Page 49 of Grim

“Thanks, Blade.”

He reached into his pocket and had just started to send Grim a message when Skid came barreling through the infirmary door. Worry marked his face as he rushed over to us and asked, “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. She just gave us a little bit of a scare, but she’s much better now.”

“What was wrong with her?”

“It was just a bad stomach bug. She was dehydrated and couldn’t rebound like she should.”

Skid leaned over Luna and placed his hand on her arm as he whispered warmly, “Sorry you were sick, kiddo. I had no idea.”

Luna managed a light nod, but she was too tired to do much more. Skid gave her arm a tender squeeze before turning his attention to me. “Are you guys gonna be here for a while?”

“Actually, Blade was just telling us that we could go. I was just waiting for Grim to get back so he could take us.”

“I can take you. I was just about to...”

“I’m taking them,” Grim interrupted from the doorway.

“Oh, okay. That’s cool.” Skid and Grim exchanged a look, and Skid seemed a little aggravated as he said, “I’ll get going then.”

“Okay.” I smiled as I said, “Thanks for stopping by.”

“No problem. I hope Luna continues to get better.” As he walked out the door, he added, “I’ll check in with you guys later.”

Grim’s face was void of expression as he watched Skid walk out of the room. Once he was gone, he walked over to Blade and asked, “You sure she’s good to leave?”

“Yeah. I’ll swing by your place tomorrow and check on her.”

“That would be good. Thanks, brother.” Grim looked down at Luna, and there was this gentleness in his eyes that tugged at my heart. “You ready to go home?”

My breath caught when he called his place home. He could’ve said anything, but he called it home. It was more than likely nothing, but I found it touching, nonetheless. Luna didn’t seem to notice his slip of the tongue and simply nodded.

“Then, let’s get you outta here.”

Grim waited for Blade to remove the IV, and then wrapped Luna up in her blanket and lifted her little body into his arms. Seconds later, we were walking down a long, dark hall with multiple doors on each side. I didn’t think much of it until we stepped outside, and I saw just how big the place really was.

It took up at least a full acre, and there was an enormous fence with barbed wire that surrounded the entire compound. There was a large gate at the front with two guards standing at the entrance, making the place seem even more frightening. I was still taking it all in when we got out to Grim’s truck. I opened the back door for him as I said, “This place is really something.”

“Um-hmm.”

He waited for me to get inside next to Luna before he closed the door. He didn’t say a word as he got in and started the engine. His silence remained as he whipped through the gate. Something was wrong. I could feel it. Tension literally radiated off him, but he didn’t say a word. He just gripped the steering wheel and sped toward his house. It might’ve just been my imagination, but I got the feeling that something was really bothering him.

I didn’t want to make matters worse, so I kept my focus on Luna and left him alone. When we got back to his place, he helped me get Luna inside and settled in our room. I’d barely pulled the covers over her when he turned and walked out. I turned on the TV and got her some juice before asking, “How ya doing?”

“Okay.”

“You need anything? Maybe some crackers or some toast?”

I wasn’t surprised when she shook her head and mumbled, “No.”

“Okay, then drink a little juice and watch your show. I’m going to step into the kitchen for a minute and talk to Grim, but I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, Momma.”

I gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before walking out to find Grim. I didn’t have to go far. He was in the kitchen pouring himself a tall glass of vodka. It was early—much too early for such a stiff drink, which made me worry even more that something was wrong.

He looked up and watched me watching him, but again, he didn’t say a word. “Is everything okay?”

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