❝ bumps and scrapes ❞

          "Seth, what the everlasting fuck are you doing?" Cataleya forcefully whispered.

She scowled at him, her expression one of disbelief as he lowered her into a chair beside the room's window.

"This is how we're getting to Mexico, sweets," he explained, his voice a whisper as well, "did you not listen to me explain the plan?"

She took a deep breath, feeling stupid for thinking all they wanted was the R.V.

"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd take more hostages."

Seth shook his head as he dropped down in front of her. "Me neither, sweetheart, but we gotta do what we gotta do."

"Don't rope me in with this," she stated sternly, staring out the window.

She didn't want to see this family get hurt, and she surely didn't want to be a cause of it. Cataleya wouldn't be a part of this plan any longer. She knew the importance of family, even though she had run away from hers.

Seth pat her bare thigh before standing and walking over to the bed the boy and man were sat on. His arms were crossed, his tone becoming serious.

Richie walked through the door with bags as Seth questioned the two.

"What's with the Asian kid? Trick-or treat for UNICEF?"

Richie passed in front of them towards the bathroom as the man answered.

"He's my son."

"Really?"

Cataleya looked towards them then, the boy's glare moving up from the floor towards her. The look turned pleading when their eyes met, but Cataleya didn't have a clue as to how she could help him.

"Well, where's mom?"

"It's just me and the boy."

"Well, what about that girl?" Seth glanced toward the door before looking back at the man. "She was driving the R.V., remember?"

"Seth." Richie called for his brother's attention while he held up a bra to his chest, a small smirk on his face.

His eyes snapped to Cataleya before she shook her head, scoffing to hide a laugh. What an idiot...

Seth turned back towards the man and his son. "You two like to play dress-up?"

"No, we do not."

"Where is she?"

"She went for a grocery run for the motor home. Won't be back for hours," the man deadpanned, trying his best to look bold for his son.

"He's lying," Richie said from the bathroom, still rummaging around the small counter top.

"Call her." Seth motioned for the man to get up and make his way to the phone.

The room was silent. Only faint rings from the phone were audible throughout the room. The girl didn't answer, and the man placed his phone in his pocket.

"She put this on before she left," Richie informed, holding up a bottle of sunscreen.

"She's probably at the pool," Seth nodded towards the man, "I'll go get her."

He stepped towards the door, but images of what, or rather who, they'd left behind in the other room resurfaced.

"Actually," He looked to Cataleya before looking down, "you go get her, Richie. You've spent enough time in hotels today."

Richie rolled his eyes while walking towards the door when Seth grabbed his arm. "You just go find her and bring her back here. Okay? Don't talk to her," he tapped his brother's chest with his finger, "Don't touch her," he tapped it again, "Let's get on the clock. Ten on the Timex."

Cataleya stared out the window, looking down at the pool. A dark-haired girl stood and walked over to the edge before jumping in.

Richie leaned, glancing over Seth's shoulder at Cataleya as he spoke. "I've got this under control."

He turned toward the door and walked out.

Cataleya watched Richie lean over the railing, looking at the girl in the pool before disappearing and reappearing poolside. He must've said something to her, because Cataleya noticed the girl look in his direction.

"Who's she?"

The boy's voice pulled her gaze away from the window to him instead.

Seth pulled the curtain back to peek out the window, replying as he did so. "Sweetheart, wanna introduce yourself to our new traveling companions?"

The boy and his father stared at her expectantly, like they were waiting for what came from her mouth to decide if they hated her or sympathized with her.

"I'm Cataleya," she turned her eyes toward Seth then, sneering, "lucky hostage number t–"

She quickly realized they would probably ask what happened to the first one, and she didn't want to worry the man like that. The one who killed the first one was with who she assumed was his daughter.

"–one. And I'd advise you to do whatever they say, because they're practically children." She smiled sarcastically at Seth when he looked towards her. "They really have no patience."

Seth squint his eyes at her, slightly annoyed with the comparison.

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that," the man spoke, sounding genuinely sorry for her.

You don't deserve his sympathy. She looked away from the man. You're one of the reasons they're hostages too.

Seth watched as Cataleya's face fell. He imagined she was blaming herself for the current situation, and his heart tightened at the thought. This wasn't her fault. None of it was. She was only here because he had carried her out of that store and put her into the backseat of his car.

Since then she'd managed to get dragged into the crazy that followed him and his brother. He'd apologized to her before, but he didn't think she fully accepted it.

"Housekeepin'." The voice of the maid from earlier caught everyone's attention.

Seth was ripped from his thoughts as he jumped to the door, carefully pulling back the curtains to look out.

He held up a finger to keep everyone quiet, opening his mouth to speak. But he paused, quickly remembering he'd already spoken to her from another room.

Seth turned to Cataleya, mouthing for her to say something.

She mouthed back an aggressive, "no."

The man and his son looked between the two as they bickered silently with each other.

"You have to, come on."

"No, I can't."

"She'll know my voice you have to."

"Seth, no."

"Cat, I swear if you don't say-"

The lock beeped, signaling that the woman was seconds away from walking in.

"I just got out of the shower!" Cataleya blurted out, hating herself the minute it left her mouth. "Can you please come back later?"

Seth pulled the curtains back, sighing in relief as the woman walked off. "Thanks for that, sweetheart."

The man and his son looked at her, betrayal in their eyes. Her throat tightened as she looked between them. Their one chance to be saved, and she'd just ruined it.

She tried to shove the feeling down, deciding that she needed to get to Mexico just as bad, if not moreso, than the brothers did. Her life practically depended on it, and she didn't plan on dying any time soon.

"I'm sorry," she quietly whispered, more to herself than the father and son.

Seth peeked out the window, shaking his head as he looked at his watch. "Come on, Richie."

The man suddenly stood, standing tall as he spoke. "The infamous Gecko brothers."

Seth's head snapped towards him. "I didn't say you could get up."

"Dude, please sit down," Cataleya spoke up as well, not wanting anyone to get hurt. Cataleya knew well by now that when Seth was tested, he wasn't very gentle.

"I heard about you on the radio. I switched the channel so it wouldn't scare my kids."

He started to sound agitated. "Good choice," Seth motioned to the bed with his gun, "now sit."

The man didn't obey and continued to speak.
"Radio said you robbed a bank in Abilene."

Monica.

Remembering how they left her sent a pang through her heart. Cataleya felt a little responsible for what happened to Monica, and she definitely didn't want the same happening to this family. She decided right then that she refused to let it happen. And she didn't care what she had to do to ensure it.

"You're moving south. Means you're going to Mexico. That's what you need us for, isn't it? Gonna use us to cross. We're your cover," the man finished.

Seth brandished his gun as he replied, annoyed with not being listened to. "You're a smart man. You ever do any acting?"

"Acting?"

"Yeah, in drama club, high school. Nothing like that?"

The older man looked down like he was thinking. "Um, once, long time ago."

Cataleya listened to Seth rant on about acting, the boy nervously looking toward the gun he wildly moved about.

She turned away from them, looking out the window down at the pool. The girl and Richie were smoking as they laid back in pool chairs. Cataleya felt relief wash over her, noticing the girl seemed perfectly safe. From far away, Cataleya observed, the girl looked young. She was smoking, but that did nothing to help Cataleya determine her age. After all, she'd had her first cigarette at fifteen.

The sound of a gun cocking pulled her away from the the view of the pool.

"You believe me?" Seth asked, pointing the gun at the man who stayed silent.

"Now, the first rule of good acting is to listen to what the other actors are saying. Are you listening to me?" Seth's tone was intimidating as he continued to point the gun at the man.

The man remained silent and stoic.

His son fidgeted nervously, looking like he wanted to try something. Cataleya's eyes caught his, and she shook her head to dissuade him. Seth wouldn't take nicely to the boy trying to be a hero.

"We're all booked for a one-time-only performance of you do whatever the hell I say. Me and sweets over there are the leads," Seth continued ranting on, "you and your little adopted boy here are supporting. Now if you kill it," Seth pulled the gun away from facing the man to look between him, his son, and Cataleya, "we're all gonna get Tony's. Now, you want a Tony, don't you?"

The boy frantically nodded.

"I won't let you take my children."

"Well, it's not gonna work with one creepy old dude, so guess what? We're bringing the whole clan. So sit down," Seth finished, walking back towards the window.

The man stared down for a second, looking at Cataleya and the worried look on her face before addressing Seth again.

"You told him not to touch my daughter. Why did you tell him not to touch my daughter?"

Cataleya spoke first before glancing out the window. "She'll be fine."

"He harms her," the man turned back to Seth, "I'll kill you with my bare hands."

Cataleya grabbed the side of the chair, knuckles white as she watched Seth turn his gun towards the boy who flinched as Seth cocked it.

Cataleya never hated guns more than she did today.

"You're gonna kill him with your big mouth first." Seth looked down at the boy. "What's your name again?"

"Scott."

"Scott, do me a favor. Tell your dad to sit down and shut up."

Scott slowly looked between Seth and his father. "Dad... sit down." His eyes were pleading, desperately begging his father to sit and stay silent.

Seth raised his eyebrows, waiting for the man to listen.

Cataleya watched the man glower at Seth as he slowly sat back down, eyes not leaving his as the gun remained on Scott's head.

Seth uncocked it, placing the gun back down at his side. "Gettin' better already." He returned to the window, looking out before turning back to the man. "Call her again." He looked at his watch, shaking his head.

Cataleya pulled the curtain back as well, observing the girl and Richie still sitting in the chairs. A small smile pulled at her lips as they shook hands, but it quickly faded as she watched the girl jump up. She looked visibly shaken, probably by something Richie had said. He had a way of coming off as strange at first.

The girl would be up at the room any minute, and Cataleya quietly wished that she'd run. That she would run far, far away from the mess she was about to be dragged into.

The girl walked through the door, taking in the too many occupants and the fact that one held a gun. Her eyes widened.

Her father quickly turned towards her, yelling, "Kate, run!"

The girl swiftly turned to leave, but Richie blocked the doorway.

Cataleya was internally rooting for the girl to get away somehow. After seeing her up close, she didn't seem older than seventeen. Her own childhood was long over by then, and she didn't want the same for this girl.

Richie stood leaning in the doorway, hands in his pockets as he looked down at her.

"Was it something I said?"

° ° °

"Alright ramblers, lets get ramblin'."

Cataleya nervously fidgeted with her ring as she let her eyes pass over each family member. They all stared up at Seth with conflicting emotions; anger, fear, confusion.

Richie sat across from her, gun pointed right at the nervous family. Cataleya hated how stoic and cold he looked in that moment. And as if he'd read her mind he turned to her, offering a small smile before looking back at the family.

"'Now, we can't all go marching past the lobby all at once. It's going to be a very guilty-looking parade. So here's how we're gonna do it:" Seth pointed at the father, "you're gonna go first. Alone. You're gonna get into the motor home, you're gonna start her up, you're gonna bring her around front, and then you're gonna wait."

Seth gestured towards his brother sitting emotionless again across from Cataleya.

"Five minutes after that, Richie and boy wonder are gonna go down with our bags. Five minutes after that, me, Gabriella, and Miley are gonna go down."

He paused, looking to each family member to make sure they fully understood.

"Everyone should have their hero switch in the 'off ' position. I make the plan, everybody executes it," Seth made a point in brandishing his gun, "or I execute you. Simple as Sesame Street."

Richie stood, placing the gun in his waistband. He looked over at Cataleya who was watching the father speak to Seth about something.

"Hey," he called to get her attention, "you doing alright?"

She shook her head. "I don't think I'm the one you should be asking."

Cataleya's eyes moved from Richie's over to Kate. She looked nervous, and it made Cataleya feel extremely protective. She just wanted to go over and tell the girl that it was gonna be alright, and that she wouldn't let anything happen to her or her family.

But she knew she couldn't, because you can't make promises like that in situations like this.

Cataleya heard a faint whisper just then, the words fuzzy and indistinct.

"We should move the R.V. to the back," Richie blurted, following after his brother.

"Why would we do that?"

"Something's telling me that we-"

Cataleya interjected, "Seth, I think you should."

The voice. That's what it was telling Richie.

Seth looked between the two, annoyance furrowing his brow. "It's fine."

"You haven't listened to a word I've been saying, have you?"

Cataleya stood from the chair, making her way to stand next to Richie.

"No, Richard, I haven't. Because actions speak louder than words. Now would you like to go back to our room and review those actions?"

Richie's jaw clenched as he stared at his brother. That was a low blow, and Seth knew it.

"I've tuned into something... and it is showing me the way. Ask Cata," Richie grabbed her hand and pulled her closer, "she can hear it too."

Cataleya's eyes widened as she looked down at her dusty black boots. She couldn't believe he'd just told Seth that. Her hearing the voice was not a bomb she was ready to drop.

Seth looked between the girl and his brother, confused by what he just heard. Cataleya heard voices too? And why hadn't she told him? He shook his head, sighing. Now wasn't really the time to discuss this.

"Tell them to move the R.V. to the back." Richie insisted.

"R.V. stays. There's only one captain on this ship," Seth's eyes flicked to Cataleya for a split second before he continued, "and it ain't you."

Richie's hand tightened around Cataleya's as his brother stalked off.

Cataleya looked up at him, his expression one of frustration. Richie looked down at her then, his expression softening as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

She felt other eyes on her and turned her head to find Kate staring. She looked between Cataleya and her hand in Richie's, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Cataleya pulled free, shoving her hands in her pockets and ignoring the puzzled look on Richie's face.

She was a hostage too, and she didn't want the girl thinking it was anything more.

She watched Seth interrupt the family speaking to send the father out with bags. Richie had returned to the window, Scott having been ushered to stand next to him.

Cataleya returned to her seat, pulling back the curtain to look outside.

"You like Bruce Lee?"

Scott turned his head to look at Richie. "Huh?"

"Bruce Lee. Do you like him?"

Scott nodded, "...Yeah."

"So do I."

Cataleya watched the exchange with amusement. Scott looked quite uncomfortable, but it didn't register with Richie as he continued.

"Can you understand all the stuff that they're saying?" The wide grin on Richie's face was almost childlike.

"Um, k-kind of. Not– not much." Scott replied.

Richie chuckled, looking at Cataleya and pointing to Scott. "Doesn't he kind of look like Bruce Lee?"

Scott turned to face him again, looking slightly offended. "Why? 'Cause i'm asian?"

"No," Richie retorted, "because you look like Bruce Lee... Just paid you a compliment."

Seth checked his watch. "Alright boys, showtime."

Richie and Scott walked out, and five minutes never felt so long. Cataleya stared out the window, leg tapping in anticipation as the seconds ticked by slower and slower.

She didn't like having time to think. She liked to act, normally. Time to think let her overthink, and nothing good ever came of that.

"It's time," Seth announced. He looked towards Cataleya, his eyes questioning. She nodded, signaling she was ready. He then turned to Kate. "You ready?"

The young girl nodded.

"Hey, listen, um..." He struggled to find the words, "did my brother... do anything to you?"

Kate shook her head before replying, "he scared me."

"You're not the only one," Seth sighed. He looked out the window again.

"Remember what I told you. Both of you," he pointed between Kate and Cataleya, "you do what I tell you, when I tell you, and you'll get out of this without any bumps or scrapes. Okay?"

Kate nodded. He moved his gaze back to Cataleya. She rolled her eyes at him, shaking her head before chewing her bottom lip.

A little late for that. She wanted to say it out loud, but she knew a comment like that would scare Kate. And Cataleya didn't want her to be any more nervous than she already was.

"Come on." Seth gestured with his gun for the girls to stand up. He sent Kate out first, following close behind with his hand wrapped around Cataleya's wrist.

Cataleya wasn't even out of the doorway when she heard the shots.

Seth pushed Cataleya back into the room, pulling Kate with him. More gunshots sounded from outside as Seth shut the door behind him.

Kate breathed heavy, shocked by the sudden amount of action. Cataleya opened her mouth to speak right as a door next to them flew open.

"You havin' fun, brother?" Richie waltzed in, arms raised in surrender as Seth pointed his gun at him in.

"Jesus Christ, Richie," Seth exclaimed, lowering his gun, "You know, a little ' Hey, it's me ' before you fling the friggen door open would go a long way in keeping you alive."

Richie looked at the two girls, holding Cataleya's gaze longer than needed before addressing his brother.

"I moved the R.V. around back."

"You what?!"

"I told you we had to, we got to get out of here before Ranger Ricardo makes his way in."

Cataleya looked over at Kate as the brothers spoke. "Hey, you're gonna be okay." She tried to sound calm despite the adrenaline pumping through her.

The young girl hesitantly nodded, not sure what to make of Cataleya's comforting words.

Bullets began flying through a door opposite them, Richie swiftly moving to avoid being hit.

"Take Kate," Seth told his brother, grabbing Cataleya's arm, "I got Cat."

Richie wanted to protest, but he quickly did as he was told, grabbing Kate and running out the door. Seth and Cataleya followed close behind.

Cataleya wasn't sure how to feel. Everything was happening so fast that she didn't really have time to process it all. More shots rang out from behind them. The closer ones making whistle-like noises as they passed her ear.

"Freeze!" The voice from the liquor store called out.

Seth grabbed Cataleya, pulling her in front of him before rounding the corner. She didn't even get a chance to put a face to the familiar voice as a bullet embedded itself into the back of her arm.

Cataleya let out a pained yell, feeling as if fire had started to crawl up her arm. The burning pain spread as Seth pulled her along after him.

"Shit, Cat," Seth breathed in panic, "are you-"

"Don't you dare ask if i'm okay," she growled, grabbing her arm to try and slow the bleeding. "Son of a bitch!" She hissed in pain, still being pulled along by Seth. "Man, you are really bad at keeping promises."

Seth lifted Cataleya over a railing up onto the roof, pushing her along to the edge.

"Now what, genius?" Cataleya groaned, the sleeve of her flannel now damp with her own blood.

"Bonnie and Clyde ending?" Seth chuckled as Cataleya sent him an annoyed glare. He began pulling Cataleya behind him as the ranger neared.

Cataleya still couldn't see his face, staying behind Seth as they aimed at each other.

Seth and the ranger pulled the trigger, both hearing the click of an empty gun.

"Doesn't that just beat all?" Seth breathed, shoving the gun in his waistband and steadying Cataleya behind him.

"Talked to your ex. She have you up real quick," the ranger jabbed, "you Geckos sure have a knack for pissing people off."

Cataleya sarcastically laughed, starting to feel lightheaded as she watched the blood drip down her arm.

"Keep talking."

The ranger charged at Seth.

"Oh, we're really gonna do this?"

Seth shoved Cataleya to the side just as the ranger made contact, throwing both he and Seth off the side of the roof. Cataleya gasped, stumbling and almost falling herself.

She watched the struggle atop the R.V. that was conveniently placed before Seth threw a punch, knocking the ranger to the ground. Seth groaned, standing up and shaking his fist.

"Bonnie and Clyde ending, huh?" Cataleya called down from the roof. "Not sure this is how that went."

Seth looked up at her, and motioned for her to come down. "Just shut up and jump," he let out a breathy laugh, still tired from the running.

"Um, how about I go find some stairs."

"Sweetheart, I swear to god if you don't jump I'll... shoot you."

Cataleya rolled her eyes. "First off, jackass, you're out of bullets, and just in case you missed it: I already got fucking shot!" Cataleya removed her hand from her wound, bloody hand pointing to hole in her arm.

Seth looked down to see the ranger moving slightly, and called back up to Cataleya.

"Cat, seriously. Just jump." He held his arms out, inferring he would catch her.

"Oh, screw it," she mumbled to herself before stepping off the roof.

Seth caught her, and they rolled off the side. Cataleya landed on her hurt arm, burning pain once again spreading throughout her shoulder.

"Sorry," Seth winced at her pained shout as he helped lift her up.

"Screw your ' sorry '," she grumbled, letting him half carry her inside the R.V.

"Did I call it or did I call it. If I didn't move this beas-" Richie spoke as he turned around, stopping once he saw the condition Cataleya was in. "Cata."

Seth replied, "All right, already. You're a genius," He looked at Cataleya and frowned, "And yeah, she got a little... banged up."

"Banged up? There is a literal fucking hole in my arm." She scowled. "Whatever..."

Cataleya walked to the back, sitting in a small booth across from Kate and Scott. The two watched her intently as she carefully pulled her flannel off, wrapping one sleeve around her wounded arm and attempting to tie it.

"Could one of you pull that–" Kate cautiously grabbed one end, pulling it tight, "thank you."

Cataleya sighed, leaning back into the seat as she looked between the two kids. "I'm so sorry you had to go through this."

Kate had tears in her eyes, and it broke Cataleya's heart. She reached for Kate's hand. The girl pulled away at first before letting her grab it and squeeze it reassuringly. "I don't know what Richie said to you back at the pool, but i'm sure he didn't mean to scare you. He comes off that way at first."

"I- I don't remember what he said," Kate spoke, her voice quiet, "and I don't care."

"I have a feeling you do."

Kate blinked a few times, a tear dripping down her cheek. She quickly wiped it away.

"I'm sorry your world is upside down, but everything happens for a reason. I feel like something is gonna come out of all this."

Cataleya pulled her hand away, the small movement making her wince.

"You should probably do something about that," Kate offered sweetly, pointing to Cataleya's injured arm.

Cataleya nodded, "I'll get to eventually." She looked up to the front, watching the brothers animatedly talk about something.

She decided to break her rule on promises.

"And guys?" Cataleya looked from Kate to Scott, "I'm not gonna let them hurt you."

Richie neared with a first aid kid, prompting Cataleya to stand and start to follow him into the small bathroom.

"Cataleya." Scott's voice made her turn around.

"Promise?"

She nodded, the nervous look in both of the teenagers' eyes slightly alleviating. "I promise."

And that was a promise she intended to keep.

°°°

author's note;

So I know it's not Friday, but I noticed that I was super close to 1k views and decided that I would update twice this week as a kind of thank you to y'all.

This book is brand new and already I've gotten so much great feedback. You guys are truly the best and are one of the main reasons I'm motivated to edit, research, and write almost every day.

Also, again just to be clear, I will be updating again on Friday. Hopefully. My wifi has been sorta unreliable for a while now and I had to edit this chapter on my phone so I hope I didn't miss anything.

How are y'all liking it so far? Thoughts? Suggestions? Predictions? Just wondering... I love to hear what you guys are thinking about the story.

Well, this is already super long, so that's it until Friday! Thanks again, and don't forget to vote if you liked it!

;tabitha