Page 48 of Covert Mission
Great, here we go. Justice better get ready for a flying woman to land on his back.
“To ourcabinas.”
Yep. Here it comes. Belle grins wildly. But Justice starts carrying our extra supplies to the back of the truck. “Our team rented out these great little places just down the road.”
Belle hangs on his every word.
Thankfully, we stowed most of the provisions in the undamaged truck this afternoon. We only have a few boxes of snacks, water, first-aid kits, and personal care kits to put away.
Belle follows along behind him, carrying a large box. “Does it have running water?”
“Yep, running water and fans.”
“I’m all yours.” She pronounces loudly as she shoves her armful into the truck. “Lead me to this magical abode.”
Justice chuckles. “Round up your guys. Belle, you can stay with me. One of the men can stay with Truck. The other can stay with Scout. Sounds like Camile is staying with Beast.”
“Great,” she chirps as she practically levitates out of her shoes. “I’ll get the guys now.”
I’m left to my own devices. Justice knows that I’m with Beast. Whatever that means.
I’m not going to contemplate that ridiculous train of thought right now. I just can’t. It’s beyond my tired brain’s comprehension level.
Beast returns to me a few seconds later after finishing his chat with whoever was on his secret bat-ring thing. He’s got hiswarriorface on. The one I glimpsed behind the truck when he snatched me out of harm’s way.
A weird kind of relief tumbles through me, softening my stiff muscles. But I hate depending on someone. Men especially. I vowed to never need one again.
“We should get out of sight.” He lifts the food. “No use getting into a ruckus if we don’t have to.”
As I put away the clipboards and do one more check of our space, I avoid his eyes. “I figured a man like you’d be spoiling for a fight.”
He’s silent until I look at him.
“A smart man knows when to evade.”
Why do I feel there’s more meaning to those words than what’s on the surface?
He searches my face in brooding silence.
What does he see when he looks at me like that?
I guess something that pisses him off.
With a scowl that would scare the bark off a tree, he demands, “Going to make me carry your ass this time?”
Jerk.
“I’ll walk. But it doesn’t mean I’m happy about going.”
I stride off leaving him where he’s standing.
Behind me, he laughs darkly. “Maybe some of these tamales will change your mind.”
Not likely.
“You can have them. I’ll just eat a snack bar or something from my pack.”
His thudding footfalls catch up to me. “The fuck? You haven’t eaten a damn thing all day. Am I going to have to force feed you as well?”