Page 35 of Rescued By the Operative

“Wynella?” Joaquin pipes up. “That’s not the name I have on the paperwork.”

Of course he doesn’t, because that’s not my name.

“What are you doing here? What’s going on?” Georgeanne asks.

“I’m just in town to run some errands,” I say.

“Bullshit,” the girl says, surprising me with her salty language. She goes on, “Why are you dressed like that? Where’s your chaperone? Why in the hell is Joaquin giving you keys?”

I go on to explain, “I have special privileges. The less you know about it, the better.”

“Again, bullshit.”

This isn’t working. This is very, very bad.

I turn to Joaquin. “I gotta go to my room and rest up.”

I’m about to head down the hallway and out of sight, but Georgeanne calls after me.

“Why did you leave the cell door open?”

I pause. Shit. Finally, I admit, “Because it didn’t matter. Your dad was on his way to pick you up.”

“Why didn’t you tell anyone I stabbed you?”

The men erupt in surprise.

“Little Georgie stabbed you? No way!” Joaquin exclaims. “Wait, don’t say anything else yet. I’m going to pop some popcorn.”

Just then, the back door opens and closes. And that’s it for me. I dart out the front door, nearly killing myself on the busted concrete steps, but managing to jump over the gap at the last second, landing on the grass.

I consider saying the safe word for Agent Carl, which signals that things have gone south and he needs to get me.

But I don’t.

Against my better judgment, I text Jake.

Chapter Fourteen

Jake

The text comes in while I’m driving around aimlessly, looking for any sign of Blondie.

I need to blow off some steam. Anywhere but here.

Fine, but you’ll have to get into my bed for that. No more up against walls or using chairs to get our freak on.

When she texted me the address, I didn’t know what to expect. But certainly not the famous shit hole of Darling Creek.

Blondie is waiting outside for me.

The sheer amount of cameras on the perimeter is concerning, but she assures me her housemates are not drug dealers or into anything illegal. I’d always assumed it was a meth house.

When we arrive at the ranch, everyone else is gone.

In my room, Blondie looks so tired.

I go to her and hold her against me.