Page 48 of Gripp

TWENTY-SIX

GRIPP

It took the big ship a few days to return to the military base. Throughout that time, Gripp and April kept their distance from each other, still meeting often to talk or walk around the ship together, but not being as intimate as they had been while on their adventure.

Gripp knew their relationship had to change and that he probably couldn’t hold on to a woman like her once they were back in civilization. April began to spend more time in her bunk, going through her evidence and writing her article, and Gripp took it as a sign that she wanted to be left alone.

When they arrived at the base, April was escorted to the office area, and Gripp was taken to the barracks. Early the next morning, he found himself in front of General Nydia again.

“Congratulations, soldier,” the general said in greeting, “on your successful mission.”

Gripp sat in front of the woman’s desk, feeling like he wasn’t much of a success. Without April, he was miserable, and he couldn’t hide that fact from himself.

“Thank you,” he muttered sullenly.

“Would you like to debrief?” Nydia asked. Gripp nodded.

“Not much to tell. April has the evidence from the mine, so you’ll get a full account of what’s happening there. She wasn’t easy to rescue … she’s damn stubborn … but as you can see, I did complete my mission.”

“You did indeed, soldier,” the general said. “Well done.”

“Do I get my GPS taken out, now?” Gripp asked. “I’m free, aren’t I?”

He so desperately wanted to be free. Just being here made him remember his time in the Supermax.

Maybe, if I run hard enough, far enough, I can forget April and our time together.

“Of course,” Nydia said. “It will take us a couple of days to organize the procedure, though.”

Gripp felt red-hot anger surge in his veins, flooding his mind. He wanted the chip out now, not later, but he didn’t want to end up back in Supermax, so he held his tongue.

“Do you need anything more from me?” Gripp asked. “Am I dismissed?”

His tone was a little challenging. Since he was now technically free, the general couldn’t really command him anymore.

If they don’t take the chip out, I’ll find a way of doing it myself.

Nydia smiled and gestured to the door.

“You’re a free man. I’ll contact you with the details, then you can have your chip out.”

Gripp thanked her and left in a hurry before they could make any further demands of him. He tried to fight his overwhelming desire for a few moments, but it was no use. There was no way he was going back to his bunk to mope.

He pulled out his phone and called April to see how she was. He figured it wasn’t too forward and that she wouldn’t mind him checking in. She was so excited to hear from him that he suggested lunch, and when she agreed, he couldn’t fight the surge of hope that rushed through his veins and into his heart.

They arranged to meet at a café near the base. Gripp took an outdoor table and waited, feeling his nerves rising with every passing minute.

He sensed April before he saw her. A lazy breeze whisked by his face, teasing him with her scent. As he turned his eyes in her direction, he was stunned by the gorgeous woman walking toward him.

April’s golden hair was teased out in flowing waves across her shoulders, a glowing fall of silk that caught the light. She was wearing a red dress that hugged her curves and hung neatly from her hips, letting the skirt swish around her knees.

Her eyes sparkled, and her smile was wide, warm, and full of joy. He couldn’t believe the change in her. The bruises on her face had healed completely, and with rest and safety, April had become even more beautiful than the tough woman he’d known in the jungle.

“Hi, Gripp,” April said. “You look like you saw a ghost.”

“No,” he whispered. “An angel.”

April blushed, hiding her grin behind her hand. As she sat, Gripp just watched her, trying to burn every detail of her beauty into his mind.

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