Page 16 of Tracing Her Stolen Identity (Secure Watch #2)
The way he’d held her earlier before they left the safe house told her that much.
He was strong but gentle. Comforting but honest. He didn’t dismiss her fears by telling her everything would be okay—an empty promise in this situation.
Everything might not be okay, but he would be there to make sure she was physically safe.
She’d accepted that she might have to start over with her career even though the very idea made her sick.
She had worked so hard for so long to prove herself as an artist, but now, one man was systematically dismantling her work.
If even one gallery owner decided she was guilty, trial or no trial, she might as well hang up her easel and find a new career.
“Hanging in there?” Reece asked, his mouth covered with his arm as though he were coughing. He had told her he couldn’t talk to her, or it would be obvious he wasn’t alone.
“Yes, but it’s not easy in this position,” she admitted. “How much farther?”
“Ten,” he grunted as though coughing again.
Ten minutes or ten miles, she didn’t know, but she could hang on that long if it meant they’d get to safety.
The last thing she wanted was Reece to get hurt in all this mess—bodily or professionally.
In her opinion, it was above and beyond for Mina to bring them to Secure Watch, but maybe that was how they did business.
Skylar knew she could never repay them, but she vowed to try.
“When this is over, I’m going to talk to my parents and the lawyer about getting an advance from my settlement to pay Secure Watch,” she said, knowing he couldn’t respond. “I can’t say I don’t have the money when I do.”
As expected, he said nothing but dropped his hand from the wheel and squeezed her shoulder, telling her without words that he had things to say about it.
They rode in silence for what seemed like forever to her, his hand still on her and his breathing steady, though she knew he was wound tight and on watch for the slightest thing to be off.
All she wanted to do was get to Secure Watch, find a comfortable position for the first time in days and fall asleep.
Her body was starting to feel the effects of the last forty-eight hours.
If she wasn’t careful, she was going to require more medical attention than they could give her.
“You will not take money from your settlement account to pay Secure Watch,” he said, his words clipped.
“That’s what the money is for, Reece. To take care of my expenses.”
“Your medical and daily living expenses, not this,” he said, squeezing her shoulder. “If Secure Watch didn’t want to help you, they wouldn’t be, so please, don’t insult everyone who is by insisting on paying.”
“I’m disabled, not a charity case, Land,” she said, anger rising in her chest.
“Did you hear me say you were?” he asked. Skylar couldn’t see his face, but she could hear his exasperation loud and clear. Rather than distract him further, she sighed.
“Fine, I’ll graciously accept the help of all of you at Secure Watch without bringing up payment. That said, you can’t stop me from creating a special mosaic as a gift.” She stressed the word gift so he didn’t get his undies in a bundle about it.
Laughter rang out, making her smile, even though she didn’t want to. “I certainly can’t stop you from doing that, nor would I. Having a one-of-a-kind Skylar Sullivan mosaic is worth more than cash.”
This time, Skylar’s laughter filled the cab. “Land, you’re smooth, but not smooth enough to make me forget that my name is mud right now in the art community, not that it was all that great to begin with. I was making gains, but now…” She didn’t finish—she just shook her head under the blanket.
“Now, you’ll come back stronger than ever once the real culprit of the gallery crimes is caught and revealed. You’ll be hailed as the hero for helping apprehend and bring them to justice.”
“By hiding out in a cabin in the woods?”
“It’s all about the spin, Sky. Spin it right and not only does this not hurt your career, but it also helps it.”
“That would send this Binate guy right over the edge.”
“I like to aim high,” he said, and she could picture that one gray eye of his winking the way he used to do when they were kids.
“There’s a rest stop ahead. There aren’t any headlights behind me, so I’ll pull over and help you get upright and better secured for the rest of the ride.
We’re driving into heavy deer country, and I don’t want you to get hurt if I have to hit the brakes. ”
“You won’t hear me argue. Another ten minutes and I won’t be able to sit up.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” She heard the anger in his words, which was another reminder that he didn’t live in her world and never would.
“To what end, Reece? Getting out alive but sore was better than getting out dead in a body bag. Don’t judge me when you haven’t been a part of my life for years. I’m tougher than you think I am.”
“You’re right. I haven’t been part of your life for years, but whose fault is that?
” he asked softly. She suspected he didn’t want her to hear the question at all, but she had, and it made her grimace internally.
Before she could respond, the truck slowed and they took a turn to the right, rolling her gently into his side to remind her that she would never enjoy the comfort of his warm body ever again.
He left the truck idling when he got out and slammed the door.
Slammed was the apt description, but she was too busy trying to throw the blanket off to worry about his mood.
The faster she got upright, the better for her body and their mission.
Lingering in one spot wasn’t a good idea, and she wouldn’t be the reason for it.
By the time Reece had her door open, his gentleness had returned. “Take it slow,” he said, offering his hand for her to grab with one hand while she pushed herself up with the other.
Bright lights filled the truck as a vehicle came down the exit, illuminating Reece where he stood at the passenger door. Reece ducked as she heard a pop and then the sound of pinging metal.
“Stay down!” he yelled, dropping her hand, yanking his handgun from its holster and firing off a shot.