“No.” He took a hand off the wheel to rest it over hers.
“That’s all I get?” she pressed.
“For now.”
She leaned back by slow degrees and exhaled slowly. Definitely weird.
She was good at picking up vibes, especially from Church. If it were dangerous, she would feel it. After all that happened, her instincts were honed to the sharpness of a blade.
Still…her nerves were snapping as fast as the miles he was putting between them and the Black Heart Tactical Training Facility.
They drove in silence with the road stretching out ahead. The sun was going down, lighting the world in a glow that offered Zee a measure of calm in the storm going on inside the truck.
Then Church made a turn and she realized where they were going.
The movie set.
“Are they doing some last-minute filming?”
“Hm?” He darted a glance at her as if she pulled him out of some deep thought. “No, they’re wrapped now.”
As always when they drove this bit of road, her gaze lifted to the landscape. The sun dipping low, casting everything in that soft gold she adored.
This was where she’d scattered Matt’s ashes. Where all hell had broken loose.
Where she’d said goodbye to one chapter and walked straight into danger.
She dug her fingers into her thighs, waiting for the pain to grab her like it always did. Only this time it didn’t.
Surprise washed through her, and then more surprise when she realized there was no pain that had to flow away.
She turned her head to look out at the land. She’d always known this place would be special. But she’d expected it to leave her with a sharp pang every time she came near it. Instead it felt different. Not empty. Just…resolved.
She’d made the right choice for Matt. For herself, and she only felt peace.
Layered over that were memories she hadn’t expected to have here—of her and Church. Moments of laughter as they drove to and from the movie set. Silence that never felt heavy. And the times he’d parked along the road so they could watch the sky.
A lump of emotion bottled in her throat, and love, as bright and shining as the sun, filled her. She let out a small sigh, realizing that this place didn’t bring anything but happiness.
Church slowed the truck and turned off the main road. When he bumped into a patch of flattened grass, she gripped the seat. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” His voice came out choked, and perspiration gleamed on his face.
“Are you having chest pains? Are you okay?”
He threw her a look like he was about to be sick. “I’m older than you but I’m not dying, Zee.”
“Well, I just have to…you know. Check on my dad.” She threw him a wobbly smile but her attempt at a joke was only met by Church’s slightly pinched look.
He pulled into the field and cut the engine. The sudden silence felt like a living thing.
She twisted to face him. “Okay. Now what’s going on?”
He didn’t answer. He just nodded toward her door. “Come on. Get out.”
Suspicion flickered through her, followed by curiosity. She stepped out and her boots hit the dirt.
She looked down and froze.
