Mind of Danger (Body of Danger #3) - Sidney Bristol Page 0,4
license plates and trying to identify who was watching her, but she only had eyes for Elias. With the dome light still on, she could see his profile and with it came all the memories she’d locked away of him. All those moments she’d stolen a bit of time with him or watched him without his knowledge.
His sandy brown hair was longer, falling over his brow now. Deep lines creased his face and his lips curved into a frown. He was still so very handsome to her.
Damn, but he looked as good, if not better, than the first day she’d seen him stretched out on that cot.
WEDNESDAY. SEATTLE, Washington.
God damn.
Elias gripped the wheel tightly, his gaze focused on the road, while his entire body was hyperaware of the woman next to him.
Her deep, auburn hair was pulled back into a ponytail, making her facial features more prominent. She had this look about her, like she might be a pixie with her slightly pointed nose and tendency to squint. Her grey-blue eyes were burned into his memory, shining with a mischievous light that had always endeared her to him.
How long had it been? Three, five years?
He wouldn’t say that Jo looked the same, but it was damn good to get to see her. Good enough that he momentarily forgot all of his questions.
“I think we’re good,” the man in the backseat said.
Elias clenched his jaw.
Right.
Jo was traveling with a guy.
Who was he to her? A boyfriend? Husband? Friend? Coworker? A brother he’d never heard about?
Bright headlights reflected back at him in the rearview mirror.
Elias squinted at the road and then his mirrors.
Jo had her hands braced on the armrest and door and her feet against the floorboard. She was prepared for anything and watching for a threat. Elias assessed everything in a single glance. Something was wrong. Jo was normally cool under pressure. She had a level head and didn’t sweat things until they were dire. If he could see she was worried, things were bad.
He turned the car suddenly down a narrow alley way.
Given how often they had to traverse the city in high conflict situations, one aspect of Elias’ job had been to develop alternate routes to get where they needed to be.
The car directly behind them swerved wildly to make the turn, but it cost them distance and speed.
“At least one of them is following us,” Elias said, stating the obvious.
“What?” the guy in the back seat croaked out.
“Chill out, Isaac,” Jo snapped.
“Friends or what?” Elias peered into the rearview mirror.
He hadn’t been able to discern much about the car behind them. Four doors. Dark color. No idea about the make or model.
Damn. Talk about being off his game.
He took his foot off the accelerator as they neared the alley exit onto the next city street.
This close to the airport during the holidays, the streets were busy. Not packed, but there weren’t breaks in the traffic.
“Hold on,” Elias said, then pressed the accelerator.
“Wait,” Jo yelped.
He didn’t wait.
The car shot out into traffic. The tires squealed as he executed a tight turn into the right most lane, cutting off a sleek two door sports car. The driver slammed on the horn, but Elias didn’t care. He cut left, barely squeezing into a car sized space between two trucks.
“I don’t know where the other car is. Keep a look out for that one,” he said.
“We’re going to die,” Isaac moaned.
“We are not,” Jo snapped. “Now, shut up and put your seat belt on.”
“What’s going on here, Jo?” he asked.
It was time for some answers.
When Jo didn’t jump in with an explanation, he stole a glance at her.
Jo’s face was twisted and creased in a full-body cringe.
Either she couldn’t tell him because of who was in the car, or she wouldn’t tell him because of the nature of what she was doing.
She darted a look his way, and he saw fear in her eyes. Jo the Fearless was afraid.
Fuck.
“Elias? You’re the only person I can trust right now,” she said.
There was a note of desperation in her voice that told him this was serious. Real trouble. And she firmly believed what she was saying. He was her last hope. A woman like Jo didn’t need to ask for help often.
He shouldn’t have second guessed her. His feelings about her had no place in this moment.
Elias would protect her. He didn’t need to know what she was doing to know that her life was worth protecting.
He reached over and briefly covered her