Holly looked at her, stricken, as if just now realizing the impact of her choices.“I’m sorry, Andy.I know it’s my fault.I can’t help we share the same face.”
“It’s not just your face,” Andrea said softly, shaking her head sadly.“It’s your lifestyle.You think nothing can touch you because you don’t face the consequences of your actions.I do.You steal for a living.What did you take this time that you have the government looking for you?”
“The less you know, the better.Let’s just pack, and we’ll go away somewhere.”
“We can’t go together.We’re an even bigger target then.”She’d find another location with WITSEC.It wasn’t like this was her first rodeo, but she had hoped it would be her last.She was so tired of living on the run, scared of Holly’s enemies finding her again.Andrea just wanted to live her own life.
Holly took Andrea’s hands into her own and looked at her earnestly.“I’ll get you some place safe, and I’ll go my own separate way.I’ll never look you up.I’ll disappear from your life for good.”
“It’s better you leave now.”Andrea pulled her hands away and diverted her gaze from Holly.Her sister had abandoned her once, and she’d survived—barely.She could do it again.
“Fine,” Holly said after a moment, her voice hollow.“Let me get my bag, and I’ll go.I am sorry for everything, Andrea,” Holly mumbled softly before heading down the hall.
Andrea’s eyes lifted to the bag.She peeked inside, unable to hide a grimace at the bright orange material.She pulled it out.It was soft and sheer.It was a scarf.Covered in a floral pattern.She looked inside the bag to find another scarf just as bright and ugly.
She would say one thing for Michael, he had terrible taste in clothing.She looked at the label on the bag to see who had sold this kind of material and dropped the bag.Andrea recognized the label.
“She was right,” Andrea whispered to herself.Holly was right about Michael.He was using her to get to Holly.Or worse, suspected she was Holly.“Holly,” Andrea called down the hall.
“What?What is it?”Holly came running back into the room.
They both froze, hearing the squeal of tires outside the door.
“We have to go, now.”Holly grabbed Andrea’s arm and dragged her through the house and out the back door.
“What about our stuff?”
“We can buy stuff later.We have to run now.”Ice ran through Andrea’s veins at the sound of terror in Holly’s voice.
“What about the car?”Why run when they had a car?
“They’re too close.We have to hoof it.We’ll go through some backyards and lose them and find a car.”Holly kept up a punishing pace as if she were an Olympic runner.They had only made it two blocks, and Andrea was already out of breath, but the grip her sister had on her arm didn’t allow for her to slow down.
Andrea didn’t bother mourning any loss of the things she was leaving behind.Not pictures or papers.Not even clothes.Everything in the house was replaceable.She had done that on purpose so she could leave without a single regret.Though she wished she could tell Maya goodbye.The woman was the closest thing she had to a friend.
“We have to stop,” Andrea panted.
“We can’t stop.”They hadn’t heard anyone following them, but Andrea hadn’t been looking.Her only focus had been to run.
“I can’t breathe.”Andrea wheezed, feeling a stitch forming in her side.Damn, she was out of shape.She always assumed when she went on the run, she’d just get in her car and drive.Running and evading hadn’t been her plan.
“Two more blocks.”Andrea hated how calm and even-breathed Holly sounded.The woman must run a lot.She bet if she were in her heels that wouldn’t be the case.
Andrea sucked it up and followed her sister for two more blocks before stopping at the end of an alley and ducking behind some bushes, so they were out of view.They were out of the residential side of town and in the business.The streets were mostly empty since most people were on the east side of town near the beach and restaurants and bars.They were on the commercial side where everything was closed.
Andrea leaned against the concrete wall, trying to catch her breath.Holly peeked between the bushes, probably looking to see if they had been followed.Andrea hated that she was barely winded.Obviously, she was no stranger to running.
“Who’s after us?Your abusive boyfriend?”Andrea panted when she wanted to sneer the words.Once she caught her breath, she would sound work on sounding more irate.
Holly turned to face her, a look on her face that Andrea didn’t like.“Carlos didn’t hit me, but I am running from him.”
“Why, did you steal from him too?”
“Technically, yes.”Her eyes darted side to side.
“Explain,” Andrea demanded evenly, even though inside she was getting angry.
Holly winced.“Andrea, the less you know, the better.”
