AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Muffled grunts sounded in the background. “And Abe reports contact at the airfield.”
“Fuck.”
“Exactly. I want you to lie low until we clarify just what the hell is going on.”
Jo drew in a shaky breath, knotted her hands together as her heart rate ramped up again for the second time in less than an hour.
Griff drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “We’ll drive to Skarsvag.”
Jo stared out into the endless night. She’d already checked. Skarsvag was a nine-hour drive in good conditions. Wet slush splatted the windscreen as if to remind her of the foolishness of making plans.
She closed her eyes, needing to shut out the world for a few moments. When she opened them again, Griff was guiding the car down a slip road toward an outdoor supplies store. All Jo’s hopes of a night in crisp hotel linen vanished.
“I’ll let you know if the situation changes, Leo.”
“Agreed. Keep me updated.” Leo ended the call and darkness swamped the car.
Griff pulled into an empty lot and killed the engine. He exhaled a hissing breath through clenched teeth. The man was definitely hurting, even if he wouldn’t admit to it.
He pulled on a beaten baseball cap and exited the car.
Jo waited, not wanting another tongue lashing.
He opened her door and motioned for her to get out. She did as she was told, not sure what he hoped to achieve. The display window was lit up ahead of them, but darkness shrouded the rest of the store. Definitely closed.
One handed, he tugged up her hood.
“It’s not raining.”
His eyes widened. “Just bear with me, okay?”
“Yeah. Ok.” She swallowed her intense frustration. None of this was working out the way she’d expected. She’d imagined some compliant security guard who would take care of her but also listen to her, not be all caveman and bossy. “What are we doing here?”
Griff pointed and wiggled his sock-clad toes. “I need boots.”
12
Griff crossed the empty lot at a rapid clip. He’d spotted three cameras when he pulled in, so he’d parked in a shadowed corner. His shoulder throbbed with every step and he mentally added Advil to his shopping list.
Jo trotted at his heels, her breaths coming in short, indignant gasps. She was confused and scared, but keeping her safe was his priority. When he’d achieved that, he’d have time to worry about whether she was happy.
He pulled his baseball hat low and swerved left, away from the store frontage and down the gap at the side of the building.
“Griff.”
He hurried past the emergency exit. Yellow light gleamed at the end of the narrow passageway.
“Griff. Wait.” Worry elevated her voice.
He stepped out into the back lot, pivoted right. The delivery entrance was a wide roller door secured with a padlock. Empty wooden delivery crates littered the concrete, staff too lazy to stack them out of the way for the next shift. He ran practiced fingers up the side of the metal roller. Alarmed too. He stepped back, searching for the alarm box.
“Griff.” A small hand grabbed his good elbow. Her voice had escalated several octaves. A few more and she’d probably be supersonic.
Jaw tight, he spun to face her, schooling an expression of calm indifference. “Yes?”
“Oh, so you can still hear me? What the hell are we doing?” She raised her hands to the sky. “The store’s locked up.”
“I’m aware of that.” He jerked his head toward the alarm system above their heads. “That’s why we have to disarm the alarm.”
