Page 41 of Gunnar

Torin yanks a navy vest from a chair and waggles his eyebrows as he slips into it. “I know how errands work.”

“You know how trouble works too.”

“Relax,” he says. “I’m not planning to introduce myself to the Russian mafia.”

“People are looking for her,” Orson says flatly.

Torin shoots him a look. “Yeah,” he says. “I remember.”

Behind them, Gunnar hasn’t moved from the counter.

He’s watching the exchange quietly.

The others argue, I’ve noticed. But when he speaks, the argument ends.

“Torin.”

Just the name.

Torin stops at the door.

“Don’t stay in town longer than you have to,” Gunnar says.

Torin nods. Then he turns to me. “Alright,” he says. “Where am I going?”

He looks like a nightclub bouncer who accidentally wandered into a finance meeting. I have to stop myself from asking where he got the vest from.

He hands me a notepad and a pen. My stomach knots when I write down Melissa’s address. She’s one of my co-workers, and probably the closest friend I have these days. I hate that I’m involving her in this, but I don’t have any choice.

“You’ll be discreet, right?” I ask Torin.

For the first time, his endlessly-amused expression fades. He studies me seriously.

“Of course, Alexandria. I give you my word.”

I nod and take a breath, forcing myself to think clearly.

“Tell her I’m safe. That’s the first thing.”

Torin nods.

“Then ask her to go by my apartment. If she could just make sure he’s got food and water. There’s an automatic feeder in the pantry…”

I hesitate.

“And my mom,” I add at last. “She lives three blocks away from me. If Melissa could stop by and see if she’s alright. Don’t explain everything. Just say work’s taken me out of town for a few days.”

Torin listens without interrupting.

“Got it,” he says.

“Tell Melissa not to talk to anyone about me,” I say. “If anyone asks questions — work, whatever—she should say she hasn’t seen me.”

Torin nods. “Anything else?”

I think for a moment. Then I shake my head. “That’s already a lot to ask.”

Torin folds the paper and slips it into his pocket.