Page 82 of One Last Promise

Moose’s shoulders rose and fell.

“It would be better for you to break your word than to get into bigger trouble trying to keep it.”

“Says the guy who went down with a ship that wasn’t his.”

Axel held up his hands. “I just care about you. And Tillie is great . . . but she’s also got baggage?—”

“We all have baggage,” Shep said.

Axel raised an eyebrow.

“I have baggage.” Moose drew in a breath. “The kind of baggage that makes me grateful for a second chance. The kind of chance that Tillie deserves.”

“Someday we’re going to talk about that baggage,” Axel said as his phone rang again. “For now, don’t do anything stupid.” He answered the phone on the way out. “No, she’s not here.” He pushed out the door.

Not here.

It hadn’t occurred to Moose that Tillie might comehere.Did she even know where he worked? His mind had put her at the Skyport Diner.

But the cops would have checked there.

No, she wouldn’t be any place Flynn would know to check. Shoot, he didn’t have a clue where or how to find her.

He picked up his jacket, pulled it on, shoved his phone into his back pocket, and fisted his keys, his prayer back on his lips.Please. Keep her safe. Bring her help if she needs it.

He headed to his pickup, leaving the Tooth unlocked for Shep, who was still in the locker room.. Axel had already pulled out, was turningonto the highway.

He was taking out his fob to unlock the doors when he heard shuffling, then a voice. “Stop.”

He froze. Glanced over to the plane. And spotted a figure standing there, her outline easy to recognize

She held a pistol.

Hisbearpistol, the one he usually kept locked in his office. He’d left it in his plane the last time he’d flown—aw. . . “Tillie, just breathe.”

“I need your keys, Moose.” Her voice wavered.

“Yeah, no. This is . . . c’mon, this is crazy. We can figure?—”

“Why, Moose? Why?” She stepped out from the shadow of the plane, still mostly obscured, but he could make out her face, the anguish on it, and from the way her voice shook—oh, she’d been crying.

Now it mixed with a sort of fury, given the texture of her expression. “Why did you betray me?”

He frowned. Then, “What?”

“You told them where I was.”

He did what? “No—what? No, Tillie, I didn’t?—”

“How did Flynn know about me? Or where I was—you told Dawson that Hazel likes ice cream! Talk about manipulative?—”

“I didn’t say anything! I was out on a rescue?—”

Her mouth tightened.

And then—“Hold on. I told Axel to ask Flynn to look into Rigger—and that’s how she found the kidnapping charge, but I swear to you, I didn’t talk to Dawson or whatever it is you’re accusing me of.”

“She knew I was at the hospital.”

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