“She’s been like that since we got in here.” Lowell shifted around in front of him. “Seeing him really rattled her, then she got mad at me that I wouldn’t get her out of here.” He widened his gray eyes. “I think I agree with Willow—this is a bad idea.”
“It is, but it’s all we have right now.” Cord checked his phone and the messages piling up. “I need to make some calls.” Hearing sniffling, he glanced at her again and felt his heart twist. “Did she eat?”
Lowell pointed to the dresser where two trays of food sat. “The woman who paid for our rooms showed up with that.”
“The pretty brunette?”
Smirking, Low laughed. “Thought you might notice her.”
“Hard not to.” He’d always had a thing for the power-hitters. Skirts and dolls he had no interest in, but women with fire and intelligence knocked him to his knees every day of the week. Maybe he could find her and thank her personally.
“How could you do this?” Brighton’s voice was shrill as she stood from the chair, the clothes hanging off her. Later, she could buy something that fit better using the allowance the organization provided by donations.
“I hear you.” Cord nodded. “It’s just for a short time and the only option we have.”
“He hates me,” she strained out, her veins in her neck popping and tears streaming down her face. She batted them away. “And he has every right.” Her voice was thick and raw with emotion. “I never wanted to see him again.”
“I’m sorry—”
“No!” Brighton stormed over, her brows tangled in anger. “No, you’re not going to apologize and think this is okay. You’ve pulled me from one nightmare into another. You seriously want me to stay here? With a man who’d rather see me dead than breathe the same air?”
“Stone would never want you dead. I think you know that, but this … this situation is tricky. I get that. He and I talked, worked things out.”
Her chin trembled with restrained tears as her gaze flittered to the carpet, and she looked so very lost. “I can’t be here. I have to leave. Now.”
“You have to—”
“No!” She slapped at him. “No, I don’t. I want to leave.”
“We can’t.” It was impossible for her to understand all that went into getting her here, away from Horvath—the operators, the RV, the specialists. “I know this … isn’t ideal. But I need you to stay for a while.”
“I can’t.” Her voice cracked and her brown eyes pooled with more tears. “I cannot see him every day knowing he hates me, that I … ruined him.”
“It’s in the past now. We’re fighting for your future. Got it?” He felt his phone buzzing. “Look, it’s late—why don’t you get some rest. You’ll feel better. Lock the door to your room. You’re safe here.”
“You’re stupid if you think it’s that easy! I’ll never be safe. Ladomer proved that to me.”
“You’re right. It’s not easy. None of it is. Not what you’ve been through, not what it will take for you to stay free. But it will be worth it.”
“Says you.” Defeat pushed her through the door joining the two rooms. She hesitated. Her gaze bounced to his, then back to the wood floor. “I … the door … I don’t want it shut.”
He appreciated the unexpected trust she’d just handed him, feeling safer with the door open than closed. She might not believe she was safe, but she felt safer being able to see them. “We’ll keep it ajar,” he agreed. “Low’ll be here. I’m going to make some calls, grab some food, then I’ll be back.”
Without responding, she drifted into the other room and curled onto the bed, facing the door.
Cord held up his phone in explanation to Lowell and headed out. In the lounge area, a couple sat enjoying a fire, so he moved out by the pool. Dialing, he sat at a stone table and bench to talk with his partner back in Maryland.
“How’s it going?” Marriott asked.
“Rough but workable.”
“Got some pretty hot potatoes back here.”
“Not surprised.” Cord’s gut tightened, hating the ramifications for those left behind after Brighton’s extraction. “We knew this would hit him where it hurt. Keep eyes on it.”
“Yep. Arrangements are in place for the next meetings.”
Nigeria, then Kabul. It was going to be long haul, but should net them some significant headway. “Good. Thanks.”
