Coop’s eyes grew as big as saucers. He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her with him as they ran for the door.
As a last-second thought, Brynnon scooped her computer bag up as she passed by it. She and Coop ran out the door and down the porch steps. They’d only made it a few yards when a deafening sound filled the night air, the powerful rush of heat sending them both flying.
****
“Where is she?” Grantdemanded, pushing his way into the hotel room.
Coop stepped aside. “Bathroom. She just got off the phone with her brother a little while ago. He was pretty upset, which only added to her anxiety level. I suggested she take a shower to help her relax.”
“When you called, you said she’d hit her head. Should she be doing that alone?”
Shrugging, Coop smirked. “Sort of figured you’d frown upon my joining her.”
It took less than a second for Grant to invade his teammate’s personal space. “Do I look like I’m in the mood for fucking jokes? She could’ve been killed.”
“I know,” Coop shot back, suddenly serious. “I was there, remember? I’m fine, by the way. Thanks for asking.”
Shit.He was right. This was his friend. His teammate. And he hadn’t bothered asking if he was okay.
From the moment Coop called to tell him what happened, Grant hadn’t been able to think straight. Pictures of deadly scenes he’d witnessed as a SEAL. Along with all the what-ifs, horrific memories from what felt like a lifetime ago played through his mind.
Grant knew the only thing to put it to an end would be to see Brynnon with his own two eyes. To touch her and know for a fact that she was okay.
He could hear the water running from behind the closed bathroom door. Coop had explained over the phone that their boss had instructed him to bring her to a hotel, rather than back to her condo.
Grant looked back at his teammate. For the first time since barging in, he noticed the scrapes on Coop’s cheek and chin, stark reminders of just how deadly the explosion could’ve been.
Coop grabbed his shoulder and squeezed, snapping him away from his thoughts.
“It’s okay, man. I get it. But like I told you on the phone, she really is okay. We got thrown by the blast but landed in the grass. The snow helped break our fall.” Though he tried to hide it, a slight shadow fell over Coop’s eyes when he added. “We got out of there just in time.”
Trying not to imagine how close they’d both come to dying tonight, Grant gave his teammate a jerky nod and took a step backward. “What the fuck happened?”
“Someone blew up your girlfriend’s cabin.”
Grant snarled. “I’m serious, Sean.”
“So am I.”
Coop walked over and grabbed a soda from the fridge. With his outstretched hand, he offered it to Grant, but he declined. Closing the small refrigerator, Coop popped open the can and leaned against the kitchenette’s counter before giving him the full story about what went down.
“We were about halfway to the city when Brynnon realized she’d forgotten her computer. I turned around and drove us back to the cabin. She ran inside to get it. I waited a few minutes then went in to make sure she was okay. I’d just walked through the door when she came running at me from the kitchen screaming about a bomb and yelling at me to run.” He took a sip of soda. “I pulled her with me and hauled ass out of there. Made it to the middle of the yard when it detonated. We’ve both got some bumps and bruises but are otherwise fine.”
Coop’s description of what went down left Grant even more shaken than before. Running a hand down his face, he told his friend, “Thank you.”
“Don’t have to thank me for that. I’m just glad she found the bomb when she did.”
Grant clinched his teeth tightly together. “Where was it?”
“Inside a duffle bag on the kitchen floor. Someone broke in through the back door after we left. At first, Brynnon saw the bag and thought maybe you’d left it. She opened it up and...well, you know the rest. Ryker sent a couple of bomb techs out to the scene. He’ll let us know what they find.”
“Christ.” Grant shook his head. Too worked up to stand still, he walked over to the large window overlooking the city.
He knew all too well the way some bombs worked. Some could be picked up and turned every which way and not go off. Others were designed to detonate with even the slightest of movements. If the one Brynnon found had been like the latter, she would’ve died the second she began unzipping that fucking bag.
Like when he first heard the news, Grant suddenly found himself precariously close to losing his shit. Tempted to punch a hole in the fucking glass, Grant shoved his hands roughly into his pockets.
Clamping his jaw shut, he took a few seconds to tamper the fear and anger bubbling up inside before asking, “The cabin?”
