Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44 A new place, a new life and now a vehicle

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Finished

“We should give one of the pickup trucks to Jake for the time being,” Joanna decided firmly. “He needs a reliable, heavy-duty vehicle to move Raven around safely, and he can’t have paperwork on his identity around Aurora. It draws too much attention. A local, unmarked truck fits his build and keeps him completely under the radar.”

Jolie nodded in complete agreement, a subtle smirk playing on her lips. “I completely agree. Plus, seeing him behind the wheel of a massive truck? Highly approved. I’ll get the spare key fob ready so I can hand them over at dinner.”

Promptly at 6:30 PM, the doorbell

rang.

Joanna opened it to find Jake and Raven standing in the hallway. Raven had fully dried her hair and wore clean, matching gray pajamas, looking safe and relaxed. Jake had changed into a dark, fitted t-shirt that accentuated his heavy, muscular frame.

“Come on in,” Joanna said, stepping aside. “The food literally just arrived.”

The rich, savory aroma of grilled steaks, baked pasta, and fresh garlic bread filled the apartment. Jolie was already setting large ceramic plates at the dining table, looking up with a welcoming grin.

“Perfect timing,” Jolie said, pulling out a chair for Raven. “Take a seat. We ordered enough to feed a small platoon.”

As they began passing the food around, the initial tension in the room naturally melted away. Raven dug into the pasta with an eleven-year-old’s sudden appetite, while Jake ate with the methodical, high-calorie efficiency of a professional athlete.

Jolie, leaning her elbows casually on the table, decided to push past the surface. “So, Jake. Joanna gave me the bullet points of your wild night in Felton, but she skipped the history lesson. How does a guy with your build and a sweet sister like Raven end up running from a city syndicate?”

Jake paused, setting his fork down slowly. He looked at Raven, who was completely distracted by her dessert, before looking back at Jolie and Joanna. He let out a quiet, tired sigh.

“It wasn’t always like this,” Jake explained, his deep voice grounded and solemn. “Our dad died in a construction accident right after Raven was born. I was only 14, so it was just me, my mom, and the baby for the longest time. I joined the military the second I turned eighteen to help send money back home.”

Jolie nodded, her playful demeanor shifting into genuine interest. “What changed?”

“Our mom got sick,” Jake said, his jaw tightening slightly. “She passed away last year. The day

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Chapter 44 A new place, a new life and now a vehicle

Finished

she died, I knew I couldn’t stay deployed overseas anymore. I walked away from the service, processed my discharge, and took full custody of Raven so I could raise her myself. We were doing fine, just scraping by on a modest budget.”

“Until the inheritance,” Joanna countered softly.

“Exactly,” Jake muttered, a bitter edge returning to his voice. “My uncle was a ruthless mob boss who controlled the high-stakes rackets in Felton. I hadn’t spoken to the man in ten years. But when he died a few months ago, his will revealed he had left his entire private estate and cash reserves to us. He thought he was giving us a fresh start. Instead, the moment the syndicate found out a couple of ordinary orphans had his millions, they painted a target on our backs. We’ve been running ever since.”

Jolie shook her head, her expression softening. “That is a lot of heavy lifting for one guy. I’m glad you’re out of that city.” She reached into her pocket, pulling out a sleek black key fob and a folded set of vehicle registration papers, sliding them across the table toward him. “Which reminds me-consider this your official welcome-to-Aurora gift.”

Jake blinked, looking at the keys. “What’s this?”

“It’s the keys to one of our heavy-duty pickup trucks sitting in the secure garage downstairs,” Joanna explained, leaning forward. “You can’t get your own car here in case they can trace the registration back under your name. This truck is fully serviced, low-profile, and registered under my name. It’s yours for the time being so you can move Raven around safely without leaving a footprint.”

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