Page 24 of Keeping Astrid

The speed with which the car was traveling diminished, and Astrid sat up. Buzzing sounded in her ears, and her body felt light, as if she wasn’t there.

The sirens got louder and, glancing out the shattered back window, she saw flashing lights in the distance.

“I pinpointed your position when you told me the driver turned off. I’ll relay that information to the police, and they can continue to pursue the perp.” Cass sounded calm, as if this was a normal thing for her.

How can being shot at be normal?

“They’re not going to find him. He’s dumped the car and ran. Probably got someone to meet him somewhere.” Growler said as he brought the car to a stop in a strip mall parking lot.

A sharp knock sounded on Growler’s side of the car, and Astrid jumped at the sound. A police officer filled the space, and Growler got out.

“Is that the police?” Cass queried.

“Yes, Growler’s gotten out and is speaking to them.”

Astrid’s whole body shook. The adrenaline from the last few minutes dissipated out of her.

“I need to go, Astrid, but you’re safe with Callum. He’s a good one.”

Astrid heard what Cass was saying, but it was as if she was listening to her in a tunnel, the words muffled and seeming to come from a distance. Dimly, she was aware that she’d dropped the phone on her lap. Her mind was a dense fog. Nothing made sense to her. It was as though she was present, but wasn’t at the same time.

Something warm brushed the top of her hand. Trailed up her arm until it cupped her cheek. “Astrid, you’re safe. You’re okay.”

There it was. That growly voice that represented safety. A voice that seemed to always be there when she needed it. “Callum?”

“Yeah, Comet, it’s me. Let’s get you out of the car, huh?”

All she could do was nod. Her surroundings were beginning to come back into focus. Her door was open, but she didn’t remember doing it. Or even seeing it happen.

How long had she been locked in her little vortex?

Long enough for another few squad cars to pull up. Astrid counted four in the lot surrounding.

“Are you hurt?” Growler asked as he led her to the front of the car.

Astrid did a mental check of her body. Nothing appeared to be hurting. She could move her fingers and toes, and as she’d walked from the side of the car to the front—her legs worked.

“I think I’m good.”

It was then she noticed the trickle of blood on Growler’s neck. She reached up and touched the flesh below it. “How did this happen?”

Growler shrugged. “Not sure, maybe a piece of glass from the back window when it was shot out.”

How could he sound so relaxed? They’d been shot at. Chased, and he was acting as if this was a normal Wednesday morning.

Then again, he’d been in the military. He more than likely endured far worse than what had happened to them.

An officer came up to them, with his blue eyes and smile friendly. “Ms. Conway, big fan. Are you okay?”

Growler moved close to her side, and was that a…growl coming from him? Astrid shook her head, sure she’d imagined the sound. But there was no way she’d imagined the warmth and weight of his arm as it curled around her waist.

Aware that the officer was still looking at her expectantly, Astrid plastered a smile on her face. “Thanks for being a fan. And yes, I’m okay.”

Slowly, the panic was subsiding, and it had everything to do with the man beside her.

The officer nodded. “We’ll need you both to come to the station to give us a statement about what happened. Are you up to it?”

Irrational annoyance flared to life within her. Why did he have to ask if she was “up to it,” but he didn’t ask Growler the same thing? Did he think she was about to fall at his feet in a dead faint because she’d been in a car chase and had been shot at? Before Growler comforted her, that may have been the case, but now? Now she was only a little shaky.

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