Conference Room, but the door to the left simply said Management. Aria stood and flung the left open. Of course. George’s office—and George had his own private entrance. Or exit, in this case.
David locked the office door behind him, then crossed the room to open their escape route. Aria had taken to rifling through George’s desk drawers.
“What are you doing? The guy’s got to be clear across the lobby by now.”
She ignored him. Rage filled his veins. Every second increased their chances of being shot. “I can’t keep you safe if you don’t—”
“Got it.” She thrust a thumb drive up in the air. “I think this is what he wanted us to find.” She lowered her hand and stared at the drive. “It’s got to be.”
David lunged for her wrist. “We leave now.” He pulled her out of the building. The wind rushed past him, the snowflakes melting on his skin. The conference center campus was placed diagonal to the coast’s jagged shoreline. Half of the buildings were built on a hill, above the main conference lodging. It ensured every building had at least partial access to an ocean view. His truck was attached to a trailer full of tools at the opposite end of campus. “Where’s your car?”
Her eyes, dark with worry, surveyed the area. “Parked near the cottages, next to the garden. If we run across the parking lots with him after us, we’ll be target practice.”
She was right but he didn’t have any other solution. He shook his head. “We don’t have a choice. My truck is too far away—”
She grabbed his arm, her eyes widening. “The caves.”
David whipped his gaze to the ocean. “Is it low tide?”
Her curls blew across her face. “No.” She started running. He pumped his arms to catch up as he heard her say, “But it’s not high tide yet either.”
He blew out a breath. Could the day possibly get any worse? Side by side they tore through the wet sand. Only ten feet until shelter. Just as they rounded the corner of the nearest rocky cliff another gunshot rang out. A sting ran across his right shoulder and wet warmth ran down to his elbow. David heard his own cry before he fully registered what had happened. His shoulder had been hit but they couldn’t afford to slow their pace. He ran harder, his thoughts fueling his rage. The anger helped tame the pain.
A nearby wave crashed beside him, and a moment later the ripples hit their feet. It was harder to keep up a fast pace, especially in his boots. They were sinking into the sand. Aria jabbed a finger past his face and came to a stop. He turned to follow her gaze. A thin crevice.
He looked over his shoulder. The gunman had yet to round the corner. It was now or never. He entered first with Aria right on his heels.
Once again they were in the dark together. The crevice was tight, especially in the front where the ocean slapped against the face of the cliff. The space opened slightly. Shoulder to shoulder they sloshed through the six-inch-deep ocean water. He gritted his teeth. The air might be in the forties, but the water could only be ten degrees warmer. Only the hardiest of surfers would brave fifty-degree water, even with a wet suit. He had never been one for surfing...or for enjoying cold temperatures.
They couldn’t afford to slosh in the water much longer, or their health would suffer. The rock opened up into a small cavity. The sea cave. The air grew stale and musty. He reached out and his fingertips found Aria’s shoulder. She stopped walking, but her body shivered underneath his hand. Without a hint of light, they had to stay together.
He sniffed, making sure there weren’t any unpleasant smells that might indicate new sea lion territory.
Memories flooded David’s mind. Four years ago they had strolled the same beach hand in hand, discussing their dreams for building their own resort similar to the Shoreline Conference Center. Their center would serve as a ministry and provide groups, and most important, families, access to amazing vacations and marriage conferences in beautiful locations they’d otherwise never be able to afford. Exactly like George had done for their own families.
Aria had claimed the designs were already sketched in her mind, and David had boasted his resourcefulness would allow it to be built under budget yet still strong enough to handle the toughest earthquakes and floods. When they had discovered the sea cave that day, years ago, they were just going to check it out and come back to the beach straight away.
But when Aria had heard a sound behind her and jumped into his arms, the darkness had given him the courage to kiss her forehead...and then her lips for the first time. She had reciprocated with such a fierce, passionate kiss of her own that he had been completely ignorant of the approaching high tides.
David cleared his throat, hoping to clear the memories with it. “Are you sure about this, Aria? Last time we both barely got out.”
* * *
Aria fought to keep her head on straight. She had almost let the grief take over in the lobby; she couldn’t afford for it to get a foothold again. “I know,” she admitted. “And with a lot of scratches to boot.”
He winced but she had a feeling it wasn’t from the memory. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. The sting in my shoulder is getting worse. It caught me off guard. I wasn’t dealing with a bullet wound last time we were in the cave.”
“You weren’t shot.” Her teeth chattered the moment she opened her mouth.
“I’m pretty sure the hot blood running down my arm isn’t from the snow.”
“I know,” she responded, her voice softer but still shaking. “I saw it happen. I’m sure it hurts, but he shot the side of the cliff, and the rock broke off and...”
“Hit me,” David finished. “So I’ll live.”
“I hope it didn’t do as much damage as a bullet. It was too close, though.” Unbidden images of the last time they found themselves in the cave filled her mind. He was right. They had barely escaped and now he was...thicker. “I am beginning to wonder if we should’ve opted for taking our chance in the parking lots,” she said and reached out to find him. Her fingertips found his denim shirt—presumably his chest, judging by how tall she knew him to be. It was maddening to be in the dark and not be able to turn on a light. She moved her hands apart, searching, until they found his arms.
“Uh... Aria, what are you doing?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not trying to cuddle.” She slid her hands up and over the outside of his arms, careful to only touch the front of his shoulder to avoid his injury. “It’s just that you’re...well, much wider than last time.”
“All part of the job,” he blurted out.
Aria knew manual labor built solid men, but her own father was never so broad. “I guess,” she replied. “I’m a little worried you won’t fit anymore.” Another rush of water flooded in and soaked the back of her knees. Her hands shook from the chill. David was much taller, but the wave had to have reached the middle of his shins. He had to be feeling the effects of the cold water as well.
“Maybe we should double back,” David suggested. “He could be gone by now.”
“What if the other gunman sees us?”
“Fine.
