“No, but if you’ll recall, nothing happened when I first arrived at the compound. I was a naively trusting child then. I know better now.”
“But I hired EM Security to—”
“I know why you hired them. And I realize you have faith in them. But I do not share your confidence.”
“They rescued us both.”
“Men who commit violence—whatever their reason—are still thugs. I neither want nor trust one to make my decisions, especially when he feels justified in doing it against my will.”
“Is that really how you feel?” Valeria sounded shocked.
Laila didn’t understand how her sister could see things so differently. “You are paying them money, and what have they done? Kept us apart while dictating when, how, and where we can go—over my objections, and despite the fact they have failed at keeping our location hidden more than once.”
“But—”
“You never asked me how I thought we should handle the situation. There are ways other than trusting an organization with an obvious problem keeping secrets. If you want to continue trusting them, I cannot stop you. But I plan to stay safe in the way that best suits me.”
Valeria sighed. “Stop being so stubborn. I am worried about Jorge, and now you are making me worry about you, too.”
“No. Focus on our little man. I will be there as soon as possible, and I will be fine.” Now that they had left Victor behind in Florida, and he had no device he could use to trace her, everything should be all right.
After a little more chatter, she ended the call and set the phone aside.
Time to make a plan.
“Laila?” Trees called, the steps from his big feet loud as he made his way toward her. “Everything all right?”
It would be soon. “Valeria needs me. I must reach her no later than tomorrow. You will take me, yes?”
“Not until I know it’s safe, no.”
“But Jorge is sick and—”
“In what way?”
“It seems he has an ear infection and—”
“His mother can take care of him.”
“Valeria needs help and rest, and she is too distraught—”
“Laila, keeping you safe is my priority. Kane is with her twenty-four seven. He’ll give your sister whatever help she needs.”
“What does he know about children?”
Trees shrugged. “I don’t know. But he’s smart and capable. He’ll figure it out. And you’ll stay with me, safe and sound.”
“So you have decided that I should abandon my sister when she and my nephew need me most?”
Trees scowled. “Don’t twist my words, Laila. You need to let your sister handle her son—with Kane’s help. If Jorge needs a doctor, he’ll get the kid one. But there’s nothing you can do, except put yourself at risk. I won’t let that happen on my watch.”
Laila stared up at Trees. The resolution on his face told her he wasn’t playing around. As far as he was concerned, she wasn’t going anywhere.
Too bad for him she had other ideas. Now she just had to figure out how to make them a reality.
Five hours later, Trees pretended to read a news article on his phone while he watched Laila. Admittedly, that was his newest addiction. Everything about her was feminine yet fiery, both passionate and reserved. He was desperate to peel back her layers and understand her. Why? He’d never felt the impulse to do that with any other woman.
Not that it mattered. He terrified her. If he was drowning, she wouldn’t throw him a lifeline—especially after their earlier argument. She was pissed he wouldn’t abandon his marching orders to take her to Valeria. Maybe she’d understand…someday. But he wasn’t counting on it.
Not for the first time, Laila stifled a yawn as she flipped through a fashion magazine he’d picked up for her after she’d eyed it in the big-box store. To his shock, she set it aside and stood, stretching her graceful arms above her head and arching her back. It was impossible not to see that she had great tits. He was a fucking heel for noticing, but why lie to himself and pretend he hadn’t?
“I am tired,” she announced. “I will go to bed.”
He didn’t have to coerce or even prompt her? That was a first. Usually, she fought sleep, even leaving lights on, he suspected because she feared being vulnerable in the dark. So why was she now volunteering? Was she finally starting to trust him?
“Go ahead. I’ll be along soon.” Once exhaustion had claimed her, he’d slink into bed and catch a few hours of sleep.
She shook her head. “I-I feel safer with you beside me.”
Since when? “Let me check in with the office and make sure we’re secure.”
“But—”
“I’ll only be a handful of steps and a few moments away. That will give you some privacy to get ready.” He picked up his SIG and shoved it in his holster, covering the bulge with a baggy shirt. “You’ll be fine, Laila. I promise.”
And I’ll see if you’re up to something in the process.
He slipped on his shoes and headed outside. The January air was crisp, the wind cool and humid. But he couldn’t complain. Tonight was probably a good twenty degrees warmer than his hometown in Fayetteville, West Virginia. Sometimes, he missed the hell out of the fog clinging to the mountains and the leaves changing spectacular colors to usher in fall. Not that this part of Alabama wasn’t pretty with its moss-covered trees, white churches, and Southern charm. But it wasn’t the same.
Vaguely, he wondered what the rest of his family was doing. Last he’d heard, his father’s age and declining health had forced him to retire from coal mining. His oldest sister had taken a bunch of student loans and gone to college. She’d planned to move back home to teach but instead married a rich boy from Charleston and never looked back. His youngest had gotten pregnant in high school, failed to graduate, and stayed home to perpetuate the poverty that had marked his childhood. His brothers had apparently scattered to the wind.
It had been a few years since he’d talked to any of them. He’d walked away from that cramped, pale green clapboard house with its single bathroom, peeling paint, and a slew of memories, sure that leaving would lighten their load. Zy had become his brother after basic. Together they’d survived hostiles, war on foreign soil, and utter hell. He hadn’t given his actual siblings much thought—until tonight. The way Laila gave and took strength from hers made him wonder if he’d given his family one less mouth to feed when he’d left nearly eighteen years ago…or abandoned them when they’d needed him most.
The vague sense of shame clung when his phone buzzed in his pocket and he answered. “What’s up, Zy?”
“Long fucking day. How about you?” His buddy sounded tired.
“Not too bad.” A total lie, but he didn’t want to add to Zy’s problems now. “But a few long fucking nights.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m driving this recreational tank from campground to campground, trying to take our sweet time returning to Lafayette.”
“Yeah. Is the plan not working?”
“Oh, it is. We haven’t been followed.” At least not since they’d left Orlando. “I’m sure of that.”