Page 35 of Rescuing Brinley

“Not for another two days.”

“You should be able to change it. Get out earlier,” Echo told her.

He and Grinder got into the front seats of the SUV, and Shadow opened the back door for Brinley. She got in, and by the time he walked around to the other side, joining her in the back, she had her phone in hand, looking up flights.

Echo pulled out of the parking space in front of the police station, and they were all silent for a few minutes as he headed down the road. It was early evening now and would be dark soon. It was amazing how much time had passed since the shit hit the fan. At the time, it seemed as if things were moving at warp speed, but obviously not, as the day was just coming to an end.

“My ticket’s nonrefundable,” Brinley said, almost as if talking to herself. “I’d eat the cost and just book another flight, but there aren’t seats available on any of the ones leaving tomorrow. Probably because there are so many people trying to get off the island. The resort is safe now…right?”

Shadow pressed his lips together. He didn’t want her to stay. Wanted to know she was safe back in Alaska.

Grinder reassured her that the hotel had plenty of law enforcement officers patrolling the grounds and that all the pageant guests remaining would be completely safe. Of course, he couldn’t guarantee that, but Shadow appreciated him going out of his way to make Brinley feel more comfortable with staying.

It felt as if he blinked and they were pulling into the hotel’s parking lot.

Echo dropped him and Brinley off at the main entrance and then went to park.

Shadow put his hand on the small of her back and followed her into the lobby. There were people everywhere. Some with suitcases, some sitting on the many chairs and couches scattered around. They all looked a little shell-shocked. And it was no wonder, they’d just been through something horrible and traumatic.

He steered Brinley toward the bank of elevators and they got in without a word. She pushed the button for the second floor. They exited, and Shadow walked her to her room.

“Are you going to be okay?” he asked.

She nodded.

“You sure?”

Brinley took a deep breath. “I like that saying you shared with me. You know, the one about being strong when you don’t have any other choice. I can’t believe I did that today, but if I’d hidden in those bushes and done nothing, and those guys had left with the women they’d kidnapped…I wouldn’t have been able to forgive myself.”

Shadow squeezed her hand tightly.

“All my life, I’ve been treated differently because of the way I look. My mom wanted a pretty daughter and got me instead. But you know what?”

“What?”

It was difficult for Shadow to not rip into her family. He hated to hear this woman talk about herself in such a self-deprecating way. He liked how she looked. She was beautiful. Special.

“I’m proud of myself.”

The words were almost a whisper. As if she was afraid to say them out loud.

“You should be. You did something a lot of people couldn’t or wouldn’t have done. Myself included. Will you send me your flight info?”

She blushed slightly. “If you want me to.”

“Wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t. You need anything before you get home, let me know and I’ll make sure you get it.”

“But you’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

“I am. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t still help you. Promise me, Brinley, that if anything happens, if you need to talk through what went down today, or if anyone gives you a hard time about anything, you’ll text or call me. Just because you’re strong as fuck, doesn’t mean you can’t lean on someone when you need to.”

“Does that go for you too?”

“Absolutely.”

“Okay.”

“Okay,” he echoed. “Think about where you want to go on our first date when you get home.”