All we can do now is hold tight, stay low, and pray.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Kirk
Just as I'm surveilling the situation, Gretchen pokes her head up like a curious meerkat, her eyes flicking one way, then the other.Being trapped in my own SUV is not my idea of a good time.The lass twines her hair round and round her finger, over and over.I expect she might start gnawing on her hair any moment too.I won't claim ahmno bothered at all by our situation because that would be a lie.If I were the only one in the vehicle, I'd jump out and face the unknown.
But Gretchen is here.So is Archie.It will be my fault if anything happens to them.
I tap my fingers on the steering wheel, fighting the urge to do something reckless.Aye, ahmno one to twiddle my thumbs when there's danger about.But with these two under my protection, patience becomes a necessary virtue.
"What exactly are we waiting for?"Archie whispers from the back seat."Dinnae see any villains.Let's just go, eh?Hit the accelerator hard, Kirk, like nothing can stop ye.'s e Albannaich a th' annainn!"
I give him my best deadly glare."'s e plàigh a th' annad."
Gretchen stares at me."What were you two saying?"
"We are Scots," Archie not-so-helpfully tells her---while smirking, of course."I said that to Kirk, and then he told me I'm a plague.Not really feeling the camaraderie here, mate."
"Shut your bloody mouth, Archie."
"Whatever.Ahmno sensitive like you."He leans over the center console of the SUV and whispers, "I assume ye've got a plan."
Gretchen lifts her brows---at me, not thecacanArchie."Care to share your brilliant plan?"
"No."
She raises her brows."We're a team, Kirk.All three of us.You can't be the lone wolf right now because we need every possible advantage to get out of this mess."
I scrub my hand over my stubble, gazing out into the murky garage.If I weren't the only person in this car, I'd floor it and rip out of the garage with tires squealing.But I am not alone.
Gretchen leans closer to whisper in my ear, her tone almost erotic."Do it your way, Kirk.Burn rubber, squeal tires, and show these bastards how Scots roll.I'd love to see that."
My body tightens at her words and her breath hot on my ear.Bloody hell.This woman knows exactly how to push my buttons.
"Don't encourage him," Archie groans."His ego's already the size of Beann Dealgach."
I ignore him and lock eyes with Gretchen."You're certain that's what you want, lass?Because once we move, there's no turning back."
She gently licks my ear, coiling her tongue around it."You didn't come all this way to cower in inside a car."She slides her hand down to my groin."You are the hottest, toughest stuntman in the world, so go get 'em, cowboy."
I chuckle softly."Cowboy?I'm a Highlander, lass.There's a difference."
But her touch has done the trick, sending molten lava through my veins.My muscles tense, ready for action.Nothing like a beautiful woman's confidence to stoke a man's boldest instincts.
"Fine," I growl."Hold tight."
I rev the engine once, twice, feeling the vibrations hum through the vehicle.The sound echoes in the garage, broadcasting our intentions to whoever might be listening.Good.Let them know we're coming.
"If yer the praying sort, do it now," I tell Gretchen and Archie as I shift into gear.
Archie snorts."Already did, mate.Asked the Almighty to save me from your driving."
I ignore him and focus on plotting our exit.The garage door lies twenty yards ahead.Between us and freedom are two black sedans, parked at angles, creating a deliberate blockade."Gretchen, stay close to me.Archie, if ye've got your laptop handy, now would be the time to work some magic on those security cameras."
"Already on it, boss."His fingers fly across his keyboard."Give me thirty seconds to loop their feed."
I wrap my hands around the steering wheel, preparing for whatever might come next.The SUV's engine purrs, waiting for my command like a loyal Highland beast.
