There was a pause, and Jo knew Elias had just caught on. She hated that this was how she was seeing him again. Granted, he probably didn’t think about her at all, which was fair. It wasn’t like she’d ever gone out of her way to get his attention. He didn’t know she’d nursed this silly crush all these years.
She didn’t want to use him. But he was on the short list of people she’d trust no matter the time or place.
“I’ll be there. I’m in the black Chrysler 300.”
“Wow.” The word popped out before she could stop herself.
“I know,” Elias groaned. “It’s a company car.”
“Okay. We’ll come out in a few. And... Elias?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you.”
“Any time.”
The call ended.
She closed her eyes and mourned for what she was about to lose. Elias would have questions she couldn’t answer. She was very likely burning this bridge.
Jo had to.
It was that, or this job might very well kill her.
“Ride’s here,” she announced to Isaac.
“Fucking finally,” he muttered.
She ignored her irritable companion and crossed to the door.
The two cars were still out there, just as they’d been before. She could make out two people in the front seat of either vehicle. And now a third. A black Chrysler 300 cutting between them and the cars watching them.
Jo held her breath as Elias navigated the car so that it was as close to the entry as possible. At this hour there wasn’t much foot traffic. Of course she’d thought that would be a bonus when she made this plan, back when she assumed she was one of the first out of the gate.
She snatched her backpack up off the floor and glanced around. They’d been allowed to remain in the hangar after paying off some of the flight crew. Now it was time to make their move.
“Come on,” she said to Isaac.
“You first.”
She rolled her eyes and reached under her jacket, gripping her Glock.
One well-aimed shot and she’d be dead before she even saw Elias again.
“Stay close,” she said over her shoulder.
Jo darted out the side door. She stuck to the deeper shadows of the building and jogged toward the exit, doing her best to keep anything between her and those other cars.
The closer she got, the less stuff there was to hide behind until it was forty feet of asphalt.
She was beyond playing it safe.
Jo pushed forward, going from a slow jog to a sprint. Isaac was behind her, cursing and muttering to himself. He wasn’t abandoning her, that was for sure a good sign.
Thirty feet and so far it was clear.
Twenty feet and the car to the east turned its headlights on.
At fifteen feet, the other car lurched out of its parking space.
Jo threw herself forward, her mind blaring all the worst possible outcomes at her.
She clawed at the front door, yanked it open and collapsed into the car.
“Get out of here, man,” Isaac yelled from the back seat with one leg still hanging out of the car.
To Elias’s credit, he reacted immediately. One glance at her. One at Isaac. Then the car shot forward.
Jo knew she should be checking license plates and trying to identify who was watching her, but she only had eyes for Elias. With the dome light still on, she could see his profile and with it came all the memories she’d locked away of him. All those moments she’d stolen a bit of time with him or watched him without his knowledge.
His sandy brown hair was longer, falling over his brow now. Deep lines creased his face and his lips curved into a frown. He was still so very handsome to her.
Damn, but he looked as good, if not better, than the first day she’d seen him stretched out on that cot.
WEDNESDAY. SEATTLE, Washington.
God damn.
Elias gripped the wheel tightly, his gaze focused on the road, while his entire body was hyperaware of the woman next to him.
Her deep, auburn hair was pulled back into a ponytail, making her facial features more prominent. She had this look about her, like she might be a pixie with her slightly pointed nose and tendency to squint. Her grey-blue eyes were burned into his memory, shining with a mischievous light that had always endeared her to him.
How long had it been? Three, five years?
He wouldn’t say that Jo looked the same, but it was damn good to get to see her. Good enough that he momentarily forgot all of his questions.
“I think we’re good,” the man in the backseat said.
Elias clenched his jaw.
Right.
Jo was traveling with a guy.
Who was he to her? A boyfriend? Husband? Friend? Coworker? A brother he’d never heard about?
Bright headlights reflected back at him in the rearview mirror.
Elias squinted at the road and then his mirrors.
Jo had her hands braced on the armrest and door and her feet against the floorboard. She was prepared for anything and watching for a threat. Elias assessed everything in a single glance. Something was wrong. Jo was normally cool under pressure. She had a level head and didn’t sweat things until they were dire. If he could see she was worried, things were bad.
He turned the car suddenly down a narrow alley way.
Given how often they had to traverse the city in high conflict situations, one aspect of Elias’ job had been to develop alternate routes to get where they needed to be.
The car directly behind them swerved wildly to make the turn, but it cost them distance and speed.
“At least one of them is following us,” Elias said, stating the obvious.
“What?” the guy in the back seat croaked out.
“Chill out, Isaac,” Jo snapped.
“Friends or what?” Elias peered into the rearview mirror.
He hadn’t been able to discern much about the car behind them. Four doors. Dark color. No idea about the make or model.
Damn. Talk about being off his game.
He took his foot off the accelerator as they neared the alley exit onto the next city street.
This close to the airport during the holidays, the streets were busy. Not packed, but there weren’t breaks in the traffic.
“Hold on,” Elias said, then pressed the accelerator.
“Wait,” Jo yelped.
He didn’t wait.
The car shot out into traffic. The tires squealed as he executed a tight turn into the right most lane, cutting off a sleek two door sports car. The driver slammed on the horn, but Elias didn’t care. He cut left, barely squeezing into a car sized space between two trucks.
“I don’t know where the other car is. Keep a look out for that one,” he said.
“We’re going to die,” Isaac moaned.
“We are not,” Jo snapped. “Now, shut up and put your seat belt on.”
“What’s going on here, Jo?” he asked.
It was time for some answers.
When Jo didn’t jump in with an explanation, he stole a glance at her.
Jo’s face was twisted and creased in a full-body cringe.
Either she couldn’t tell him because of who was in the car, or she wouldn’t tell him because of the nature of what she was doing.
She darted a look his way, and he saw fear in her eyes. Jo the Fearless was afraid.
Fuck.
“Elias? You’re the only person I can trust right now,” she said.