Page 9 of Rough Choice

“Why won’t you tell me where we are? Is it so difficult to tell me? I don’t see the harm in it.”

“If you’re clever enough to figure out the map, you should be clever enough to decipher why I won’t tell you,” Grier replied.

“As far as I can tell your only reason for not telling me is because it annoys the hell out of me, and that seems to be your favorite pastime,” Eliana bit.

“See?” Grier paused in his packing to glance at her. “You’re clever.”

“Wait,” she called as he moved to the center of the room and began drawing back the tarp that covered a large vehicle. It was a milky white Hummer with even darker windows than the Yukon and steel rims. “The only reason you’re not telling me our exact location is that it annoys me? You’re that committed to pissing me off?” Her ire was rising quicker than her blood pressure. Zipping the bag he’d been filling, he looked squarely at her again.

“Yeah,” he said nonchalantly.

“Are you kidding me?”

“No.”

“What the hell is your problem?” Eliana snapped, placing her hands firmly on her hips. “This obviously isn’t easy on either of us, so why do you seem set on punishing me? You’re deliberately making things harder on me.”

“Yeah, I am,” Grier admitted with a shrug.

“Why?”

“Why?”

“Yes, why?”

“Because you’ve been a massive pain in the ass ever since you arrived!” he hollered. Turning to face her fully, Grier crossed his arms to glare down at her.

“I’m the pain in the ass? You’ve barely said ten words since we fled Pine Hill.”

“Ever heard the old adage, ‘if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all?’”

“Of course.”

“That’s what I’m doing. I’m saying nothing at all because I don’t have anything nice to say to you!”

“What did I do?”

“You… you…”

“What? What did I do?” Her voice was shrill, and if she didn’t take a moment to steady herself, she was going to slap him again. Based on the fire burning behind Grier’s emerald green eyes, she wasn’t altogether certain he wouldn’t hit her back this time.

“You’re the reason Kye isn’t here! You’re the reason he’s probably dead!”

So, there it was. The reason for his animosity. The reason he hated her. Grier blamed her for the situation they were in.

“That’s not fair, and you know it.”

“Right about now, I don’t particularly care what you think is fair,” he said flatly. “This exit strategy was meant to be for three, but because Kye can’t keep his head straight when it comes to you; now it’s just us. Rather than going out, guns blazing at his side, I’m stuck playing babysitter for you.”

“I didn’t ask you to!”

“No, but Kye did.”

“And you obey his every word? Like what, a sidekick? His pet? Are you in love with him or something?” A short scream caught in her throat when he lunged forward. Grabbing her arm painfully, he lifted his hand to backhand her. She cowered and lifted her hands to protect herself. When the blow didn’t come, her eyes peered open. Grier remained in striking position, breathing hotly through his nose and making his nostrils flare.

“This is your one warning,” he said through clenched teeth. He released her, and Eliana’s hand flew to her upper arm that throbbed where he’d held her. Grier turned his back and placed both hands on the table. The muscles in his back rippled under his shirt with every shaky breath. “Yes, I love him,” Grier said quietly, dangerously.

“Oh…” Eliana said, feeling very self-conscious suddenly. Grier remained in the same stance but turned his head to give her a sideways glance.