Page 17 of Bad Ruck

"We should keep looking for Tex." Storm shoved himself off the wall and started off towards the gym.

I followed, keeping an eye on the direction we’d come. It would suck if an attacker came up behind us while we were focused on what was ahead. Nothing we couldn't handle, of course, but it would be a distraction we didn't need.

Storm pulled a card out of his pocket and waved it in front of the lock on the door to open it. A light flashed green and the lock clicked before Storm pushed the door open and leaned his upper body inside.

After a moment, he stepped the rest of the way in, holding the door so I could do the same.

The gym was amazing. All of the equipment was state-of-the-art and well-maintained. A couple of treadmills stood on one side of the room and several stationary bikes on the other. A rack full of weights took up space in the back corner, beside a basket of yoga mats. Along one wall was a large screen TV, with the sound on, the screen running an infomercial for a food slicer. Apparently if I bought now, I'd get a free set of steak knives. I made a note to check out the slicer later, it looked useful.

The room was empty.

"There's a bathroom in the back," Storm said.

We exchanged glances. I suspected we both had the same thought. We wouldn't find Dallas in there, but we might as well look.

This time, I led the way across the gym and through the door to the bathroom at the back of the space.

"Dallas?" I called out.

No answer. I hadn't expected one. The place was too quiet for anyone to be in here and alive.

I turned and shook my head. "He's not here either."

"Let's try the pool." Storm headed back across the gym with me at his heels. We stepped out the door, careful to close it behind us, and started back down the corridor and past the elevator.

"This building has nice facilities," I remarked.

"The best," he agreed. "That's why I live here. That and the view."

"Can't beat that." I noticed the view when I was in his apartment a few minutes ago. "I'm starting to think Dusk Bay might be nicer than Sydney."

He snorted. "Of course it fucking is. I'd rather be here than anywhere else." He stopped in front of a pair of wide glass doors that looked straight into the pool area.

"I might have to buy myself an apartment here." I pressed my face so close to the glass, it fogged up. I pulled back, wiped it clear, and peered again. "It doesn't look like there's anyone in there."

"Just in case." Storm pulled out his card and unlocked this door before pushing it open and stepping into the steamy space.

The smell of chlorinated water hit like a wave that made me wrinkle my nose. I preferred an outdoor pool without chlorine, but this would be perfect in winter. Fortunately, my hair was dark enough that it didn't turn green after swimming. Not like my sisters' hair. I briefly wondered if Frost's hair turned green in chlorine too.

"There's no one floating in there," I said gratefully. No football player face down and lifeless. No innocent women either. I wouldn't have minded finding Dominic King floating here, but I wasn't that lucky today. Give it time, he might end up that way at some point.

"Not today," Storm agreed. "An apartment two floors down from mine is for sale." He said it with reluctance, but the fact he volunteered the information at all was a minor miracle.

We both knew I could have done a search on my phone and found it, so for him to mention it was a big deal. One I decided not to call too much attention to, other than an appreciative dip of my head.

"I'll look into it. This is a great place to work out." I stepped closer to the pool, peering into the clear blue water. It lapped softly against the side of the pool, almost hypnotic. I would have loved nothing more than to strip down to my underwear and dive in for a few laps.

"Don't fall in." He'd find it hilarious if I did.

I glanced over at him and rolled my eyes, but for once there was no animosity in it. This was almost friendly banter betweenteammates. Something we’d never achieved before. That was progress. I'd mark it on my calendar if I had one.

"I'm guessing there's a change room here." In a building like this, they wouldn't want residents walking around, dripping pool water on the carpet.

"Yep." Storm waved toward matching doors on the side of the pool area. "I'll check the men's change room." He almost seemed to be issuing a challenge.

"I have no problem checking the women's." I grinned. The way our voices echoed, we were the only ones in here anyway.

"Not surprised." He smirked like he won somehow and headed into the male change room.

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