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“You’re dreaming, man.” Troy pats him on the back. “She’s going to wipe the floor with you.”
As I tug on a clean T-shirt, calloused hands cup my waist, and Sharpe leans against me. “How was your day?”
“Better now.” I let him support my weight. “Sorry I grumped at everyone this morning.”
His lips graze my neck. “Are you still thinking of renting a separate room?”
My pulse quickens. “I’m sure you could convince me not to.”
“Come on, no PDA.” Johannsson closes his locker. “You’re still our boss, Sharpe, and that’s your subordinate you’re feeling up.”
“Oh, is someone lonely?” Troy extends his arms as he walks toward Johannsson. “Need me to feel you up?”
Johannsson grabs his towel and snaps it at the other man. “Stay away from me!”
Troy wiggles his fingers. “Why won’t you let me looooove you?”
Laughter and catcalls fill the room as Troy chases Johannsson around the bench at the center.
Sharpe’s lips curl against my skin, and he gives me another brief kiss on my neck before he steps back. Since starting the Bone Guard, he’s been a lot more relaxed and stopped trying to hide our relationship.
Not that everyone didn’t already know about us, but losing his old suit and tie freed him.
I swap my heavy boots for a pair of walking shoes and close my locker. “Ready?”
Sharpe’s hand settles on my lower back. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Do you want a ride to Hopper’s?” Webb looks up from lacing her sneakers. “Mayn’s car is near the entrance.”
“No, we’re going through the Grave Yard to meet up with Darius, so we’ll head there on foot.” Sharpe’s thumb makes small circles over my spine as we head out of the changing room. “See you all there.”
Webb catches my eye. “Tell him about our idea.”
“Last to arrive buys a round of drinks for everyone,” O’Hara yells as the door shuts.
We walk through the main room, and Sharpe nods at those still at their desks before turning to me. “What are you and Webb plotting?”
“Webb thinks we need golf carts.” My feet throb. “I’m not as opposed to the suggestion as I was when she first brought it up this morning.”
“It’s a long distance from here to the Grave Yard.” He steps ahead of me to hold open the front door. “I’m not sure the tunnel is big enough to fit one, though.”
I brace myself for the sweltering warmth as I step outside. “We should install a moving sidewalk like they have in Vegas.”
“I’ve never been to Vegas.” Sharpe squints against the sun. “At least, I don’t remember going.”
“Let’s visit when it’s not summer.” A humid breeze ruffles my short, ash-blond hair. “This heat is nothing compared to what they get there.”
We head toward the underground tunnels that lead to the Grave Yard. Access to the tunnel is close enough to the Harbor that a shower temps me, but Darius will be locking up his shop soon.
A metal railing and an open-sided roofed structure surround the enormous hole in the street where the Bone Man rose from the ground. Now, a wide set of stairs spirals into the depths of the earth.
As we descend, the temperature drops, making me shiver.
The once rough, dug-out, dirt walls have transformed into a well-lit passage lined with stone. With the offshoots blocked off, it creates a straight route from this part of the demon-owned city to the area by New Clearhelm.
The burn of ozone thickens, and a bustling energy fills the confined space the farther we get from the entrance. Footsteps and the hum of conversation echo through the tunnel, the sounds bouncing back in on themselves to create a sensory overload.
A shiver runs down my spine as we walk deeper. Not too long ago, Darius and I almost died down here.
