by J. A. Coffey
She pushed a button on her key pad and the trunk popped open. "Grab some bags," she ordered as she kept the gun trained on him.
He stalked around the car and stopped as he glanced down at the trunk and then back up at her. His eyes were wide and his mouth dropped open. "You're kidding, right?" he asked as he stared down at the pile of bags and one large suitcase.
She sighed. "We're going away for a few days."
"Any clothes for me?"
"Nope and we don't have time to grab any from your house. We have to leave town without anyone seeing us." Besides, she didn't know what he'd wear outside of work hours.
"What if I had my stuff packed and waiting inside my front door?" he asked as he threw her bags into the back of his SUV.
"You don't."
"Sure do and my dad is away from his house today." His dad happened to be a huge concern since the two men owned side-by-side lots.
"You had no idea of this so why do you have stuff packed already?" She tucked her gun back into her bag as she followed him into the garage to retrieve the rest of the stuff she wanted to bring.
"Maybe," he mumbled. His eyes grew stormy.
"Where were you going? Was he the real person behind the contract hit on her father? His planned departure made him appear guilty but her heart screamed of his innocence.
"You don't get to me ask me about my personal life while holding me at gunpoint and refusing to tell me the reason."
"You're not being very compliant with an armed person." She crossed her arms over her chest and met his glare with one of her own.
"Gabi, I really don't give a damn if you have twenty guns and a knife in that bag of yours. Having a gun on me every second of the day erases fear of them." He didn't even bat an eyelash in her direction as he made the declaration. "Now back to the clothes issue. Obviously you plan on us being gone for a while. Do you expect me to stay in these clothes until you decide to let me go home?"
"Maybe we can stop to buy some on the way. Will you trust me when I say it's in your best interest to go along with this?"
He didn't reply as he grabbed the large suitcase out of the trunk and flung a duffle bag over his shoulder. The rigidness of his muscles and his sudden silence sharpened the fear stabbing her in the gut. She followed behind him with the gun tucked behind her tote bag. Her heart pounded in her chest while her hand started to tremble. Just don't try anything, Mik. I don't want to hurt you.
Gabrielle didn't think she had the nerve to hurt him. The first time she'd realized the friendship between them had become more was when she had been doing homework, but the words in the textbook had blurred, leaving her in a daze. Once she pulled herself out, she had glanced down to find herself doodling Mik's name inside of hearts. She had been embarrassed at first as she crumpled up the paper and tossed it in the wastebasket. Her uncertainty had soon washed away even though she'd kept the secret to herself.
"Tell me why you're doing this," he said after he finished loading the luggage in the back of his vehicle. "It'll help me believe you're doing this with good intentions."
"Let's lock up so we can leave." She didn't want to explain anything to him here. What if he tried to turn everything back on her? At least right now she held the control and her father wasn't hurting Mik. It needed to stay this way. She'd tell him after they were far away from Las Vegas.
Once the car and garage door were all shut up tight, he turned to her again. "Where are we going then?"
"Just walk."
"Tell me, Gabi."
"Go," she snapped and nudged him again with the barrel.
"Stop doing that," he growled, turning his glare to the road in front of them.
"Then get going. We have to get out of here before my father comes looking for us. If he thinks there‘s a reason to shoot you, he'll fire first and then he might ask some questions."
He turned toward her once again. "You mean he doesn't know you're doing this? This isn't a job he put you on?"
"No." She motioned for him to get into the vehicle. "And believe me; he has reason to shoot you."
She slid into the passenger side after Mikolas had taken his place behind the wheel. She preferred to drive but knew it would be to her disadvantage today. With her having to focus on getting them safely to the cabin, he'd be able to gain control of the situation.
She flipped open her cell phone and pushed the speed dial to her father.
The call connected after the first ring. "I'm busy right now, Gabrielle," her father's voice boomed through the phone.
A man's muffled cries were drowned out by the other men talking in the background. Good! Her father was too busy to question what she had to say, keeping her plan on track.
Lying to her father made her voice crack. "Daddy, I forgot to tell you earlier that I'm going out of town for a while. Watch the store and my house. Okay?"
"Shut Bo up," he yelled, probably to the men he was with. To her he said, "Yeah. Fine. Who're you going with?"
She exhaled. He had believed her. "Remember Carey? It's a girl's only vacation." Cary was her best friend who had moved away a few months before, insuring her dad and Carey wouldn't cross paths around town.
"I like her. Call and check in, eh?"
She said goodbye to her father, snapped the cell shut, and slipped back into the tote sitting on the floorboard near her feet.
"Is your father in danger?" Mik asked, pulling out of the driveway.
"I hope not."
She wanted to look away from him, to put her gun down, to relax, and enjoy her time with him. Then maybe she could reach over to him and grab his hand, to press her lips against his hot skin? But none of that would happen. She was holding this man at gun point and she needed to remember this wasn't some lover's rendezvous. Even though they were alone now, she needed to keep her mind on her goals; keep her father safe and Mik alive.
The silence filled the SUV for hours. The radio reception had given up long ago and the eeriness of the night loomed in front of them, giving her dread that they'd be driving along the isolated country road forever. The crisp air crept inside, suggesting they had left Nevada even though she knew better. Her thin pink tracksuit had been fine in the Vegas weather, but here? The chill factor went up several notches the higher they climbed. Not good since they'd be going farther up the mountain soon. Gabrielle needed to change clothes before they increased in elevation. But how? Mik would certainly take off if she didn't keep him in her sight.
According to the directions in the letter, they had a little over an hour to drive before they reached the cabin. Her eyes ached from being awake so long. She'd love to lay her head down on a cushy pillow to rest, but she needed to get accustomed to sleeping with one eye open during the night until she got a grasp of what Mik's plan of action included. Surely he had some sort of idea of turning this situation around.
A small gas station came into view. Nervousness bubbled in Gabrielle as she stared at the surroundings. Being in the dark wasn't an option for her, and so far, their headlights cast more light than the dimly single bulb flickering over the gas pump. The lot only contained one old gray Ford pickup truck that had been parked off to the side of the lot big enough to hold maybe five cars at the most. A bright "We're Open" signed flickered in a dingy window. Just perfect.
"Pull over," she ordered, pointed toward the gas station even though the idea of being with in the environment sent pinpricks of fear climbing over her arms. This was going to be tricky, but she would just have to wing it. They needed gas, food, and even though using the bathroom in this dump seemed less appealing, she needed to get into some warmer clothes.
"Okay," he said as he turned on the signal even though there were no cars on the road behind them. "Where do you want me to park?"
"At the gas pump."
Once the SUV slowed to a stop at the only pump, she snatched the keys from the ignition before climbing out. She quickly slipped her gun into her tote bag hanging on her arm. The wind picked up, a sudden gust pus
hed a discarded newspaper across the pavement, startling her. Not sure if the place could get anymore creepier, she walked over to his side of the vehicle and motioned for him to get out.
"Fill up the tank while I get clothes out of the trunk." She patted the bag on her arm. "The gun is right here. Don't try anything."
"You won't shoot me." His voice sounded a little cocky. Too much for his own good.
"Don't underestimate me, Mikolas Russo." Her hand flung up to her open mouth as if she could take the words back. Or prevent any more from flopping out. Heat rushed to her cheeks as tears sprung to her eyes. She whirled around to block his view of her reaction to what she'd said. The words slid out so fluently, she had no other choice but to question the truth in them. Had her father's trust become more important than the deep rooted love she had for Mik? It must be or she wouldn't have been able to say that sentence without much effort.
Goosebumps popped up all over her arms as she flipped the back open and rummaged through the clothes she had packed. Unless she could turn things around in her favor, Mik would most likely hate her before this whole ordeal ended.
Spotting the black fabric of her favorite lounge shirt, she grabbed the sleeve and yanked it out of the suitcase, planning to wear it under an outfit to add extra warmth. She stuffed the outfit into her tote and remembered the Glock hidden inside.
Damn, what could she do with Mik's gun? If she continued to carry it in her tote, he was bound to get it back in his possession sooner or later. He wouldn't have the time to search through the suitcases without her noticing him. While he had his back turned toward her, she unzipped the nearest one and tucked it in a side pocket.
"Cold?" she asked, slamming the trunk shut.
He nodded his dark head, gave a squeeze to the gas nozzle before putting it back into the holder on the tank.
"I have a sweatshirt for you. It's mine from school, but I bought it from the men's department." She tossed the shirt at him and watched as he slipped it over his head. "Better?"
"Thanks." He stuffed his fists in the pockets of his slacks. "It smells like your perfume."
Embarrassed, she broke eye contact, and started toward the old building. "I swear it's clean."
"I believe you."
"I wanted to grab some clothes for you, and tried to figure out a way but couldn't get into your house." Gabrielle sighed. "I don't even know what you wear on weekends. I've only seen you in business-casual." Gabrielle felt her toughness quickly disappear. Stop, she reminded herself, be tough like the tip sheet had instructed. "Come on. I need to change."
Mik stopped walking and turned to her. His mouth dropped open, revealing his bottom row of perfect white teeth. "Like us both in the bathroom while you dress?"
"Yes." She let out a bubbly laugh. "What do you think I meant?"
"I, um... don't think it's a good... um... idea," he stammered as he took a step back in the direction of the SUV.
His reaction startled her, and left her to doubt his interest in her once again. There wasn't any time to stress over his attraction, or lack of, to her at the moment. To keep the control, she said, "And I'm the one with a gun so you'll do it anyway. Let's go."
She walked a few steps behind him. The distance was far enough away, she'd be able to whip the gun out if he tried to run. And unless he ran into the woods, there weren't many places to hide. So far, the area seemed deserted, and she hoped it stayed that way even though the blackness of night made her skin prick.
"Um, Gabi?" His steps slowed.
"Please don't ask me one more question about where we're going or why we're doing this. I'll tell you everything later." She needed to keep him walking and quiet because she didn't know how long she'd be able to keep this amount of strength up to get him to the cabin.
"I wasn't going to ask about any of that." He stopped walking as he reached the edge of the building and glanced back at her. "Don't you think we should pay first? If we don't then we'll look suspicious."
Tears of frustration and fatigue welled in her eyes again. Finding a way to sleep needed to be next on her priority list or she'd be a blubbering mess and might as well give this up now. No matter how much she didn't want to, she wiped the tears from her eyes, and said, "You're right. Let's pay before we go back there."
A bell chimed as Mik pulled the door open and held it open for Gabrielle. She frowned as she stepped into the small convenience store. Half of the florescent lights were burned out while several flickered repeatedly threatening to leave them in total darkness at any moment. She glanced at the racks of food and wondered if any would even be safe to eat any of the items the store had for sale. Beyond that, this dingy, over-stocked store would provide a perfect opportunity for Mik to over power her.
"Mik?" She whispered as she followed him to the counter, trying to stay close to him even though she was the armed one and could defend herself. But there was something about him that made her feel secure.
"Yeah?" He half turned toward her.
"I don't know how much food is at the cabin. Do you want anything from here?" She glanced back to the racks of snacks, hoping he didn't try to escape. All he had to do was tip one flimsy rack over onto her and make a run for the door, leaving her stranded in the mountains.
A curtain separating the store from a storage room slid aside for a small, old man to come through. "Good evening," he said as he shuffled across the dirty linoleum floor to the cash register.
"Good evening, sir." Mik grabbed three large bags of chips, a spicy pepperoni stick, and a two liter bottle of cola while Gabrielle continued to follow him around, making sure not to be on the opposite side of any shelves.
The man pushed his glasses up the bridge of his pointy nose and smiled a big toothless grin. "Got some gas, did yah?"
"We sure did. Snacks, too." Gabrielle grabbed some cheese sticks from the refrigerated section along with her own bag of chips but tried to keep her eyes on Mik. As she approached the counter, she asked, "Do you have a bathroom we can use?"
"Not from around here, are yah?" The man slowly pushed the prices into the out-dated register.
"Nope. We didn't realize how cold it would be up here and would like to change into something a little warmer," Mik explained.
She inhaled, trying to calm her nerves, and slowly exhaled as she waited for the clerk's response. She had been trying to act normal but had sticking to Mik like glue worked against her?
"It's around back and unlocked. On a honeymoon or something?" One eye squinted shut as he stared at them.
"How could you tell?" Mik pulled her to him, the tote holding the gun crunched tightly between their bodies, making her pulse race.
"It's clear as the stars in the sky that you two are in love. Couldn't miss it for nothing." He looked at the register and then back at them. "Seventy-twenty-two. And I only take cash. ATM is over there." He pointed to the machine in the corner.
Mik planted a kiss on her cheek before handing the man the total amount of money due. "Have a nice night."
Heat pumped through Gabrielle from the physical contact between Mik and herself. His embrace had been totally unexpected and she wanted more of it. And him kissing her cheek? Nice touch even though it left her rattled to the core. She pulled out of his arms to turn toward the door.
"Where you headed?" the old man called as Mik and Gabrielle walked away. "Did you hear the weather report?"
Ignoring any further questions from the cashier, Gabrielle held the door open for Mik as he carried the bags. "That guy sure was nosy," she said once the door shut behind him.
"I know. Gabi, did you check the weather for this area?"
"Don't worry. The weather will be fine." She hadn't checked and now realized she should've but could never tell him that. No way. She needed to pretend this whole thing had been thoroughly planned. If he knew of one crack, he would twist it into his favor, ending the entire plan.
Gabrielle blinked her eyes, trying to adjust to the darkness as they walked around the side
of the store. Her hands trembled as they stepped into the inky black night. She hated the black of night and reached for Mik's hand but drew back and crossed her arms over her chest instead. There were no lights in the back even though the clerk had claimed the bathroom as being located back here. She'd thought things had turned to her advantage with the bathroom being located out of the view of anyone, but in total darkness? Chills crept through her as she took a step closer to Mik, looking for a sense of protection from him. The thought would've made her laugh if the place wasn't so creepy.
A bare light bulb flickered and cast very little, but much appreciated, light next to the bathroom door. Mik kicked at the pile of boxes littering the walkway, sending a black creature skittering out from under the box. Gabrielle screeched while grabbing a hold of Mik's arm.
Mik let out a roar of laughter. "Scared of cats now, Gabi?"
"It's not funny," Gabrielle snapped, glaring at the red-eyed, mangy feline watching her from under the tree. Her heart pounded as she waited for it to jump out and bite her. She could picture herself rushing into the nearest ER for a tetanus shot. Not good and certainly against the plans.
Mikolas twisted the knob. The rusty hinges screeched in protest with a groan as he pushed the door open. He reached in to flick on the light. "Might've been better to not be able to see this place," he mumbled.
He stepped over the threshold first and crossed his arms over his chest. Sticking her head in to have a peek, she scrunched up her face at the foul odor. He was right, the place looked disgusting. The toilet paper-clogged toilet threatened to overflow at any second onto the dirt crusted linoleum floor. Either the sudden intrusion of the light or their presence freaked out a giant cockroach who tried to dig its way through a wall.
"I think I would rather freeze to death than step in there, Mik."
"No, you're not. Get in here and shut the door. Lock it, too," he ordered. Obviously he forgot who the boss was here.