A Little Respite
Grant parkedthe car outside the safe house. “Let’s get inside, quick.” He hopped out of the car and over the curb to take Faith’s hand and help her out of the passenger seat. “You alright?”
Faith shook her head. “Would you be?”
“I almost got blown up by a rocket,” he said, smirking. “This is a walk in the part for me.”
Faith had seen that same smirk when he thought he was getting away with pranks and excuses back in high school.
He looked at her face. H’d dreamed of it more times than he cared to count while deployed overseas. He led her inside the building and to the elevator. “This is where you’ll stay for now. Rusty keeps everything ready in advance. We can have whatever you need sent over.”
“How long am I staying?”
“Until we catch whoever is responsible for all of this. First, we need a plan.”
They stopped at the third floor and he led her down the hall to a door with a welcome wreath over the peephole. He took out his phone and sent a text. Ten seconds later, the door unlocked. “Digital lock,” he said. “Cool, huh?”
“Boys and their toys.” Faith stepped past him into the apartment. When they were dating, Grant was always buying things for his truck. New radio. Bigger speakers. He’d never have driven in any way that would bang it up. Where had he learned to drive like a getaway driver? The army? She still couldn’t believe he was really here with her. And how could the boy she knew turn into the man who shot out of the window from a moving car? He surprised her in every way.
She realized the man beside her was no longer the boy she knew all these years ago. She felt a little disappointed. But why? She should be relieved. Grant had broken her heart, left her sobbing for weeks. She’d spent the summer after graduation practically a zombie who cried into her pillow all day long. He couldn’t just show up out of nowhere and expect her to be warm to him. And yet, when he touched her, it felt like nothing had changed.
“You can take the bedroom” Grant said. “I’ll take the couch.” He gave her a quick tour of the apartment. “Any question?”
“I need a moment,” she said. “This is a lot to take in.”
He nodded and stepped out of the bedroom, and then she closed the door behind him. He stood in the living room, staring at the closed door. He’d been to basic training, war, shot at, almost blown up, and yet none of that had been harder than knowing Faith was on the other side of that thin piece of wood and he couldn’t open it to be with her, couldn’t even talk to her until she was ready; if she’d ever be ready.
He needed to check in with Rusty. He forced himself to turn away from the door – from her – and go into the kitchen to make the call. His shoes grew heavier with each step away from her. Would they go their separate ways after this job was over? He’d left her all these years ago to protect her. Now he must stay with her to do the same. He sat at the table, hating each second that he wasn’t in the same room as her. He needed to focus on the present moment, to formulate a plan to expose the hitman and his employer.
* * *
Faith came out an hour later,just as Grant’s stomach was growling from hunger. She looked drained, like she hasn’t slept in days.
“Alright,” she said. “Let’s talk. But business only. I’ve got someone trying to kill me. I can’t handle being angry at you or whatever it is that I’m feeling right now.”
“You were always good at multitasking,” Grant said. “I’m sure you can do both.”
Faith fought a smile. “Probably.” She sat down and told Grant everything that has happened since Flux Pharmaceuticals announced the pending launch of their Chorivirus vaccine to the public.
“Have the police been in contact with you since it all went down?”
“Not before you threw my phone out the window.”
“Phones are replaceable,” Grant said. “You aren’t.”
Faith crossed her arms. “So. Are you dating anyone in the city?”
“I thought we weren’t going to talk about us right now.”
“So you are.”
“That’s not what I said. And no I’m not dating anyone. Faith, listen…”
“It’s fine. It’s been over ten years. I don’t care.”
“There’s no one else,” Grant said. “There never has been. I thought about you every singe day since I left. But…” his voice trailed. “Let’s focus on what we have to do to keep you safe.”
“Which is?”
