Page 10 of Tempting Alec

The men stopped, their eyes narrowing as they took her in. Grier could see the suspicion in their faces, the way their hands hovered near their weapons. But she also saw the curiosity, the way they exchanged glances, unsure of what to make of her. She had their attention, and she knew she had to act fast before they decided she was a threat.

One of the men, taller and older than the others, stepped forward, his eyes flicking to Alec before returning to her. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

Grier’s mind raced, piecing together a plausible story. “We’re tourists, traveling in the area. My brother and I,” she lied smoothly, gesturing to Alec. “…we got lost. We don’t want any trouble.”

The man studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Grier could feel Alec’s eyes on her, the tension radiating from him as he waited for the militia’s response. She knew he was ready to take control if things went south, but she also knew that would only escalate the situation.

“You speak Russian,” the man said finally, his tone more curious than hostile.

“Yes,” Grier replied, offering a small, hesitant smile. “I studied it in school.”

The man’s posture relaxed slightly, and Grier felt a flicker of hope. She could work with this, play up the image of a couple of lost, ill-prepared and harmless tourists. She just needed to keep them talking, to distract them long enough for Alec to figure out their next move.

“We don’t mean any harm,” she continued in Russian. “We’re just trying to find our way back to the main road. Can you help us?”

The man looked back at his comrades, and Grier could see them relax as well, the tension easing from their stances. The danger wasn’t gone, but it had lessened.

“The main road is far from here,” the man said, his tone almost conversational now. “But we can help you. Follow us.”

Grier forced herself to smile again, even as her mind raced. If they followed the militia, they most likely would be led into their camp, surrounded by even more armed men. It was a trap, and she knew it. But refusing their offer would raise suspicions, maybe even provoke a violent response.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice steady. “That’s very kind of you.”

The man nodded, gesturing for them to follow. Grier turned to Alec, who was watching her with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. His blue eyes were sharp, calculating, and she could see the wheels turning in his mind.

Grier met his gaze, silently willing him to trust her judgment. She knew he was used to being in control, used to making the decisions in the field, but this time, she had the advantage. She could speak their language fluently, understand their culture in ways he couldn’t. And she knew how to handle men like these.

After a moment, Alec gave a barely perceptible nod, a signal that he would follow her lead. Relief washed over Grier, but she didn’t let it show. Instead, she turned back to the militia, her expression calm and composed as she fell into step beside them.

They walked in silence, the men exchanging occasional glances, their weapons still within easy reach and Alec’s tucked out of sight. Grier kept her breathing steady, her mind focused on the task at hand. They had to find a way out before they reached the militia’s camp, but that was easier said than done.

As they neared a bend in the trail, Grier caught a glimpse of a narrow path leading off into the forest. It was overgrown and barely visible, but it might be their best chance to escape. She had to act quickly.

“Wait,” she said suddenly, stopping in her tracks. “I think I dropped something from my pocket.”

The men stopped, turning to look at her with confusion. Grier pretended to fumble with her jacket, searching for something that wasn’t there. She could feel Alec tense beside her, ready to act at a moment’s notice.

“I’m just going to check what it was,” she said, taking a step back toward the overgrown path. “I’ll be quick.”

The men exchanged uncertain glances, but before they could react, Alec moved. In one fluid motion, he grabbed Grier’s arm and pulled her toward the narrow path, his movements quick and decisive. The militia shouted in alarm, but Alec was already dragging her into the underbrush, the dense foliage swallowing them up as they fled.

They ran, the sound of the militia’s pursuit growing fainter with each step. The forest closed in around them, the branches clawing at Grier’s clothes as she struggled to keep up with Alec’s relentless pace. Her heart hammered in her chest, the adrenaline surging through her veins as they plunged deeper into the wilderness.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Alec slowed to a stop, his breath coming in harsh gasps. Grier collapsed against a tree, her legs trembling with exhaustion, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.

Alec was already scanning the area, his eyes sharp and alert, his body tense and ready for action. Grier watched him, a strange mix of admiration and frustration bubbling up inside her. He was so damn capable, so unflinchingly confident in the face of danger, so incredibly sexy, and it all combined to make her feel small, frumpy, and inadequate in comparison.

But then Alec turned to her, and the look in his eyes wasn’t one of frustration or disappointment. It was something else, something she couldn’t quite place. Respect, perhaps? Gratitude?

“Nice work back there,” he said, his voice rough from exertion. “You handled yourself well.”

Grier blinked, surprised by the unexpected praise. She had been so focused on surviving, on not being a burden, that she hadn’t even considered that Alec might acknowledge her efforts. A small, tentative smile tugged at her lips.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice still shaky from the adrenaline. “I wasn’t sure it would work, but…”

“But it did,” Alec finished for her, his expression softening for the briefest of moments. “You got us out of there without anyone getting hurt. That’s what matters.”

Grier nodded, feeling a strange warmth spread through her chest. For the first time since they’d fled Moscow, she felt like she was more than just a burden, more than just an analyst in over her head. She had contributed, had made a difference, and Alec recognized that.

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