Chilled (Bone Secrets, #2)(65)

“Can you blame him? You two have been together for a while now.”

“You know I can’t.”

“Not with him,” Jim had stated quietly. “Don’t completely write off marriage simply because of what you saw with your parents, Brynn. I never dreamed I’d be the type to settle down, but I thank God for dropping Anna in my path. It just takes the right person to spin your brain around. Then you find yourself doing things you never dreamed possible.” He’d shaken his head. “I never thought I’d buy a minivan. But damn it, with two kids that thing is awesome.”

“Yeah, but you haven’t given up your Mustang.”

“I’m saving it for Chris when he gets older.”

Brynn had studied him. Jim had a wistful smile on his face, like he was imagining handing over the Mustang’s keys to a teenage son. He hadn’t looked horrified to be letting go of his most precious possession.

She and Jim had both had trouble keeping their eyes open and decided to lie down in the cargo area. She’d lain awake for a long time, thinking about Liam and about Alex.

Now inside the plane, Brynn suddenly heard Jim and Alex coming back. She could hear panting and running footsteps in the snow. Were they running a race? Uphill in the snow?

Alex shouldn’t be running. He’d had a terrible shock to his system. The huffing from the race outside grew louder, and Brynn jumped at the force with which Jim yanked open the cargo door.

“Get packed up. We’re getting out of here.” He wildly scanned the plane and spun to look outside. “Where’s Thomas?”

Her heart pounded. The determination on Jim’s face had a shadow of...fear. Fear? From Jim? Alex appeared beside him; relief flashed on his face as he spotted her. He bent over and rested his hands on his thighs as he panted, his eyes never leaving her. She felt her cheeks pale.

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Her hands clutched the back of a seat, her nails digging into the fabric. “Where’s Thomas?” Jim shouted the question. “Out there!” She gestured at the woods. “He’s been gone for a few minutes. Now what in the hell is going on?”

The two men exchanged a glance she didn’t like. Not one bit.

“Tell me! What happened?” Her breathing sped up. Alex licked at his lips and exchanged one more look with Jim. She wanted to slap them both.

“Besand’s here somewhere. We need to move out.” “Here? Where? How do you know?” “We think he spent the night in the cockpit.” “Did you see him?”

Jim shook his head. He wouldn’t look her in the eye. Something was dreadfully wrong.

“What made you think he was there?”

Jim bent over and tossed her gloves at her. “Get packed. I want to get out of here.”

She caught the gloves and hurled them back at his face. He batted them away. “Answer my question, Jim. I’m not packing up one thing until you tell me what’s going on.” She was nearly yelling, and Ryan stirred.

“What’s going on?” Ryan awkwardly slouched forward in his chair and Brynn stepped over to support his shoulders. “Fuck,” he said.

“You look like shit.” Jim stated.

“Thanks. I feel that way too.” He exhaled roughly and leaned into Brynn’s support. “Dizzy.”

Jim spun around and stomped out of the plane. Brynn realized he’d been holding his handgun where she couldn’t see it as they talked. She shot a questioning gaze to Alex. He had his gun ready too.

“Can he walk out of here?” Alex nodded at Ryan, ignoring the question in her eyes.

“I can hear you, man. Ask me.” Ryan was hoarse; his eyes closed halfway as he leaned on Brynn. She touched his forehead. Hot and dry. She gave Alex a small shake of her head.

“I saw that, Brynn. Let me decide what I can and can’t do,” the sick man muttered. He sat up again and leaned one arm on his thigh. His eyes met hers and she tried not to wince at the effort he put forth.

Ryan was very sick.

“You’re burning up with a fever. How’s your stomach?”

“Stomach’s good. Throat’s killer, and my skin hurts everywhere.”

Flu? Could he possibly have just a flu bug? His symptoms could be viral. He’d simply started with a nasty stomach virus that ripped him up and probably exasperated a new ulcer. She hoped.

Ryan sat up farther and tried to stand. He sprawled back in the seat, and Brynn helped him sit straight. “I’m not walking today. Ask me tomorrow.”

“Where’s your weapon?”

Ryan reached down between the seat and fuselage and lifted out his Glock.

Alex looked at Brynn. “You know how to use that?” She nodded. “Give it to her. Keep it on you at all times and keep an eye outside. We’ll identify ourselves before we come in. Shoot first. Ask questions later. We’re gonna find Thomas.” He held her eye contact until she nodded again. He ducked and vanished out the door.

Brynn stared after him, her heart in her throat and an icy cold gun in her numb hand. Shoot first? Could she do that?

A grin split his face as Darrin watched the two men race up the slope. Yep. They’d found his message.

How long had it taken Alex to understand it?

One second? Two?

This felt good. He’d scored a point against the other team and had set the bar. Now to see what their response would be. Would they run out of the woods with their tails between their legs? Or hunt him down?