Page 8 of Brave Horizons (Barrington Billionaires #19)

ALEX

The expression on her face was new. He’d seen her exhausted. Worried. Punchy. But this was something different. She looked desperate. Like her fate was in his hands and it was a burden he didn’t want to carry.

“What did they say?” She nibbled her thumbnail as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.

“We’ve got a location to get to tomorrow. The border crossing process is moving forward.”

“No,” she said, subtly shaking her head. “Not tomorrow.”

“We can’t go today. By the time we break down camp and get on the road, the timeline won’t work. Heading out tomorrow will get us where we need to be at the right time.”

“I don’t want to go today. I don’t want to go tomorrow. We have supplies here, right? You planned for us to be out here longer if we needed. ”

“Uh,” Alex stuttered, taken aback by her reaction. “I have plenty of supplies. We’d be fine out here for a while. But Kenan said?—”

“I don’t care. I can’t go somewhere else already.

I need to catch my breath. None of this matters if I go crazy.

If I can’t help them take down my father because I snap, what good does that do?

” Her stance was changing. Topeka was looking steadier, confident she was right. That was what should happen.

“It’s not about the border crossing being ready. Something has changed. I don’t have all the details. All I know is it’s important I get you to the next location.”

“What changed?” Her brows furrowed with worry. “Does my father have a lead on where I am? How could he possibly?”

“He doesn’t. Or we don’t know that he does. You’re safe here.”

“Then let me stay here. Give me a chance to catch my breath. Please.” The tears forming in her eyes were like a dagger to his heart. It wasn’t his decision. Staying wasn’t an option. Kenan had made that clear. Something had progressed. That was a good thing.

“I think they’ve made progress on building the case against your father.

Remember they’re trying to assemble a group of people who can take this to a grand jury and indict everyone involved.

That requires weeding out people who have blood on their hands.

The only way your father’s operation has been able to continue this long is because powerful people have been protecting and facilitating what he does.

What you know and what you’ve found will only matter if you’re alive to testify.

And you need to be able to testify in a court that is not corrupted by your father’s reach. ”

“Progress? What kind of progress?” A tear streamed down her cheek and she wiped it away quickly.

“I don’t know.”

“Didn’t you ask? This is my life. It’s not some game. Call them back. Find out what changed and why I can’t stay here longer. I’m not ready to go. Don’t you want to stay here a little longer?”

There were too many questions to answer quickly.

So he drew in a deep breath and looked at her apologetically.

“I’ve never questioned anyone when it comes to things like this.

I know I don’t get to see the whole picture and there’s a reason for that.

But it means I’m not in a position to question the plan. I trust the people and the process.”

She glared at him intensely. “That’s bullshit. You could call them back and ask what’s going on. If I’m really the lynchpin in this process, I deserve to know what’s happening and why.”

“And I do,” Alex said, awkwardly bringing the conversation back around.

“You do what?” She waved her hand in frustration.

“Want to stay here. I thought we’d be here a little longer. I think it’s safe and it’s important for you to regroup. If we could, I’d stay here. ”

“We can. You only have to call them back and tell them that’s what’s happening. A few more days. Maybe a week.” She moved in closer to him, flashing a pleading expression. “Please.”

“I can call Kenan back, but it won’t change anything.

They need you over the border and meeting with the contacts they’ve lined up.

Your father is getting desperate. He knows how much you have on him and the longer you’re alive the more risk to his operation and freedom. Desperate men make dangerous choices.”

“So you’re saying if I stay out in the woods and give myself the slightest bit of a respite, I’m putting more people in danger? Any more blood spilled would be on my hands?”

“No, that’s not what I’m saying. None of this is your fault. But the process needs to move forward to mitigate any further havoc. I’ll call Kenan if you want to see what else he can share, but it was clear we need to leave tomorrow.”

“I can’t believe you’re selling me out like this. I thought you and I were...” Topeka turned away and brought her hand up to her forehead. “Never mind. Don’t bother calling. I’ll be ready to go tomorrow.”

“Topeka,” he moved toward her and stopped short of reaching out to touch her. He wanted to pull her back into his arms, but the moment passed. “I know this isn’t ideal and you’re exhausted.”

“I’m not tired, I’m just done. For the first time in months I can breathe. Out here no one is going to find me.”

“I’m sorry.” He knew his apology meant nothing.

She bore a burden no one should have to.

If he could take it all away, he would. Then it struck him, technically he could.

They were in the middle of nowhere. A campsite only he knew about.

There could be loads of reasons they became stuck out here.

He could say his truck died. A rock slide blocked the road.

Bad weather rolled through. He could buy them a couple days out here.

They could pretend they were just camping.

Go back to funny quips and sharing the work.

It was possible. But it was also wrong. Dangerous.

Topeka wasn’t the only one in peril. If she didn’t do what was needed, more people could die.

He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if his desire to keep her close caused something like that to happen.

“It’s fine. I’ll be fine. You’ll be passing me off to the next person soon enough. I won’t be your problem come tomorrow.”

“I’m not passing you off to anyone,” he asserted, rounding on her and looking her directly in the eye. “Wherever you go next, I’ll coming along. I’m going to see this through to the end.”

“Kenan knows that?” she asked tentatively.

“He will when I tell him. I understand they have to make moves and things have to progress, but they can’t stop me from being with you. Whatever happens next, I’ll be there.”

“Why?” she wiped again at her eyes, seeming angry at the tears she couldn’t completely control.

“I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “I guess I can’t imagine not doing that. That pesky hero complex of mine. ”

“You don’t have to. You’ve got work to get back to. A life.”

“I’ll get back to my life when you’re back to yours.” He nudged her with his shoulder. “Even if looks different than it used to.”