would not return to the shifters that night, but would go to her sister’s home instead.

Sure enough, she saw the lights of a van kick on not long after she’d started to drive, and its driver kept a healthy distance behind her as he followed. She confirmed this, and also made sure the driver knew of her awareness, by making three right turns and then coming back out onto the road. She didn’t shake him, whoever he was.

Now that their passage had been fully paid, it was more nerve-wracking than ever, waiting until they could leave the following day. The last thing she wanted was for this jerk to prevent her from meeting up with the others, but she was not about to lead the guy to them either. She would rather let them leave than risk endangering them all.

Such morbid thoughts weren’t much use to her. She knew how miserable she’d be if that ever happened. She wasn’t going to let it. As soon as she pulled up at her sister’s place she walked inside and found her waiting for her. They looked very much alike, and when Rachel put on her jacket and took her keys out of her hand, both women were certain that the driver would never pick up on the switch.

He was going to follow her sister, giving her the chance she needed to drive away in a different car in another direction. She had already arranged with the others to meet them to the south, near the boat. Getting there wasn’t her problem, she just needed to do it without being followed. She hoped that her sister’s plan would be enough.

Reba watched surreptitiously out the window for a few minutes after she saw the van following her sister. She wanted to be certain another vehicle hadn’t also been following, and when she saw another van circle the block a couple times she was glad she did. When that vehicle also disappeared from view, she left soon afterwards, deciding it was safe enough now to take the risk.

Since they’d agreed upon no radio contact, no phone calls, nothing that might be picked up on whatsoever, Reba had to head south blind. She would have no idea how the group faired or even if they’d managed to get away clean until they reached the southern shore. She was certain that she was in for a rather nerve-wracking afternoon.

*****

David was pacing nervously back and forth at about that same time, wanting desperately to know how Reba must be doing. He and the other twenty shifters were trying to leave the little farm they’d been using, but suspicious-looking cars were parked next door, leaving them feeling anxious as three in the afternoon rolled around.

“All right, you guys,” he finally said. “For the most part, we should be non-visible to whoever those people are, since you’ll mostly be hunkered down inside the back of the vans where you can’t be seen. I think we should just load up and get out of here. And then if they do follow us, we’ll have to think of a way to lose them along the roadway somewhere. It’s make or break time.”

“David’s right,” Micah agreed. “The longer we sit here, the more of them are likely to start showing up. They’ll capture every last one of us, and you’ll all be right back where you started from. Two at a time, fast-paced, get in, and we get out. Boris, are the weapons already aboard?”

“Two guns per van,” he nodded. “Should we stagger when the vans leave, though? Three black vans pulling off at once is going to be kind of obvious, don’t you think?”

“We’re running out of time and options,” David said. “That boat leaves at six, whether we’re on board or not. We can’t afford to miss this window of opportunity. Of course, anyone who’s scared to try is welcome to remain behind and get captured for sure.”

“No, man, we’re all with you,” Boris protested. “Let’s move, people!”

“Get Sylvie and Ilana into the first van out,” Micah insisted. “I don’t want them anywhere near the rear if things start to get ugly.”

Sylvie cast Micah a worried look, but she knew better than to say anything. Once he made up his mind about something, it tended to stay made. Besides, she didn’t want their daughter anywhere near the action either. She hurried out and got herself and her daughter into a van, and waiting with baited breath until her mate finally joined them.

Micah pounded the back of the seat to let the driver know they were all aboard, and soon afterwards the vehicle started to move. Sylvie worried at her bottom lip as they lurched, wondering if they would be followed or caught somehow.

“Mama, are we headed for the big boat now?” asked Ilana curiously.

“Yes, kitten, only we need to be very quiet along the way,” she explained. “Can you be quiet with me? Let’s see who can stop talking for the longest.”

“Okay,” Ilana agreed. Sylvie suspected she wasn’t likely to say another word all week—assuming they managed to get away in the first place. Ilana was a very literal type of person, and she liked to win. Even at barely six weeks of age, that much was already quite apparent.

Micah smirked as he watched the pair of them clamping their mouths shut with a determined resolve. He wanted very much to tease them, but he was too sure that if he said anything he’d cause his mate to lose the game, and then he’d never hear the end of it. Instead, he simply sat with the four other men in the back half of the van and sat near the back window, periodically glancing out.

“Is anyone following us?” asked Boris with a worried frown.

“I don’t see anyone,” Micah replied. “But I hate that you put all of the ‘most important’ passengers into this van, and instructed the other two to make sure we’d get away even if they have to engage in battle. Don’t you think that all those men have as much right to be free as we do.”

“Micah, how many liger shifters do you see in the other cars?” Boris pointed out. “It’s vital that you and your daughter make it out of here. We’re hoping to be able to study her, and maybe figure out why you two managed to have her in the first place. I think it’s vitally important to know if lion and tiger shifters will ever be able to simply become one group instead of divided types. If the shifters ever hope to break free from humans treating us like some sort of pets, we’ll need to be able to work together on that common goal. This group, we’re lions and tigers working together. Seeing your daughter has given us hope that what we’re fighting for is real. That someday, the shifters will be able to live free from servitude or ostracization from other human-type groups. It’s a goal I am willing to die for. We all are.”

“I have always felt that the division between the lions and the tigers was wrong,” Micah nodded. “But I don’t want the deaths of innocent felines on my head. I think we should all get away together.”

“The others would eventually manage to come to us, should they miss the boat now,” Boris insisted. “But, try to be optimistic, Micah. We’re not being pursued as yet. Maybe we won’t have to concern ourselves with that plan, or what it would mean.”

Papa, are you saying these men would stop living just to make sure I am safe? Ilana inquired. Why am I so important?

You are the only one of your kind, kitten. Now hush and sleep for now, or I’ll tell your mother you’re cheating.

Yes, sir, she agreed, and immediately settled into a sleeping position, not moving another muscle, so he wouldn’t tell.