Page 9 of Tempting Alec

Grier’s breath caught in her throat as she clutched her laptop to her chest. Alec could feel the tension radiating off her, the fear that had been so palpable earlier now returning in full force. He motioned for her to stay behind him as he drew his weapon, the familiar weight of the gun reassuring in his hand.

They moved quickly, slipping deeper into the shadows of the warehouse, Alec’s senses on high alert.

The footsteps grew louder, closer, and Alec tightened his grip on his weapon, his heart pounding in his chest. Whoever was out there was getting closer, and Alec knew they had only moments to act.

He motioned for Grier to stay put as he crept toward the source of the noise, his movements silent and controlled. The darkness was thick, making it difficult to see, but Alec’s training had taught him to rely on more than just his eyes. He listened, the sound of his own breathing barely audible as he edged closer to the intruders.

And then, just as suddenly as it had started, the noise stopped. Alec froze, his body tense, every muscle coiled and ready to strike. The silence stretched on, the seconds ticking by like hours, and Alec’s mind raced with possibilities. Were they being stalked? Had the intruders realized they were there?

A faint whisper reached his ears, the sound barely audible but enough to set Alec on edge. He moved closer, careful not to make a sound, his eyes straining to see in the darkness. The shadows shifted, and Alec caught a glimpse of movement—a figure slipping through the shadows, heading toward where he had left Grier.

Panic surged through Alec as he realized what was happening. He had to act, had to stop them before they reached her. But as he stepped forward, ready to engage, another sound stopped him in his tracks—a faint, almost imperceptible click, followed by a low hum that sent a chill down Alec’s spine.

A bomb.

Alec’s heart pounded as he spun around, searching for Grier. She was still in the shadows, her eyes wide with fear, but she hadn’t moved. Alec didn’t hesitate. He darted toward her, grabbing her arm and pulling her with him as he ran for the exit.

“Go!” he shouted, his voice raw with urgency.

They sprinted through the warehouse, Alec pushing Grier ahead of him as they raced toward the door.

The seconds stretched on, the air thick with the tension of impending doom, and Alec’s mind raced as he calculated their odds. The bomb could go off any second, and if they didn’t make it out in time…

They burst through the door just as the explosion rocked the warehouse, the force of the blast sending them sprawling to the ground. Alec’s ears rang, his vision blurred as he tried to process what had just happened. The warehouse was in flames, the heat searing against his skin as he struggled to his feet, pulling Grier up with him.

“Run!” he shouted, the urgency of the situation overriding everything else.

As they disappeared into the shadows, Alec couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The mole, the traitor, the explosion—everything was connected, and the answers they sought were still out there, waiting to be uncovered. But Alec knew one thing for certain: they couldn’t do it alone. They needed to get back to Cerberus—to people and places he could trust. Whoever it was would be looking for them to head to London, but Chicago was his home base and being in the States would place certain constraints on the CIA. So, Chicago would be their destination.

The trust between them was fragile, but it was all they had. And Alec knew that if they were going to survive, they would have to learn to rely on each other, to trust each other—no matter how difficult it might be.

They ran, the heat of the fire licking at their heels as they fled into the night. The city loomed behind them, dark and unforgiving, but Alec’s mind was already working, already planning their next move. Grier was by his side. They were in this together now, whether they liked it or not, and the only way out was forward.

Chapter 5

Grier

Grier’s lungs burned as she struggled to keep pace with Alec, each step a battle against the unforgiving terrain of rural Russia. Once outside the city, Alec had found a safe place for her to rest while he scrounged for supplies. He found protein bars and bottles of water as well as a pack in which to carry them. Then he found an old, beat-up truck outside the city and had hot-wired it to add distance between them and whoever it was that was chasing them. The truck’s full tank had taken them far away from the Russian capital and towards the closest body of water that could provide an escape. That made sense, he was a SEAL—no doubt he’d feel more comfortable stealing a boat than an airplane.

When the truck had run out of fuel, Alec had pulled it into the undergrowth and hidden it as best he could. They were now on foot and alone. The ground was treacherous, a mix of mud, rocks, and tangled roots that threatened to trip her with every hurried step. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, and the only sounds were the rustle of leaves and the distant call of birds.

Alec moved with effortless grace, his long strides devouring the ground. He didn’t look back, didn’t check if she was keeping up—he simply expected her to follow. And Grier was determined to do so, no matter how much her body protested—and it did. She wasn’t in shape for some kind of commando marathon.

She had never felt so out of her element. The safe, familiar environment of her office, with its rows of cubicles filled with computer monitors and stacks of classified files, felt like a distant memory. There, she was in control, her mind sharp and focused, able to unravel the most complex puzzles with ease. But here, in the wilderness, where survival depended on physical endurance and instinct, Grier was painfully aware of her limitations. Every stumble, every labored breath was a reminder that she wasn’t built for this.

But she refused to be a liability. Alec’s earlier frustration was palpable, and she could sense his doubts about her ability to handle herself in the field. Grier wasn’t about to give him any more reason to question her. She pushed herself harder, forcing her legs to move faster, ignoring the burning in her muscles and the sharp pain in her side.

As the night closed in around them, swallowing them up in the countryside, Grier focused solely on keeping up. She was so absorbed in the effort that she almost ran into Alec when he suddenly stopped. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she looked up at him, her heart pounding with exertion and tension.

Alec held up a hand, signaling her to stay quiet. Grier followed his gaze and saw what had made him stop. Just ahead, partially hidden by the thick underbrush, was a small group of men dressed in worn camouflage gear, their weapons slung casually over their shoulders. Local militia, by the look of them—potentially dangerous, but not well-organized. The kind of men who could usually be swayed with the right words or the right amount of money.

Grier’s pulse quickened, her mind racing as she assessed the situation. They were outnumbered, and Alec’s gun wouldn’t be enough if things turned ugly. Her first instinct was to retreat, to avoid confrontation, but the militia had already spotted them.

Alec’s body tensed beside her, and Grier knew he was preparing for a fight. But she also knew that violence would only make things worse. They couldn’t afford to make any more enemies, not when they were still being hunted.

Without thinking, Grier stashed her laptop in Alec’s pack. Stepping forward, she slid out from behind him. His hand shot out to stop her, but she shook him off, her heart hammering as she approached the militia.

“Hello!” she called out in Russian, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her insides. “Our vehicle has broken down, and we’re lost. Can you help us?”

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