Chapter 39
Wren
I can’t stop the tears from streaming down my face. My body is shaking, and I wrap my arms around myself, trying to hold it together.
I don’t know why I’m acting this way. I knew this would happen. I was waiting for this moment to come. If anything, it’s taken a little longer than expected.
Sally is doing well. That should be good news. It is good news. But they’re going to kill her if we don’t stop them. They’re going to pull the plug and make it look like she died from her injuries, and everyone will continue to blame Grim.
And then Grim could actually die tonight, and I might never see him again.
“No, everything is not okay,” I tell Falkor, wiping my face.
“Oh dear,” the old male says, frowning. “I didn’t think so.”
“Come on.” Grim puts his hand on the small of my back. “Let’s go to the living room to talk this through.”
I let him guide me down the hallway, Falkor following close behind. My legs feel like jelly, and I’m grateful for Grim’s steadying presence.
It feels surreal that just an hour ago, my biggest worry was getting stubborn dust off the top shelf in one of the bedrooms. I had all of this in the back of my mind, but still… I thought we still had time.
Grim steers me to the couch, and I sit. He takes a seat next to me, close enough that our thighs touch. Falkor sits in his armchair, his kind eyes watching us with concern.
“What’s going on?” Falkor asks. “Did your friend call?”
He knows we’ve been waiting for a call. He knows most of what’s going on. We haven’t disclosed Drake’s name, just to be safe.
Grim rubs his chin. “Sally is recovering well from her injuries. Too well. My friend thinks they’re going to pull the plug on her soon. We have a few days at most.”
Falkor’s expression darkens. “Those bastards.”
“We told you about the video evidence at the vaccination center,” Grim continues.
Falkor nods.
“The time has come for me to get that evidence, before it’s too late.”
Falkor’s eyes widen with understanding. “You’re going to break in.”
“Yes. I’m going during the middle of the night,” Grim says. “It’s our only chance.”
My stomach twists into knots. I want to scream at him not to do it, to tell him it’s too dangerous, that he can’t risk his life like this. But I know he has to. Sally’s life depends on it. It’s the only way to clear our names.
Falkor strokes his chin, thinking. “I’m hoping you have some intel. How many guards are there? Where are they stationed? We should draw a diagram…get you ready.”
“That’s the problem.” Grim sighs. “I don’t know exactly.
My friend said there are fewer guards than before, but he doesn’t have exact numbers.
He told me they’ve set up a temporary vaccination center in the parking lot, so most of the guards are focused there.
The ones at the main building are mainly guarding the storage facility for the vaccinations.
But there are guards on general patrol. They haven’t begun repairs, so the roof is just a tarp.
I will be able to get in through there.”
“The storage facility is right next to but separate from the main building,” I say. “It’s a small structure attached to the side.”
Falkor frowns. “So you don’t know how many guards there are, where exactly they’re positioned, or what their patrol patterns might be.”
“No.” Grim’s expression is hard. “I’ll be going in blind. I know it’s not ideal.”
“That’s risky.” Falkor shakes his head. “Very risky indeed.”
“I know,” Grim says. “But I don’t have a choice. Sally doesn’t have time. Besides, the longer we wait, the more chance there is of them finding the evidence.”
Terror floods through me, cold and sharp. What if something goes wrong? What if they catch him? What if he doesn’t make it out?
I realize with startling clarity that I’ve been fooling myself this whole time. All my protests about not getting involved with Grim. About being able to compartmentalize my feelings. They were all lies. I was kidding myself.
I’m falling for him.
No, that’s not right either. I’ve already fallen. I’ve fallen hard and fast for Grim, and the thought of losing him is ripping me apart from the inside.
He probably doesn’t even see me that way. But I can’t help it. I can’t change how I feel.
I’m totally in love with him. And now he’s going to walk into danger, and I might lose him before I ever get the chance to tell him.
“I know the risk,” Grim says, his voice steady despite everything. “But I’m going to do it anyway.”
Falkor looks at him for a long moment, and I can see the respect in his eyes. “You’re a brave male, Grim. A good male. Your mother raised you right.”
Something moves across Grim’s face, but it’s gone before I can figure out what it is. He doesn’t respond, just nods once.
Falkor goes quiet, his brow furrowed. I can practically see the wheels turning in his head as he thinks through the problem. He taps his fingers on the arm of his chair, his lips pressed into a thin line.
Finally, he sits up straighter. “I have an idea.”
Grim looks at him. “What?”
“I’ll go to the center today. I’ll pretend I need my vaccination,” Falkor says. “I’ll get you the intel you need.”
“You can’t,” Grim says immediately. “You just had your vaccination the other day. It’ll be suspicious if you show up again so soon.”
“I wouldn’t want them to give you the shot twice,” I tell him. “It could be dangerous. Then again, they’ll pick it up on the system…unless the system is down. I don’t like it, Falkor.”
“I won’t let it get that far,” Falkor says. “I’ll act like a senile old man who completely forgot he already had it. That should get me in. Then it’ll suddenly come back to me that I recently had the shot. I can do it.”
He gets up and moves to the table by the window. It’s piled high with unopened mail. He riffles through it, holding up envelopes and squinting at them before tossing them aside.
“Aha!” He pulls out a white envelope with the vaccination center’s logo on it. “Here it is.”
He opens it carefully and pulls out a reminder notice. “This says I’m overdue for my vaccination. Perfect.” He holds it up triumphantly. “I’ll take this and act like I don’t remember going. I’ll be doddery and forgetful. I’ll be so good that they’ll buy it.”
“They’ll turn you away,” Grim says, but I can hear the uncertainty creeping into his voice. He’s actually considering it.
“Hopefully, I’ll have some information for you before they do,” Falkor says.
“I’ll observe everything. Don’t you worry.
I will take mental note of how many guards there are, where they’re stationed, what the patrol patterns look like.
The night shift should have fewer individuals guarding the area.
If you work on the same information as the day shift, you’ll be safe.
Or at least safer. I can’t have you going in completely blind, son.
It’s too risky. I’ll be okay. You’ll see.
I can take care of myself and think on my feet. ”
“I think that’s a good idea,” I hear myself say, chewing my lip for a few beats, while I think it through. “I agree with Falkor. You can’t go in there blind.”
Grim looks at me, surprise in his eyes.
“You’re making out like I plan on running in there half-cocked,” he says. “I plan on observing the situation first.”
“You could be caught long before you even have a chance to observe,” Falkor says. He shakes his head. “It would be better if you let me go in first. I’m just a forgetful old male. They won’t suspect a thing.”
Grim is quiet; his jaw works. I can see the conflict on his face. I know his first instinct is to protect Falkor; it’s how he’s wired. But the male is making a good case that’s hard to ignore.
“Are you sure you—?” Grim starts to say.
“I want to help,” Falkor interrupts firmly.
He takes Grim’s hand in one of his and mine in the other.
His skin is warm and papery, his grip surprisingly strong.
“They won’t do anything to an old male. I’ll be fine.
I need to do this for the two of you. For young love, even if you’re still in denial. ” He smiles.
I squeeze his hand back, my throat tight with emotion. This sweet, kind man is willing to put himself at risk for us.
“I can do this,” Falkor says, looking between us. “Trust me.”
Grim is silent for another moment. Then he nods. “Okay. As long as you’re sure.”
Falkor beams at him. “For the last time: I am! I promise.” He releases our hands and stands. “Let me go fetch my coat.”
He keeps the reminder letter clutched in his hand as he shuffles out of the room.
As soon as he’s gone, Grim pulls me into a tight hug. I collapse against him, burying my face in his chest. His arms wrap around me, solid and warm, and I can feel his heart beating steady and strong beneath my cheek.
I’m sure he can sense that I need this, because I do. I’m falling apart, piece by piece, and he’s the only thing holding me together right now. Him and hope that we’ll make it out of this.
“At least it’s good news about Sally,” he murmurs against my hair.
I nod against his chest. “I’m happy. But I’m also worried, Grim.”
His arms tighten around me. “Let’s take it one step at a time. Right now, Falkor is going to get intel. I’ll have a plan by the time I leave later.”
“I don’t like it,” I whisper.
“I don’t either,” he admits. “But it will be okay. I have to believe that.” He pulls back just enough to look down at me. “I have tactical training, Wren. I’m more than capable.”
“I know you are,” I whisper; my throat is feeling tight.
But knowing he’s capable doesn’t make me any less terrified of losing him.
“You’re not coming with me this time, Wren. We do make a good team, but—”
“It’s fine. I get it. I don’t have the training you do. I’m not nearly as silent when I walk. It doesn’t make sense for me to go, even though I want to help you.”
“You can help me by staying safe.”
I nod, then I remember something he said when he hung up the phone, and I frown.
“What did you want to tell me?”
He looks confused for a second.
“Earlier,” I clarify. “Just before Falkor came, you said there was something you needed to tell me. It was right after you got off the phone with Drake.”
Understanding dawns in his eyes, followed quickly by something I can’t quite read. He shakes his head.
“Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t important.”
“Are you sure? It seemed—”
“Yes, very sure. Let me get that phone,” he says, stepping back from me. “That’s more important than anything else right now.”
Falkor returns, wearing a coat despite the warm weather. He looks the picture of a slightly confused elderly man, which, I suppose, is exactly the point.
“I’ll be back soon,” he says. “I’ll get you the information you need, Grim.”
“I can’t thank you enough.” Grim nods.
“Nonsense.” Falkor waves him off. “You two have done so much for me. I consider you both to be dear friends. This is the least I can do.”
I stand and move to Falkor, pulling him into a hug. He smells of soap and old books, and his arms come around me in a grandfatherly embrace.
“Be careful,” I whisper against his shoulder.
“I will, dear.” He pats my back. “Don’t you worry.”
When I pull back, Grim shakes Falkor’s hand, his expression grave.
“Thank you.”
“See you both soon.” Falkor gives us one last smile, then heads for the door.
Grim and I follow him. We hear the familiar mechanical whir as the garage opens. Then we watch through the window as he pulls out of the driveway, and my heart lodges itself firmly in my throat.
Please let him be safe. Please let this work.
Grim’s hand finds mine, and we stand there together, watching until Falkor’s car disappears around the corner.
“He’ll be okay,” Grim says quietly.
I want to believe him. I really do.
But as we turn away from the window, all I can think about is how much can go wrong. How many ways this plan could fall apart.
And how, if it does, I might lose everything.