Page 25 of His to Burn
He was silent, his eyes impassive as he stared at the screens.
And then his gaze met mine.
He uttered the most chilling word I’d ever heard.
“No.”
SIX
Asia
After he spoke, he kept his gaze on mine, clearly waiting for a reaction.
When he was satisfied that I wasn’t going to lose my shit, he said, “Which way to the garage?”
I forced myself to look at the screens again and pointed. “There, but it looks like the lights are off.”
“And there’s a bit of a crowd,” he added.
“Yeah, most people park there. Even though the building wasn’t as crowded as usual, it could have easily gotten choked up in there,” I said.
It had been that way for a week, with fewerand fewer people showing up for court appearances.
Then DAs and bailiffs started calling in sick.
I was actually excited today because the judge had extended hours to try to clear the growing backlog. I glanced at my watch and saw that it was ten thirty.
The judge had adjourned court at six forty-five.
In less than four hours, everything had changed. The little voice that I knew better than to ignore told me it was just beginning.
“So what’s the best way to get there?” Jackson asked, his voice clipped.
I glanced at him. He was staring and waiting.
“Sorry. Get where?” I said, trying to refocus.
“The garage. I need to get to my truck and get the hell out of here,” he said.
“No,” I responded without hesitation.
He cocked his head, his posture tense as he studied me.
That struck me.
He wasn’t tense when he climbed out of the elevator.
When he kicked open a metal door like it was nothing.
Urgent, yes. But not tense.
He was now, and it occurred to me that Jackson wasn’t used to hearing no.
I supposed I could relate, but this was about more than ego.
“It’s dark. That garage is old, and there are no emergency lights. We have to wait till morning,” I said.
“Have to?” His voice was whisper soft and all the scarier for it.
