Page 50 of Peril in Piney Woods

“Yes.”

“Is he the reason you’re on the run?”

Meg drove for a bit before figuring out the best way to answer without revealing too much. “In part.”

“Was he more than a colleague?”

The change in his tone told her he hadn’t wanted to ask that question but hadn’t been able to stop himself. She should be flattered that he was jealous, obviously. But what she felt was fear. Jealousy was the kind of emotion that got a person into trouble faster than most others.

“Sometimes.”

Griff stared out the window at the closed shops of downtown Chattanooga.

“Sometimes,” she went on, deciding it would be better to assuage whatever he was feeling than to allow it to smolder, “when you’re deep into an operation and everyone around you is the enemy, you grab onto the only one who is in the same boat as you.”

“He’s one of the good guys?” He didn’t attempt to conceal his doubt.

“When I knew him, he was.” Obviously, that had changed.

“If you can no longer trust him, is there anyone in your old life you can trust?”

That was the problem. She couldn’t be sure.

“I wish I knew the answer. But I don’t. I’m on my own here, and I’ll just have to wing it until I see some other way.”

“You’ve still got me.”

The words were spoken in such a heartfelt manner she could hardly breathe. Griff really meant what he said. But it was the biggest mistake of all. If only she could make him see that.

“I appreciate that you still want to help after all that’s happened,” she said carefully. “But helping me has already put you in grave danger. Has caused you serious trouble. They now recognize that you’re with me because you want to be and not because I’m forcing you. That’s a dangerous place to put yourself in all this.”

He stared straight ahead into the night, his jaw working with mounting tension. “I’ll take my chances.”

“Everyone loves a hero, Griff.” Meg drew in a breath. “Except the family and friends he leaves behind to grieve the loss.”

“But what would the world do without heroes?”

He stared at her profile. He wanted an answer. Wanted her to look him in the eyes. She wasn’t sure he was going to like the answer she had to give.

She braked for a red traffic light and turned to him, looked directly into his eyes. “Don’t be a hero for me, Griff. Save it for someone who actually deserves it.”

Chapter Twelve

Givens Road

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Tuesday, May 7, 1:18 a.m.

It was late—or early depending on the way you looked at it—when Meg reached the address she’d found on Zillow. The house had been on the market for several months, and it was empty. More importantly, the neighbors weren’t terribly close, and the acre and a half lot was thickly treed, providing lots of privacy.

She drove around behind the house and parked, shut off the engine and reached for the door handle.

“You’re really going to break into this house?” He stared at her in the darkness.

He’d watched her kill another human being, twice, and shoot yet another. Not to mention the ass-kicking she’d given the two hooligans who’d showed up at her shop. And he was worried about her breaking into a house?

“I’m borrowing it for the night. If anyone stops by, we’re giving it a test run to see if we like it.”

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