Chapter 585 Chapter 585
Griffin had been quiet for the whole drive, and it bothered her. Blaise didn’t know what was going on with her; normally, silence suited her just fine. Pulling up behind the black SUV, she turned off the truck and looked at him. “I don’t know how much they brought, so come give me a hand loading it up.”
He nodded and opened his door.
Blaise couldn’t help grinning when she saw Leyton get out of the vehicle. He was one of her teammates, and she liked working with him. He was polite with absolute resolve when on task. “Hey, Ley.” She closed the door and walked to the back of the SUV.
Ley was a big man, but he didn’t use his size to intimidate others unless they needed it. “How are you doing, Blaise?”
She shrugged, “Aces.”
The second man appeared along the passenger side. She’d never worked with Nox, but knew he was solid when it came to his job. She nodded at him as she opened the back of their ride. She was just about to introduce Griffin when Nox turned and gave him a once-over.
“Shouldn’t he be in cuffs?”
She watched Griffin shut down, the pleasant expression on his face blanked and he had closed himself off, that fast. “No.” She went over and looked at the bags and cases in the back, “why would he be?”
The look Nox gave her basically said she was an idiot. Her opinion of him was about to change. “He’s Aiden Tomas’ brother.” Nox stated in a clear voice, “and,” he looked Griffin up and down, “a half-breed.”
All the good intentions Blaise had vanished in a heartbeat. “And you’re an Alpha’s kid, but we overlook that.” She leaned on the back of the vehicle, waiting to see if he was going to take this further and then changed her mind, “The half-breed’s other self is a bear, Nox, a Kermode spirit bear and if you have any questions about his animal, ask Tripp, he’ll tell you all about it.”
“A bear?” Leyton grinned, “grizzly,” he tapped his own chest. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Kermode bear.” He motioned up and down Griffin, “I’m guessing a big breed.”
“What does him being half bear have to do with the fact that he’s from—”
Something inside Blaise snapped and she moved before she could think it. When she was face to face with Nox, she growled a low quiet warning, “who cares where he’s from. He saved my life three times since I met him.” She scowled at him, “Shot one of Tomas’ goons before they got the drop on me, busted us out of a metal container when they came for him and,” she glared at Nox, “took a bullet meant for my back,” she shook her head and huffed out a breath, her cat was too close and it was breaking all the rules to attack an Alliance team member, “and it’s his information that is going to hand us Aiden fucking Tomas and shut it all down.” She waved her hand in the air, “the ops tonight,” she pointed at Griffin, “all thanks to him.” She nodded and then sneered at Nox, “the information that’s handing us their transportation routes and contacts? Him. So, you need to show some god damned respect and be thankful I don’t cut you tongue out—”
An arm wrapped around her waist from behind, pulling her away from him.
“Blaise,” it was Griffin, but she already somehow knew that, “it’s fine. That is the reaction I’m prepared for when meeting people from the Alliance.”
“It isn’t right.” She glared at Nox, even as Leyton got in his face and straightened him out.
“That’s what I thought when those kids were disrespecting you.” He leaned closer to her ear, “do I kiss you now to thank you?”
Her shoulders slumped, and she shook her head, “no, you do not. I have a rep to protect here.”
“All right. Rain check, but you could take it down a notch. I’d appreciate it, but my bear is unhappy that you’re upset.”
She spun around and looked at him, his eyes had changed color, and his jacket looked tighter. “Hey,” she put her hand on his chest and rubbed it, “tell the big guy I appreciate his concern, but we don’t have time to smack people with trees and tables right now.”
Griffin gave her a lopsided grin, “I didn’t hit him with a tree.”
“Tell that to that guy’s head.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
“That’s it.” She was surprised she was able to settle him down when she was internally trying to wrangle her cat from taking a chunk out of Nox.
“Everything good?”
They both looked to see Leyton standing there with his hands in his pockets. “Sorry about that.” He pulled his hands out, walked over to Griffin, and held one out, “thank you,” he jerked his head toward Blaise, “for having her back. She’s a huge asset on the team, and we’d be lost without her.”
Blaise snorted, “he means that literally,” she smiled at Griffin, “he can’t read a map to save his life.”
Leyton laughed, “there’s that too.” He studied Griffin, “ornery things, bears. Don’t let yours bully you like that.” He motioned to their vehicle, “let’s get this unloaded; I’ve got doors to kick down in four hours.”
Blaise looked around and didn’t see Nox. She smirked. Leyton must have put him on a time-out in the car. She went over and grabbed one of the bags and looked in it. Illias had sent every kind of snack from the look of it.
“So it’s true?” She turned and handed Griffin two bags before looking at Ley, “what?”
“That the end is in sight because of Griffin?”
Blaise watched him put the bags in the back seat of her truck, “it is.”
“Excellent.” Leyton stacked two of the cases on top of each other and went toward her truck. “So do you just drive around with him?”
“We have to stay on the move. No one knows our location when we stop.” She watched Griffin for a moment, making sure he had his animal under control. “Tomas has gone after him twice so far,” she smirked, “and Griffin called him, and he freaked him out, so he’s desperate now.”
Leyton handed her a case and then grabbed the last two. “You’ll keep him safe. I’m just a call away if you need backup.”
Blaise set the case in the back seat and took the bags from Griffin, “I appreciate it.” She shrugged, “I think we’ll be okay.”
Leyton nodded, then pulled out his phone, “we have to get moving.” He walked backward toward the SUV, “I’ll talk to you soon, Blaise,” he saluted Griffin.
Blaise closed the door and looked up at Griffin, “pick a direction and we’ll see where the next safe house is.”
Griffin looked around and then pointed East.
“East it is.” Blaise smiled at him and went around to the driver’s side.