It was only when they sat in Simon’s car that she faltered. He slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, then glanced over at her.
Marianna sat frozen in her seat, staring out the front window, her hand, white, gripping the door handle. She looked so much smaller than she did moments ago. Scared. He reached his hand over her, and she flinched. Barely, but it was enough to hit him like a blow to the chest. Still, she trusted no one. Not even him.
“Your seat belt, sweetheart,” he said, softening his voice. “I’m just buckling you in, okay?”
Marianna lowered her hand to her chest. She bit her lip and nodded.
Simon pulled the seat belt over her and fastened it, and he couldn’t stop himself from brushing his fingers over her hand. Her eyelashes fluttered closed for an extra beat.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” he whispered. “Just hang on a little longer.”
She nodded again, and this time she turned to look at him. Her eyes were clouded with fear.
“Trust me, Mari,” he whispered. “I’m here for you.”
“I know.” Her words were so soft, but they were there.
He could process that later. Right now, he had to get out of there. Get Marianna far away from this mess. Then he could deal with the tightening in his chest as her hazel eyes met his. He could give in to the urge to comfort her every way he knew how. Goddamn, how the hell could he say goodbye to this woman again when all he could think about was pulling her closer?
Simon shifted into Drive and skidded out of the parking lot, up the dusty driveway. He turned out onto the road, heading back through the vineyards. Marianna said nothing. He pulled into Max’s estate and turned off the car, but neither of them moved.
Marianna went still. “You called the police.”
There was accusation in her voice.
“Yes.”
“You arranged for Derek’s team in the forest, the police, the warrant, everything?” she said, her voice shaking.
“I couldn’t take the risk with you, Mari,” he said. “And it wasn’t a sure thing. We could have pulled back if you were wrong.”
“And if there were no drugs, if William hadn’t shown up, if this was all a big mistake, I never would have known about all these plans.”
Simon swiped a hand over his face. “Maybe. But I was almost sure, Mari.”
She looked up at him, her eyes stormy. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Simon shook his head, his eyes focused on the road. “You weren’t ready to make that decision yet, but you were out of time.”
She swallowed and shook her head slowly. “So you did it behind my back? What if you’d implicated me in this?”
Simon gritted his teeth. “I had to. The police know you’re willing to cooperate, and there’s enough evidence to suggest you had no idea about any of this.” He sighed. “Goodwin had too much to lose for you to count on twenty-year-old loyalties. And the cost of being wrong was too high.”
“You should have told me,” she whispered.
A growl of frustration rose up in him. “This is different, Mari. This was your life at risk. I did what I needed to keep you safe. I would hate for that to mean you don’t trust me, but that’s still better than seeing you hurt. It had to stop somewhere.”
Marianna frowned.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “Too many people have steered your life. And maybe it seems like I did the exact same thing. But that’s not what this is about. I called in the AFP to get you out of this mess. So you can steer your own life.”
Her bottom lip trembled, and she looked away. Silence. The heat of the sun flooded in through the windshield.
“Let’s go inside,” he said gently. “We’re going to roast in here.”
She nodded and climbed out of the car. He followed her up the path to the front door. He opened it and disarmed the alarm. Marianna was close behind, with a lost look in her eyes. Simon locked the door and leaned back against the solid wood, his eyes closed. Safe, finally. His chest rose and fell in heavy breaths.
“What happens next?” she asked.
