Page 31 of Shadow Games

Wyatt cupped her face in his hands. “Hey, we’re getting though this. Take a breath. We’re doing okay.” Then he winced. “Well, we’re doing okay as long as we grabbed the necklace.”

“Yes, ‘we’ did. It’s in my bag. I think,” she said negligently.

He smiled at her. “I’m glad ‘we’ did. That would have been a bit of a wrench in the plans if we’d lost it.”

She nodded, leaning into his cupped hand. “I want to go back to last night.”

His body warmed as he thought about what they’d done. “I do, too. We’ll get through this and we’ll have a bunch more nights like last night. Okay?”

“Yes,” she breathed. “Oh, God…” she moaned. “My uncle is going to kill me.”

Chuckling, Wyatt pulled her into a hug. “I think he’ll be happy you’re okay.”

“Maybe,” she said, but she sounded doubtful. “So, where are we going now?”

Wyatt sat back in his seat. “I don’t know. Maybe we should just pick a rural farm on a dirt road and find a place to hide. The sun will be coming up soon, and if anyone is looking for this truck it’ll be easy to spot.”

Rowan sighed. “Sounds as good as anything else, I guess.”

They drove for an hour, taking winding back roads until even Wyatt had no idea where he was. Then he found a farm that had a ‘Land for sale’ sign at the end of the driveway. It appeared vacant. No lights on, the white plank fences sagging. It looked pretty derelict for the area. He took the overgrown gravel driveway up the hill, then parked behind the old farmhouse. Though the building itself seemed sound, most of the windows had been busted out of the house. There was an old truck in the driveway, lopsided on three wheels. It looked like it hadn’t run for more than thirty years.

The view at the top of the hill was amazing though. Long, rolling hills and forests of trees. Rowan loved the look of the terrain. She could imagine riding a horse out here, though she’d never been on one in her life.

“I don’t think anyone will find us out here.”

He let Echo out and she scouted around, looking interested. Rowan got out just to stretch her legs. “I have to pee,” she said, taking a napkin from her bag.

Wyatt watched her tromp into the woods and go behind a tree. There was a brisk wind blowing over the hill, and he felt bad she had to put her bare ass to the wind. He opened up the back hatch, wondering if they’d gotten everything. Well, the important things, anyway. His guns were here. He doubted he had a lot of clothes. He’d grabbed his go bag but his dirty clothes from last night were ash on the wind by now.

Rowan stalked back to the truck through the overgrown yard, her mouth pursed. “That was cold,” she grumbled. She’d managed to grab his sweatshirt on the way out the door, and it was her only protection against the cold. He thought his overshirt might be in Echo’s seat. Opening the back door, he spied the flannel. “It had a bloodstain, but you’re welcome to wear it.”

She shrugged it on immediately. “Thank you. Aren’t you cold?”

“No. Too much excitement for me to be cold.”

“Do you miss being a SEAL?”

Wyatt took a moment to think about the question. “Certain parts of it, yes. I liked being able to go in and help people. I certainly don’t miss the command structure, though.”

“On your mountain, you’re the only one you have to listen to, huh?” She gave him a lopsided smile.

“Well, Echo gets pretty bossy at dinner time.”

The dog leapt out of the tall grass, ears perked, as if she’d heard her name. “Get the rabbit, Echo.”

The dog turned tail and disappeared into the brush.

“Will she find a rabbit?”

“More than likely. Let’s sit in the cab.”

They climbed back into the vehicle and watched the dog hunt. At least now they were out of the brisk wind. Her cheeks had gone ruddy with the cold.

“I think we ought to call the cartel.”

He looked at her. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “If they’ll leave me alone if I give them the necklace? Yes. I certainly don’t plan on keeping it.”