“Yeah, yeah.” With a nudge of his head, he adds. “The room you’re staying in is the last one on the right.”
I turn and head in that direction. When I get there, I open the door, and together we enter a small guest room. If there is anything else in the room, it’s completely ignored as I stare at the queen-size bed. It’s made up with fresh linens and covered with what looks like a homemade quilt. It looks so inviting that I find myself blinking back tears. Abed!
On top of the bed is a small stack of clean clothes, and on the floor, there’s a new pair of black boots with thick socks stuffed into them. I know, without having to check, they’re my size. This is, after all, supposed to be the last resort safehouse.Of course,Ledger would have stuff for me if this is where Dad wanted our rendezvous to be.
Ledger puts the tray on top of the dresser I had missed when entering the room and says, “Eat and get some rest. We’ll talk in the morning.”
“What?” I turn around to give him my attention as the bed is immediately forgotten. “No, I’m not staying here until morning. I’ll crash for about an hour or so, then Dad and I can head out.”
He glares at me. “It’s later than you think it is. Morning isn’t all that far off. We can talk about what happens then.”
His objection isn’t reasonable. Still… Doesn’t he understand the severity of the situation? And why hasn’t Dad checked in on me yet? My eyes flicker from Ledger to the open doorway that remains empty. Something doesn’t feel right.
“Ledger.” I look back at him, frowning. “Where’s Dad?”
“Blair…”
It’s the tone he uses as he takes a step toward me that warns me something’s wrong. My heart seizes. Terror, unlike anything I’ve ever felt before, shoots through my veins like lightning, turning me cold.
“Whereis he,Ledger?”
He crosses his arms over his chest as he pins me with a look I can’t decipher.
Oh. We’re holding on to secrets, are we?
If Ledger thinks this is a game, he’s going to lose.
Locking my legs, I lift my chin and glower at him. I’m not backing on this. He’s going to tell me what he knows. Until he does, we can stand here all night.
Seconds tick by. Then a few more. When an entire minute of absolute silence passes, Ledger’s the one to cave first.
“He’s not coming,” he finally admits.
The blood drains from my face and my shoulders go slack. “W-what? Why not? Is he okay? What happened?”
Ledger’s jaw works a bit before he huffs out a sigh and says, “This was always the plan, Blair. Anchor is going to go after the threat to you. Once it’s gone, he’ll come back to let us know it’s safe for you to return to the life you left.”
Dad’s going after…? Bile climbs up my throat. I feel sick as the room spins and denial blossoms in my chest.
“Tell me you’re lying,” I demand in a weak whisper. “Tell him to come pick me up.”
Regret twists Ledger’s handsome features. “I can’t do that, Blair. I just texted him a few minutes ago to let him know you’resafe. He’s probably already destroyed his burner and is on his way to take care of shit right now.”
The floor feels like it’s falling away beneath my bare feet. No… No, this isn’t right. He’s not supposed to go after the danger. We were supposed to lie lowtogether. He can’t be out there alone. I know he’s the best at what he does but we don’t know who’s after him. He could be overpowered, snuck up on, blown to smithereens… Panic wells up as my throat squeezes shut. My legs wobble as my body begins to tremble.
A sob threatens to work its way free from my throat. I attempt to choke it down as I try to keep it together. My hand flies to my chest as if I could use it to push down the rising despair.
Ledger’s solid form is suddenly there, catching me before I can collapse. His arm wraps around my waist, then he pulls me under the crook of his other arm. In the back of my mind, I can’t help but notice—and enjoy—the soft layer between him and the muscle beneath him.
Then I remember why I’m under his arm and not on the road with Dad.
A well of outrage and the sting of betrayal help me shove aside all thoughts of comfort that come within Ledger’s arms. Both give me the strength to lock my legs and push away. As I stumble back, out of his grasp, I glare up at Ledger.
“How dare you lecture me about not following the plan when the plan I knew doesn’t even exist!”
Ledger has the good grace to at least look contrite. “Yeah, I know, but?—”
My palm makes contact with the side of his face, the crack resounding in the small bedroom. Ledger’s head snaps to the left under the force of my swing. My hand stings from the strength I put behind it, but I ignore the pain.
