Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51210 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 256(@200wpm)___ 205(@250wpm)___ 171(@300wpm)
“Here you are, ma’am,” the clerk told her as he handed back her license before looking back at Max. “Anything else, sir?”
“No. Thank you.”
A blare sounded, and a voice came over the intercom. “All service members evacuate the west entrance.” Instantly, everyone moved.
Max grabbed Saylor’s hand and tugged her from the office. “Come with me, baby. I’ll get you somewhere safe.”
They hadn’t taken five steps when his phone rang. Max grabbed his device and read the message as they ran. “Fuck. Change of plans, baby.”
Almost immediately a second announcement rang out. “Take shelter away from the north and west entrances.”
“What is going on?” Saylor asked.
“They’ve got a bomb threat at both entrances. The base has one team always on duty. One is taking the west. I’ve been called to the north.”
Fright like she’d never felt before made her blood turn to ice. Not for herself like she’d felt in the bank robbery, but fear that something would happen to Max. “Your team isn’t here.”
“They wouldn’t be with me anyway, little girl. Here.” He pressed a code into a side door and pulled her inside. Lockers lined the walls. Saylor met the surprised glance of a ripped serviceman dressed only in a towel. She looked up at the ceiling immediately.
“Make way!” Max roared. Saylor heard bodies hit the lockers with thuds as everyone stood back, creating a path for them.
“Sorry!” she called as he pulled her through a doorway into a large gym area.
“Our lockers are here with my equipment.”
“I’ve got your equipment locker unlocked. I’ll watch out for Saylor.”
Relief flooded Saylor as she met Hank’s gaze. In a flurry of activity, Max strapped equipment to his back and filled his arms. He stopped to pull her close for a hard kiss. “Be safe. Do what Hank says without argument.” He was gone before Saylor could even answer.
She turned in shock to look at Hank. “Is he going to be okay?”
“He’s really good at what he does, Saylor.”
Hank had reassured her without ensuring Max’s safety. Tears gathered in her eyes, clouding her vision. Blindly, she walked forward into Hank’s arms. He gathered her gently against him and patted her back.
A few minutes later when her trembling calmed, he said, “We’re safe here. Let’s sit down.”
Her legs shook as he guided her over to the bleachers on one side of the open area. When she sat, Hank settled next to her. His presence reassured her.
He talked softly. “This base is the safest place in town. Everyone is trained to handle any threat or emergency.”
“Do you have something you need to do?” she asked, hoping he could stay with her.
“I’m here with you. That’s all I need to take care of. We’re off duty. They called Max because he’s the best and he’s here close. They would have probably called him in with the other EODs.”
“EODs?” Saylor asked. She knew she’d heard that before, but couldn’t remember now what those initials meant.
“Explosive ordinance disposal.”
“Hello?” a quiet voice said, peeking around the corner into the training space.
Hank jumped to his feet immediately and moved in front of Saylor, shielding her with his body. “Stretch out on the bleachers out of sight. Better yet, squeeze between the boards,” he hissed at her before shouting at the young blonde, “Show me your identification!”
Pausing as she slid down through the bleachers, Saylor watched the woman automatically raise her hands as if she were surrendering. “Sorry. I can leave.”
“Identification!” Hank bellowed, walking forward.
“I dropped my purse when they told us to run,” she said faintly. Saylor could hear the tremor in her voice like she was on the verge of crying. “I’m here working with the document management team. Wait. I have a visitor’s pass. It’s in my back pocket.”
She lowered one hand to reach for it, and Hank snapped, “Freeze.” Her arms shot up above her head as she shook with fright. He stalked forward and grabbed her elbow, spinning her around. He reached for a metal clip that dangled from her pocket and pulled out a white card emblazoned with Visitor.
“Who’s your contact on base?” Hank asked. His voice had lowered in intensity and volume.
“Commander Alan Buchanan.”
“What’s your name?”
“Sammie. Samantha Townsend,” she corrected herself.
“Sammie, do you consent for me to search you?” Hank asked.
“S-Sure.”
Saylor rose from her hiding spot as Hank ran his hands over her slight form. “You’re clean,” he said, stepping back. “I’m sorry if I scared you. When an alert goes out, everyone unknown is suspect.”
“It’s okay. I understand,” Sammie said in a quivering voice as she wrapped her arms around herself.
“Hey! You can wait with us,” Saylor invited. “Hank sounds mean, but he’s a good guy. I’m Saylor.”
“Hi, Saylor. Hi, Hank,” Sammie said softly.
Saylor noticed she moved slightly closer to Hank, as if needing the security of being close to the large man. He turned and pressed a hand to Sammie’s lower back, guiding her toward Saylor.