Chapter 32

• Taking his shirt off, Deacon wiped the sweat off his face and then tossed it over onto the woodpile. At this rate, he’d have enough split to last for three years. Anxiety and sexual frustration were great motivators. He glanced into the trees behind the house, wondering how long she was going to be gone. His animal was pissed at him right now. Rubbing his hand over his chest, he almost expected to feel marks there. It felt like his creature was gnawing on his ribs right now.
• I don’t have a choice. That was his mantra for the last two days. He’d convinced Gia and himself that they both couldn’t go for a run because someone had to stay with the phones.
• Tossing the split wood closer to the pile, he looked at their run packs hanging on the porch door. It was mostly true; they should get a call. It had been almost four days since they’d bailed on the operation and no word yet. Had everyone made it to their destinations safely? Not knowing was driving him crazy. Setting the next log on the block, he looked at the bush again—a lot of things were driving him crazy.