WILLOW #5
My ears are peeled for any footsteps behind us as we make our way through, but I hear nothing but sirens in the distance.
We approach the entrance of the alley, both of us breathing heavily.
A man crosses in front of us, and we stop until they pass.
I feel her body seize next to me. They aren’t dressed like an employee of the estate, but I’m not taking the chance of them seeing us.
It’s not a busy street, but if we’re seen, they’ll surely inform them.
This town is run by the cartel, and everyone would be too afraid not to report it.
After the person is out of sight, I wait for a minute to pass. When I’m positive that they are gone, we leave the alley and head in the direction of the car, which is thankfully in the opposite direction that the pedestrian was headed.
As we approach, Grey’s standing on the side of the car holding the first aid kit.
The scowl he levels me with is legendary.
It’s sweet that he wants to patch her up and all, but I don’t have time for that shit.
We need to get in the car, and get the fuck out of dodge.
Her people are waiting at the rally point, and I don’t particularly feel like getting shot again.
“Gig, alert the family that we’re in route,” I order through the earpiece as I walk past Grey and open the door to the back seat, gently helping her lay down to try and get more comfortable.
“Already done, plane’s on standby,” Gig voices in my ear.
I shut the door, ready for the petal to hit the metal, only to be met with Grey giving me his signature glare as he just stands there.
“Give me the keys or start driving. We really don’t have time to argue about whatever I did to piss you off in your head right now,” I say while walking to the passenger seat. I know he won’t actually let me drive.
He takes a second and then starts moving. He climbs into the driver’s seat, starts the car, and drives like Ms. Daisy down the winding streets of the small town. I rattle off directions as we go.
We’re on a long, winding road alongside a cliff that overlooks the ocean. Silence is heavy, but I don’t miss him trying to avoid as many potholes as possible. “You’re bleeding all over the seat,” Grey says, white-knuckling the steering wheel, keeping his eyes forward.
I realize that I completely forgot about the “getting shot” thing, not even feeling it until he pulled my attention to it—thank you, adrenaline.
“Ehh, I wasn’t planning on getting my security deposit back for the rental car, anyways,” I reply with a shrug and look back to the road, now aware of the stinging in my side as I try to shift and find a position that is more comfortable.
He just had to point it out, fucking asshole.
He grunts and tightens his hands on the wheel.
Pretty sure he’ll break it clean off if he grips it any harder.
There’s a vein popping out of his forehead.
He needs to relax more; being that tense can’t be good for his blood pressure.
I open my mouth to tell him just that, but I think better of it and keep that bit of advice to myself for now. I’ll tell him when he’s calmer.
Reaching the rally point, we’re met with two black cars.
As we pull up, one of the back doors of the first car opens, and an older man steps out.
I recognize him immediately from the picture that the girl’s father sent me.
He wanted to come, but I reminded him that he was too recognizable.
If anyone spotted him, it’d jeopardize the entire mission and his daughter’s safety.
He’d reluctantly agreed the best bet would be to send someone that he trusts completely to get her from me and bring her back home.
When Grey brings the car to a stop, I open my door and get out without hesitation. Grey curses, shoving opens his own door and rushing to my side. I look at him, eyebrows crinkled in confusion, but he just ignores me, turning his glare at the men approaching as I help the girl out of the back seat.
Over my shoulder, she spots the older man standing in the middle of the cars and starts crying.
She shoves past me, and I watch on in pride as she hobbles as fast as her injuries will allow her.
He matches her as he hurries forward. When they meet, she throws herself into his arms, sobbing into his dress shirt.
The older man looks over the top of her head, and making eye contact with me, lifts his hand to cradle the back of her head into his chest as he rubs her back with the other.
“Thank you so much for returning my granddaughter. The transfer was completed the second she got out of the car.” His voice is strained as he tries to hold back his emotions in front of everyone around us.
I just nod and turn back to the car, climbing back into the passenger seat.
The second that my door closes, Grey joins me. The ride to the airport is blissfully silent. Though, I’m pretty sure the asshole next to me is about to implode.