Page 75 of Dangerous Mission
Scout glances at me, those wintery knives slicing me. “And?”
Lungs locked, I try to sound normal. “And he’s a gigantic chauvinistic ass.”
“What about Keith?”
Palms sweating cold, slick perspiration, I look out the side window. “Keith is Adam’s wingman.”
The silence gets so thick, I roll the window down and close my eyes as the humid air washes over my face.
“Why did he call you,sugar?”
Oh, the malice in that last word.
It’s probably eighty-five degrees outside, but a shiver tightens my muscles, making me cross my arms. “Because he’s a pig.”
“And you know this because?”
I sigh, fighting for patience. “Scout, are we playing fifty questions?”
If his jaw was tight a moment ago, that was nothing. The cords of his neck stand out like highway overpasses. “My radar is going off, Aria. I’m trying to keep you safe.”
“I’m safe,” I say. But I do not sound convincing at all. “I mean last night I wasn’t, but you handled that. You also handled Brundage. You took care of the crisis on the dive. But now there’s nothing to be worried?—”
He interrupts me and stops me cold. “I think someone cut the hose to your regulator.”
I open my mouth, but the only sound that comes out is a raspy wheeze as my heart drops like a stone to my stomach.
Scout swerves toward the ditch as a white SUV almost takes us out. “Mother fucker,” he shouts as he gets the truck back on the road.
Then he jams on the brakes.
An instant later we’re in reverse.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Slamming the truck into park, I lunge from out of the cab. “You nearly ran us off the goddamned road!”
Griffon Kane—eyes tight, chest puffed—stabs an irate finger toward me. “What are you doing with my sister?”
“Saving her from your idiotic driving.”
Griff tries to storm past me but I grab his arm with a brutal grip. “Don’t even think about taking your shit attitude to her doorstep.”
The sound of small, running footfalls behind me makes me grind my teeth.
“Griff! Oh my god.” Aria throws her arms around her brother. “Are you feeling okay?”
He squeezes her to him, glaring at me over the top of her head. “Somewhat better. You okay, kiddo?”
She buries her face in his chest. “I’m fine. I’m just glad you’re well enough to leave the hospital.”
He ruffles her hair, and gives her another brotherly jostle. “You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
Pulling back, she looks him over, and Griff finally drops his angry gaze from mine.
“How was the dive?”
She glances toward me. “It was fine.”