He stopped what he was doing and stared at her. He dropped the folder onto his desk, walked around the front of i
t, and stood before her.
“I’m a tough old bastard, don’t you worry about me.” She gave him a hug and he hugged her in return.
Grace sat down on a small brown-and-green-checkered couch. After being treated by the paramedics, both Donald and Grace moved to another office down the hall. Grace waited, knowing that at any moment Sandman would arrive and she would be going off somewhere with him instead of her family.
The room they were sitting in was a kind of resting area with no windows, a small love seat, and a few other single reclining chairs. In between the furniture were different magazines. Grace took notice of one in particular called Guns and Ammo.
Donald was filling a blue-and-white paper cup with water from a water jug that stood in the corner of the small room.
The door to the room opened and both Donald and Grace turned to see who was there.
Sandman entered looking tired and still rather annoyed. He was a huge man, intimidating, powerful looking and somewhat mysterious, like one shouldn’t underestimate his capabilities. She sure as hell was intimidated.
He smiled at Grace then got himself a cup of water. She followed him with her eyes, absorbing the way his dark jeans clung to his long, thick thighs. She could practically make out the muscles beneath the material. Hell, I felt his muscles when he tackled me.
“Well we found out that a delivery person brought the box to the front desk. From there on it went from officer to officer until finally reaching your desk, Donald. I’m sure in about an hour we’ll find out everyone who touched it when it entered the building. As far as before the delivery person, we still don’t know. The bomb squad is gathering evidence still but believe this bomb was homemade. There was a timer, and activator, and, therefore, a person with knowledge of its contents had to have delivered it here.” Sandman tossed the paper cup into the recycling bin.
Grace was looking at him as he stood there so strong and serious. He was not a man to trifle with. She could see that in his eyes and in his body language, which only made her more attracted to him. She was feeling battered and emotionally drained but she needed to fight those feelings and she needed to be strong. She had learned to depend on herself and that was what she needed to do right now. It was her only defense, her only protection she had as she once again had to leave her family and her home behind her. Poor Donald could have died.
“Explosive devices, handmade bombs, what the hell is going on?” Donald asked then ran a hand through his hair
Sandman promised to protect her and she felt he could do it. He would try his hardest and he was determined to keep her safe. He was strong, so compassionate about his work and her safety. She had watched him as he gave orders to the men standing around him, calmed everyone down after the explosion, took control, and got organized. He had so many great qualities that she found attractive and likeable. How could she not? He was handsome and fit, standing before her with his rather large gun sticking out of its holster by his rib cage. She knew he had another one, smaller and hidden on his ankle because she felt it against her leg when he covered her body with his.
“I have a plan to sneak you out of here. It involves you putting on a uniform. I’m going to leave in a separate car and make sure I’m not followed. You’re going to leave with one of my associates, who will also be dressed in a police uniform. We’ll meet up at a private hangar near the airport. No one can know where we are going, Grace. That means no phone calls.” She was about to object but Sandman stopped her.
“We’re doing this my way from here on. This is the only way it’s going down. I’ll set up some secure lines when we get to our destination. You and I have a lot of information to go over. You may not know it but you could be holding the answers and the clues we’ve been waiting and looking for.”
Sandman placed his hand over her knee and spoke softly to her.
She stared into his dark blue eyes and swallowed hard.
“I know you must be very scared right now. I’m here to protect you. After we leave the building separately and meet up at the airport you no longer will be out of my sight, you understand me?”
She nodded yes.
Grace could tell by his eyes how serious he was and she knew he was still upset about the incident in Donald’s office. He looked fierce, and as she absorbed the sight of the muscles in his jaw, she thought he was biting the inside of his cheek. God, he smells incredible. Jesus, Grace, snap out of it. I’m leaving my family again. Someone wants to kill me.
“Do you trust me, Grace?”
For some odd reason she did, but she was compelled to not give in so easily. After all, he was a stranger.
“What choice do I have?” she asked him as the door to the office opened.
Her brother Frank entered the room holding a police uniform.
“Here’s the uniform, Sandman,” Frank said as he passed it to him.
They left the room so Grace could change, and outside the door the three men spoke.
* * * *
“My family and I are putting our sister’s life in your hands,” Frank stated to Sandman.
“I know that, Frank. You can trust me and know that I would protect her with my own life.”
“Let’s hope that won’t be necessary. You’re going to keep in touch with us, right?” Donald asked.