Page 24 of Hard Rain

Whip snorted softly, his lips cracked in a smile.

And there it was again.

Easy.

Natural.

Like the tension from the house had never happened.

Whip reached the SUV first and tossed his empty coffee cup into the trash can beside the curb before unlocking the doors automatically.

Axel slid into the passenger seat beside him without thinking about it.

Never had to.

Neither of them ever questioned it.

Whip already had the heater running before Axel shut the door against the rain.

“You still remember the turnoff outside Silver Lake?” Whip asked, pulling onto the highway.

“County Road 5A?” Axel settled the case file across one knee. “Yeah.”

“Flooded last winter.”

Axel grunted. “Then he’s probably bouncing between places closer to 31.”

“Easier to move fast if somebody spots him.”

“Exactly.”

“Still think he’ll stay in town?” Whip asked.

“Not if he’s got half a brain.”

“Questionable.”

“Fair.”

The conversation moved easily through the details. Routes. Gas stations. Back roads. Trailers deep around Paisley. Not to mention the people willing to hide a man everybody else wanted caught.

And suddenly, in the middle of the radio, rain, and case details, Whip started talking smack.

“If there’s any running, it’s all you, buddy,” Whip said.

Axel huffed, choking on a sudden laugh. “You wish.”

“What? You boast about being faster than me. Now here’s your chance.”

“I’ll show you fast.”

Whip barked a laugh.

Axel rolled his eyes, tipped his head down to the case file, and tried to hide his smile.

And all he could think was…

Thank fuck.