Page 18 of Bradford (Boston Bay Vikings #18)

FLORENCE

The wind batters us, but Ellison, pretending to be Bradford, tries to shield me from the worst of it.

The beach is only around thirty minutes from downtown Savannah where the coastline meets the Atlantic Ocean.

On any other day, I would enjoy the warm sand and salty breeze, but today, I can't relax.

Ellison and Dodge, who has recovered somewhat from being hit over the head, are on alert.

There are others hiding around too. I'm not sure where, because it doesn't look like there's anywhere to hide. We're in a big, wide-open space.

I feel bad for Bradford, who is in the back of the SUV with one of Ellison's men.

I hate being out here in the open without him, but I'm also relieved he's safe.

I don't see anyone close to us. Off in the distance, beachgoers are settled along the coastline.

I sigh, wishing it was Bradford and me. It's been a long time since I've stepped foot on a beach.

I've missed the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

Ellison keeps his arm around me as we walk closer to the ocean. I find comfort in his presence, but part of me longs for Bradford to be here. My eyes search the area, but all is quiet. I frown, wondering where Daniel is. "I don't think he's coming," I tell the man beside me.

"This doesn't feel right," he says, glancing around. "Let's get back to the car." He pulls me in front of him, keeping me close, as we move back to the walkway that leads to the road where the car is parked.

I glance back at Ellison and meet his gaze, feeling a sense of unease settle over me.

Then I remember that he has an earpiece so he can hear his men.

Bradford! I start running, which isn't easy in the loose sand.

As soon as I reach the walkway, though, I pick up the pace.

Ellison shouts for me to wait, but I don't. I don't stop until I reach the spot where the car was parked, only to find an empty space.

Out of breath, I furiously glare at Ellison.

"Did you know?" I shout. "Did you know they would take him?

Is that why you were so agreeable to him staying in the car? "

He drags a hand down his face. "Bradford suggested what might happen. He was right."

My mouth falls open. "He knew, and he didn't tell me." Tears burn my eyes, but I try to fight them back. I swipe at them angrily as they fall down my cheeks. "Why would he keep something like that from me?"

I let Ellison guide me into the SUV that pulled up to the curb, with Dodge behind the wheel. "He didn't think you'd leave him if you knew," Ellison says as he follows me into the vehicle. "Honestly, we didn't know if they'd go for it, so we didn't see the point in worrying you."

"Ugh!" I grind my teeth together in frustration.

"So now they went for it. What's the plan to get Bradford back unharmed?

" I shoot daggers at Dodge's back. He knew what I was doing because he glanced back at me through the rearview mirror.

I cross my arms in front of me, and stare out the window while the tears fall.

A gentle hand touches my arm, and Ellison says, "He is being tracked, Florence. There are always eyes on him. I promise."

I take a deep breath and nod, even though I have a very bad feeling about all of this.

Goosebumps cover my arms, and I feel chilled by being kept out of their plans.

Why didn't Bradford trust me with the truth?

Even though I wouldn't have liked it, I wouldn't have stopped.

After all, I went ahead with the meeting on the beach with Ellison pretending to be Bradford.

So why wouldn't he tell me his plans? I'm sick and dispirited about the whole thing.

We head toward the city, then turn south onto the Harry S. Truman Parkway and west on the 204. I have no idea where we are. If it weren't for the road signs, I'd be even more clueless because I've never been to Savannah before. "Are we following Bradford?"

"Yeah," Dodge says. "I have no idea where they're going because there are a lot of woods and forestry areas out here."

“Does MacFarlane own any property out this way?” I ask.

"Not that anyone has been able to find," Ellison replies.

"Oh, hell," Dodge mutters. "I think they're heading toward the Ogeechee River. There could be a boat waiting for them out there."

Ellison curses and makes a call about launching a drone.

I press a hand to my stomach, feeling unsettled. "This seems like a lot of trouble for a warehouse."

Beside me, Ellison sighs. “The previous owners rented the warehouse to MacFarlane, and he used it as a sorting depot.” He winces.

"I'm not sure I want to know what you're talking about." I shiver as I think of really bad things.

“The warehouse is the key. It’s empty so we haven’t been able to figure out why it’s so important to Reyes.”

He pauses, then continues, "We're not going to let anything happen to you or Bradford.”

I wrap my arms around my body and say, "I don't think you have any control over that, at least where Bradford is concerned."