Page 23 of Fighting Salvation

“You should tell the team. At the very least, let Bás know what’s going on.”

“I will when the time is right.” He glanced back behind them as Bás moved around. “We have a lot going on right now, but after.”

“Hah, when don’t we have a lot going on?”

“True story. Listen, we’re going to be landing soon so you should get back to your seat.”

Standing Val squeezed his massive shoulder. “Okay.”

The landing was smooth and clean but Bás still gripped the armrest like he was strangling it.

“So we have a safehouse here?”

They were in a rental car with Bás driving from the airport, her riding shotgun, and Hurricane catching a nap in the back.

“Yep, had it for years. Lotus and Rykov are already there waiting for us.”

“I can’t wait to see Lotus.”

“That makes one of us.”

“Hey, be nice.”

“I am nice.”

“Hmmm. You know she only gives shit to the people she loves. It’s how she shows affection.”

“I know.”

He turned and winked at her and she had to stop her jaw from dropping in response. That was some powerful stuff and her heart was racing like she’d just gone hiking with Bein. Shit, she was in trouble if he decided to do that too often. Val laid a hand on her chest and saw him smirk as he looked at the passing surroundings. His forearms flexed as he drove and she had to clench her legs together and sit on her hands to stop from touching him.

“I’m going to drop Hurricane off and go straight out and meet a contact before I grab some food for us all. Do you want to come with me?”

Well, it wasn’t a date but she guessed he was trying to make peace. And an hour alone with him would be nice, even if it was some sick form of self-torture. “Sounds good to me.”

He drove them through the gates of a large but slightly run-down property about a mile away from any other homes. They were roughly five kilometres outside Pretoria and the house offered great sightlines all the way around. She knew from her experience with other safe houses that the outside would in no way match the actual security of the property. The objective was to blend in, not go high-tech and stand out like a sore thumb.

Hurricane jumped out and turned to Bás. “Don’t forget lots of meat. I can’t live on rabbit food.”

Bás rolled his eyes but nodded. “Sure.”

The ride to Pretoria was quiet as she took in the beauty of the place. She’d only been to South Africa once before, and that was Johannesburg for a conference on the taming and training of wild animals and how it correlated to dog training. She’d found it interesting but also slightly heartbreaking to see such majesty being lessened somehow.

Bás parked the car on the side of the road and got out, coming to her side before she had the chance to open the door.

She frowned as he helped her out. “I can manage.”

“I know.”

He gave her another one of those sexy winks and she narrowed her eyes at him.

“What?”

“What are you up to?”

He shrugged his shoulder as he moved her to the inside of the sidewalk. “Nothing.”

“You’re acting weird.”