Ben thought she was going to close the door in his face, but at the last second, she seemed to reconsider. “Okay. You can come in. What about him?”
She tilted her head in the direction of the truck, and Ben glanced over his shoulder at his brother, who was on the phone to who Ben assumed was Jackson or Easton.
“He’s my brother. He’s going to wait in the truck while we talk if that’s okay.”
She nodded. “Fine. Come in.”
He stepped inside when she moved back. Glancing around Mona’s house, he waited for Paige to close the door and lead the way to the living area.
“Where’s Mona?”
“She said she’s giving us privacy,” Paige explained.
“How did she know you would talk to me?”
Paige shrugged and motioned for him to sit. She moved to stand by the window as if too anxious to remain still.
“Mona and Wally think I should trust you. They’ve never told me to reach out to anyone before, not even the police. But you are different. I’m not sure what you’ve done to convince them of that, but it worked, whatever it was.”
“I wish I knew because I’d try it on you.”
She whipped around, her hair flying away from her face. “This isn’t a game, Ben. You have reporters wanting to shove TV cameras in your face. Being seen with you might get me killed if I’m caught on video in any way. I wish you’d believe that it’s better if I don’t say anything.”
“I wish you’d believe that I can keep you safe if you’d tell me what I’m keeping you safe from.”
Luke’s voice interrupted. “He’s right.”
Paige jerked and backed up until the wall hit her back. Ben wasn’t sure why Luke was standing at the back of the room, buthe figured it wasn’t good. Luke and Paige squared off, swapping intense stares that had Ben wondering if he was witnessing an old-fashioned standoff.
“I’m Luke, Ben’s br—”
“His brother. I know. He talks about you and the others a lot.”
Luke smirked. “He talks a lot about a lot of things. And you probably feel like he’s been lying to you the whole time he’s been in town. He had to though, and because he did, a little boy got out of a tough situation. One almost as bad as the situation you’re in.”
Ben’s head whipped around, and he saw her flinch.
“But I never told…How did you…”
“Finding things out is my superpower. Ben wanted to hear things from you, but for me to have his six, I had to know the truth using the tools at my disposal.”
She glared at him. “You had no right.”
He glared back. “I have every right. He’s determined to help you even though you don’t want it. I would rather get out of here, but I suppose I owe you for watching out for him when you were kids. And now that I know what you’re hiding...well, I don’t think I can walk away from you either.”
“That’s not up to you.”
“Shit, lady, just tell him the truth. You need help, and we can give it. You’re only wasting time by digging in your heels.”
Ben didn’t like how heated things were becoming between them. “Luke, it’s okay.”
Luke nodded, then pierced Paige with a pointed stare. “Stop trying to take this on by yourself. It’s too much. You know I’m right.”
Ben fought the urge to step in and defend Paige. She handled herself well with his brother, and he was impressed. Luke was impressed too, though he would never let it show. His brother lifted his chin at him before he left through the front door. Ben turned back to see Paige still staring at the spot Luke vacated, tears streaming down her face.
He closed the distance between them. Pulling her against his chest, she sank into his embrace. Sobs shook her body, and he tightened his hold. Her tears soaked his shirt, and he stroked her hair with one hand, hoping the ministrations would comfort her. For once, he had no idea what to say or what to do. He wanted to tell her everything would be all right, but he suspected she wouldn’t believe him.
Her sobs subsided, but she stood still in his arms. His hand moved from her hair to her back, sliding up and down until she pulled back. She looked up at him, and he touched her cheek.
