“That's why Asher is coming here to take her back. You're going to stay at my place where we can keep you both safe from whoever broke in here.”
“Like hell I am,” Justus said. “See, I told you people are making decisions for me.”
“Justus!”Liberty scolded. “If he says you're going with him, you are.”
“Idon't understand why we need to split up. Why can't we stay together? Why do you have to go to Fool's Gold?”
“Asher offered for Liberty to come and stay with him; he said you could sleep on the couch but that you'd probably want a bed. I have a bed at my place since Rawlins is with Chaney. We just moved in, so he hasn't even unpacked. You could claim the space as your own,”Rafferty explained.
“What kind of place is it?”Justus asked.
“We're in a condo complex with a pool.”
“A pool.”
“It's also near campus, so if you should return to classes,”he pointed out. We didn't realize there were several college-age occupants when we moved in, but we found out after talking to those hanging out at the pool.”
“This could work then,”Justus said, but her temper still simmered. “But you aren't taking my dog from me.”
“Never dreamed of it,”he said.
“Then why are you still holding him?”
He grinned. “To piss you off.”
CHAPTER 4
Justus got settledin the second bedroom at Rafferty’s condo, placed the dog bed in the corner, hung her clothes up in the closet, stowed folded pieces in the drawers of the one chest, and went to the living room, where she found him on the sofa, phone in hand, again with her traitorous dog curled up in his lap. He’d been on the phone so many times since the break-in earlier today that she was surprised his cell still had a charge.
She walked to the window and looked at the pool area. It was a nice large pool with several umbrella tables and reclining chairs around the perimeter. It looked like a firepit was off to one side for cooler nights. She could imagine sitting out there, enjoying herself. She wanted to change into her bathing suit and go down to enjoy the water, but Rafferty had warned her she couldn’t leave the unit without him.
Turning around, she walked over to him. He looked up at her, and she whispered, “I’m going to change to go to the pool. You can join me down there or not.”
She didn’t wait for him to respond. She went to do just that. Pulling out her swimsuit, she brushed and put her hair into a bun. Then she changed into the two-piece suit, noticing it was a little baggy in the butt. Had she lost weight?
Going to the mirror, she studied her reflection from the side, and for an instant, Justus saw the navy-blue skimpy bikini she’d had to wear day and night during her captivity. She shook her head, focusing on her reflection, dispelling that horrid image. She had lost weight because the butt of the suit was baggy. Running a finger underneath the edge, she positioned it in place. Even her stomach appeared flatter. Glancing back into the mirror, she saw herself in that navy blue bikini again and closed her eyes tight as she began to tremble.
She ran over to the bed, pulled back the comforter and sheets, and crawled inside before she let her sobs flow, her body shaking from the pent-up anguish. Whatever had made her think that she could ever go swimming? Who was she fooling? Her therapy sessions were working, but she was far from being healed. Neither was she ready to live an everyday life yet.
Oh, how she wished she had her mother here with her. But she didn’t. She didn’t even have her sister because of that damn break-in today. Liberty was returning to Fool’s Gold to stay with Asher. And here she was, stuck with Rafferty. The guy who was supposed to protect her, but how could he keep her safe from her nightmares?
“I appreciateyou both getting back in touch with me today. I know if you’re in DC for meetings, there have to be plenty of things going on to keep you busy.” Rafferty glanced at his watch, wondering how long it could take Justus to change into her swimsuit. She’d been in her room twenty minutes and not returned, but he was sure she hadn’t slipped past him out the door.
“There is, but tomorrow’s agenda will be a bear and harder for you to reach us,” Hank said. “I can’t stress enough how important it is for you to keep these two women safe while underyour watch. I’m glad you’re up to the task and can think of safe options when something goes wrong. Thank you for reporting in. We’ll stay in touch as the trial date approaches.”
Rafferty ended the call and put the phone in his pocket before placing For All on the sofa and going down the hall to the bedrooms. He stopped outside of the closed door to Justus’ room and knocked.
There was no answer.
He knocked again. “Justus, are you ready to go?”
He waited a moment and then leaned his ear to the door. He thought he heard muffled sounds coming from within. He reached for the knob and tested it. It turned.
“Justus, I’m coming in. Are you dressed?”
He pushed the door open and didn’t see anyone in the room. His palms became sweaty, and his breathing was erratic as his heart skipped a beat. Where could she have gone? Had someone come into his home without him realizing it and abducted her right out from under his nose while he was on the phone?
Stepping into the room, he saw the clothes she’d been wearing piled up on the floor. He pivoted to the other side of the room and saw there was a mound under the comforter.
