Rowan looked between them, staying oddly quiet while they made their way to the lobby and out the main doors. She signaled him to wait until she’d pulled her Tahoe around a minute later, helped him into the passenger seat. She arched a brow, silently offering him one more chance to change his mind, before jumping in and joining the late-night traffic.
Bodie alternated his gaze between the mirrors and the passing scenery, breathing through the ache in his leg. Not red-hot like when he’d first injured it, but more than he wanted to admit.
Rowan parked in front of an apartment building fifteen minutes later, watching as a silver Bronco slowed, then continued on, turning left at the next set of lights.
He waited until she glanced over at him before nodding toward the street. “You worried about that Bronco? It was with us the whole way. Heavily tinted windows, out-of-state plates.”
A small smile lifted her lips. “I realize we’ve worked in the same circles a bunch of times, but watching you up close…” Her smile flourished. “You’re exactly how I pictured you’d be. Former-Army Ranger, right?”
She’d been imagining what he’d be like?
“Ten years. And you didn’t answer my question. Any of them, actually.”
“Let’s just say I’m naturally suspicious But, it’s gone so…” She opened the door. “I’d invite you up but…”
Bodie eyed the building. It had a coastal beach feel, with a decent-sized balcony for all the units. “Let me guess, upper floor?”
“Best view.” She glanced at the road, again, then leaned back inside. “I won’t be long. I’ll leave the keys in the ignition. Honk if there’s an emergency.”
He snagged her arm before she backed out. “I can climb some stairs if you’re concerned. Have your back.”
Her smile fell, the lines around her eyes crinkling as she pursed her lips. “It’s fine.”
“Ya know, sooner or later, I’m gonna need some straight answers.”
“Not here, and not before I know you won’t look at me as if I’m crazy. But you’re right.” She eased back. “Hang tight.”
She darted out, returning five minutes later with a few bags that shook the vehicle when she tossed them in the back. Her gaze dropped to the cargo area, a bit of color draining from her face before she drew herself up — closed the gate.
Bodie reached over and squeezed her hand once she’d pulled back onto the main thoroughfare. “You okay?”
She clenched her jaw, glanced in the rearview, the back still configured from their race along the old spurs. “Fine. Just tired.”
“Something tells me it wasn’t just the past forty-eight hours that’s kept you up.” He took a chance that she might talk now they were on the move, again. “How long were you in that nest or hide or whatever it was before we stumbled into that ambush?”
She glanced at him. “About thirty-six hours.”
He nodded, studying the mirrors. “Find what you were looking for?”
“Not exactly… Shit.”
“I see it, too. That Bronco’s back.”
“It could be a coincidence.”
“Same plates.”
“Same everything.” She looked at her GPS, scrolled ahead. “How bad’s your leg? Really?”
Bodie met her intense gaze. “Not great, but I could run if I needed to.”
“I’m not going to make you run, but is it good enough to handle some questionable road choices?”
“Definitely.”
She looked in the rearview one more time. “Then, hang on. Let’s see how badly they want to follow us.”
Chapter Five
