Chapter 12
Twelve
GRAYSON
Sweat dripped in places I didn’t know existed, and my muscles felt like they’d been chewed up and spit out by a meat grinder. My face had a layer of grime, and my typical luscious locks were flat and damp. It was not a look I enjoyed. At all.
Everyone made fun of my love affair with beauty products, but I’d maintained I was a low-maintenance man, trusting I could tough it out with the best of them.
I didn’t want to admit I might be wrong.
Because fuck this shit. I craved a day at the spa. Being pampered and waited on sounded like heaven. If Darcie was beside me, it would be. I’d gladly embrace a high-maintenance label if it meant I got to be clean and moisturized.
“If I didn’t know Darcie and Maddox had passed this, I’d think we were being punked,” I huffed, wiping sweat from my brow. I screwed up my nose when my hand came away dirtier than it had been. Gross.
“I’m not sure we aren’t,” Brooks groaned. Bubba grunted, unwilling to use any of his oxygen for words if Darcie wasn’t around.
The first test had been easy—a written test on laws, morals, and ethical dilemmas. The three of us had finished quickly, luring us into a false sense of security. The second test had been on using weapons, stamina, and fighting. Tiny had enjoyed that round a little too much. Brooks had done the best with Bubba close behind, leaving me in third. My earlier confidence had crashed and burned along with my hygiene.
The final test they’d, thankfully, allowed us to do together, but I wasn’t sure it was the advantage they believed. We’d been dropped off in the middle of some random town with only the things we had in our pockets. The very same pockets we’d emptied before stepping into the ring with Tiny. Mack had grinned so wide when he’d dropped us off that I’d been able to see his tonsils. It did not bode well for our success on this last task.
Our mission: locate the missing asset, secure a location, and send an encrypted message for pick up. All while staying off the radar of the other MCD graduates playing the bad guys. Oh, and there was a time limit.
If we failed, our asset would be destroyed, and we’d lose Hank’s blessing to be with Darcie. Not that I believed for one second she’d dump us, but damn if I didn’t want to earn that man’s respect. Darcie was angry with him right now, but it wouldn’t be like that forever. I didn’t want her to feel torn between us and him. Not to mention the part of me who’d never had a dad figure and craved that connection. Add in Hank’s belief this was the difference between keeping us and Darcie alive and we needed to crush this.
As it was going, it didn’t look hopeful.
Brooks turned the map we’d been given, and I scanned the clues sheet. It was written in code, more gibberish than informative. For some reason, my eyes kept scanning it, something sticking out on the page to my brain. I wiped my brow again, squinting against the sun and cursing the heat.
Who knew Mississippi was hotter than Satan’s balls? This heat was criminal.
“This looks like the best place to stay once we have the asset. It’s got multiple exits and plenty of barriers for cover.”
“This one is better,” Bubba said, pointing to a place on the map.
“It’s a trap,” I said, flicking my gaze to it and then back to my sheet. “Brooks is right. They want you to pick that one, but it’s actually the worst possible.”
“Why?” Bubba glared, crossing his barrel-like arms across his chest.
“It’s in the center of town for one. They’ll be able to overtake us and block us in. It’s also too open. There’s no coverage.”
“What’s those if not escape routes?” Bubba argued, pointing at something.
“They lead to dead ends,” Brooks said patiently.
“Shit.” Bubba frowned, squinting as he surveyed the area we’d hunkered down in. We’d been here for an hour already sweating our asses off. We needed to move before we became sitting ducks.
I scanned over the code again, repeating it in my head when something clicked. Bolting upright, I grabbed the map from Brooks and searched it until I spotted the area.
“Brooks, you’re a genius!” I grabbed his face and kissed him smack dab on the lips, making a big wet sound.
“Um, thanks?” he asked, staring at me dumbfounded.
“I know where the asset is. Let’s go. I got a girl to kiss.”
“Speaking of… that’s not a thing, right? I love you, Brother, but not like that.”
I waved him off. “You wish my lips were for you, but hate to break it to ya, they’re only for Darcie.”
“But… you… I…” Brooks stuttered. Clearly, my kiss was so powerful it had rendered him speechless.
“Ignore him. He gets touchy-feely at the thought of being reunited with his hair products,” Bubba teased, patting Brooks on the shoulder.
I flipped them both off over my shoulder and headed down the road. Their footsteps sounded behind me until they caught up, trusting me as they followed me to a diner. This was where I’d shine.
“Stay here,” I ordered, stepping into the AC and sighing happily. First, I visited the restroom and splashed water on my face. The cool water was a welcome relief on my flushed skin. After a quick wipe down of my pits and face, I wetted my hair and tousled it, praying it was enough. When I stepped into the diner portion, I bypassed the young girl batting her eyes at me, and headed straight for the older woman.
The girl pouted, but I knew who to charm to gather information, and it wasn’t her. She got attention from every male who entered this place, while the older lady was ignored and tolerated. Yet she’d be the one to have overheard any gossip. I guaranteed it.
I smiled and leaned against the counter. “Something tells me you’re more than a pretty face.”
The haggard lady sighed, stopping her task of wiping down menus, and graced me with a look so cold I could feel it in my bones. “Your charm won’t work on me, boy. Try that one.” She pointed vaguely in the direction of the younger girl.
“Nah. I’m not looking for a girl. My heart’s already owned by someone.”
That made her pause, and she eyed me closer. “What you want then?”
“Like I said, you strike me as the person in this town who knows everything. I’m sure there’s plenty you could teach me about life and love, and one day, I’ll come back and let you fill my head with it over a piece of your best pie. Because let’s be frank,” I glanced at her nametag, “Margie, we both know you got a stellar one.” Her shoulders relaxed, and her eyes softened but her frown didn’t lessen. “I’m on a critical mission and need your help to succeed.”
She eyed me, taking in my features closer this time. “I’m listening.”
Smiling brightly, I gushed poor Margie’s ear off about Darcie and wanting to impress her dad, and the only way to do that was to locate a rare item dear to his heart. By the time I finished my tale of woe—including being stranded with no phone, money, or transportation—not only did I have Margie smiling and blushing, but I had an offer to borrow her husband’s truck if I could get it started.
“It just so happens I’m a mechanic. As payment for your kindness, I’ll fix it before I return it,” I said around a mouthful of pie. Oh, yeah. She’d also given me pie. And it was fucking amazing.
She patted my hand. “You’re a good boy. You’ll make your girl proud.”
“Thank you, Margie. I hope so. She’s the best.”
Once I finished a second piece—which I only felt marginally bad about—Margie showed me to the back. There was a box of lost and found and a donation box of clothes that had never made it to drop off. After finding the three of us different clothes and looks, I headed to the front, where Bubba and Brooks waited.
Whistling, I watched as they took me in. I’d donned a flannel shirt, a trucker hat, and the ugliest pair of cargo pants I’d ever seen, but they were clean.
“I don’t even want to know,” Bubba said.
“You’ll thank me later. Come on. I got us some wheels, but it needs some TLC, and I need more than one set of hands.”
The truck took a little more work than I’d anticipated, but Brooks and I managed to get it up and running. Margie had come out to meet my friends, offering them refreshments and their own piece of pie. I tried to act heartbroken about sharing the pie, but Margie swatted me off with a stern look that I was too afraid to challenge.
Bubba smirked the whole time he ate his pie and I had to keep myself from shoving it in his face. Only because it would be cruel to the pie to be wasted.
“All right, let’s go!” I shouted once the truck had roared to life. We climbed in and waved to Margie, promising to bring Darcie by. Brooks navigated me to the location while Bubba kept a lookout. We’d all changed our appearance, hopefully buying us a little more coverage. Well, somewhat. It was hard to disguise Bubba’s beard, and he’d nixed my idea of shaving it. Spoilsport.
“Now what?”
“We wait.” Shutting off the engine, we rolled down the windows and slunk down into the truck. The night sky had turned a kaleidoscope of colors, taking with it the oppressive heat. It was still humid as hell, but without the blazing sun raining down on us, it felt slightly cooler—like maybe a degree.
“You’re sure this is the right place?” Brooks asked after we’d been there for thirty minutes.
“Yep. Margie confirmed it.”
“You’re sure putting a lot of faith in an old woman,” Bubba grumbled.
“By all means, take your crack at the code and tell me I’m wrong.”
Bubba huffed but didn’t deny I was right. What my eyes had kept seeing and not understanding in the code was three letters always together in each word: MAC, which also corresponded to the map that was set in grids. I’d pinpointed where the three points crossed and confirmed with Margie what this place was by suggesting I’d like to get Hank some memorabilia from his time as a truck driver.
Lo and behold, the location was a semi-truck dealership. And to my surprise, an antique store on the same lot sold and collected old model trucks and trains. I’d bet my hair products that the big warehouse was a trap, and the actual location with the asset was the antique store. Something we would’ve missed if I hadn’t taken the time to chat up an old lady.
There was a lot to be said for charm and kindness.
Once it was completely dark, I nodded to the guys. It was go time.
“Bubba, you’re on lookout. Whistle three times if someone is coming. Brooks and I will retrieve the asset. Once we have him, I’ll signal twice to bring the truck around. We’ll then head to the safe house that Brooks identified.”
“It’s weird that he’s taking charge, right?” Brooks asked, tilting his head toward Bubba.
“Yep.”
I rolled my eyes. “It’s not that I can’t; I just prefer not to. I’d much rather be told what to do so I don’t have to spend my brain cells worrying about where to be.”
“And there he is. Phew. For a minute, I was worried we’d entered some personality swap and I’d have to be the pretty one.”
“I hate you both. Just for that, no one gets to share in my reward.”
Brooks’ eyes widened, and he hastened his steps as I took off, attempting to change my mind. Smiling, I ignored him as I peeked into the window and spotted Mack.
“Who’s dumb now?” I grumbled, slapping Brooks.
The door was unlocked, and Mack’s head snapped up when we entered, his eyes wide and full of surprise, and I knew I’d been right. We’d almost walked into a trap. He came easily with us, and I whistled to Bubba to bring the truck around.
Unfortunately, Big Bertha, as I’d lovingly named the truck, did not appreciate Bubba’s touch, and she wouldn’t start. The noise drew the men waiting for us in the other building.
“Shit. We gotta go. Now!” Brooks shouted as I sweet-talked the old girl.
“It’s all right, baby. He didn’t mean that.” I reconnected a hose and wrapped a torn piece of fabric around the filter, praying it would hold until I could get it in the shop. “Try now!”
Brooks turned the key, and the truck sputtered. “Come on, sugar. Purr for us.”
Just as the footsteps grew louder, the truck roared to life. I whooped, slammed the hood, rounded the truck, and jumped into the bed. Tiny and a guy I didn’t know panted as they ran after us, but Big Bertha was too fast for them. I blew them a kiss, and they laughed, waving us off. Sitting back, I daydreamed about how I’d spend my time with Darcie once I had my hands on her.
Once I had a shower, of course. Although…I wouldn’t rule out a combined shower. Oh yeah, this prize was going to be the best. I guess there were valid things to do with my head other than looking good, but I wouldn’t make it a habit.
Sweating and thinking. Full body shudder. Did not recommend.
Now, to find a spa we could visit on our way back to Kentucky.