Page 51 of Bare
She settled her wig cap on her head and grabbed the wig from its stand. The one she’d worn in the lake was still wet, but this one was dry, the strands soft and smooth on her fingers.
“Are you packing?”
Aleksei’s voice startled her.
She whirled toward the doorway. “Why are you acting like this? Why do we need to leave? Why?”
That last word held all the other questions she didn’t know enough to ask. Questions Aleksei better damn well answer if he truly expected her to leave Ricketts Glen when he was acting like a paranoid maniac and her vacation had barely started.
“You’re in danger. Someone’s after you. I promise I’ll tell you everything once we get on the road, but we need to get out of here. Now.”
This wasn’t real. No one was after her. She was just a normal person. There was no reason for her to be in danger. What if Aleksei was lying? What if he wasn’t the person she thought he was? She’d seen his FBI consultant ID, but credentials could be faked.
Sage had begged her to let Ryker’s PI run a background check on him, but like an idiot, she’d refused. It didn’t feel right. From the first moment she met Aleksei, there had been an instant connection, as if their souls recognized each other. Running a background check felt crude, almost offensive.
“Do you realize how crazy this sounds?”
“I know. I’m sorry, but you have to believe me. Youarein danger, and we need to get away from here as soon as we can. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to you.”
His voice was softer now, less demanding and more pleading. His tone pulled at her, making her want to trust him, to do as he asked. His body was rigid. His eyes were dark. He looked grimand haunted. Her fingers ached to stroke the stress from his expression.
Damn her soft heart. All it had gotten her so far was reeling rejection.
Head not heart. Head not heart. Head not heart.
“I don’t know what to believe. I don’t even know whether to believe you’re with the FBI.”
Hurt tracked across his marble features and then disappeared. “What happened? What did I do to make you think I’d lie to you?”
If he didn’t recognize his rejection and understand the impact it might have on her, he really wasn’t the man she thought he was.
Before she could answer, his words cracked through the silence like thunder. “Scratch that. I know what I did. I know we need to talk, but right now, we don’t have time. Once you get your things together, I need you to get in your car and follow me to the park office. We can use your phone for one quick call to my former boss before we ditch it. He can verify my identity for you.”
“How can I trust him? He could be some random person playing a part. You go. I’ll stay and take my chances.”
The words felt like dirt in her mouth, gritty and foul-tasting. She believed Aleksei thought they were in danger, but she was still stinging from his rejection, and the wounded animal within her was striking back.
His lips became a thin, flat line. “I didn’t want to tell you like this, but I talked to my former supervisor when I was up at the park office. There was an explosion at Pannetone & Associates today. There were three casualties: two males and one female. There was an explosion at my apartment too. The investigators think the events are linked. Someone also ransacked your apartment. I don’t have details or reasons, but we are both indanger. I’m not leaving you here alone. If I need to sit here all night and answer your questions, I will, but please at least pack and drive up to the park office with me to talk. Sage knows you’re here, and other people likely do as well. The campsite is registered in your name. It’s not going to be hard to find you. If we stay at this cabin, we’re sitting ducks.”
Thoughts clogged through her mind, quick, heavy, and frantic, like Irish dancers.
Most of her coworkers were dead. She’d escaped death. Again. It didn’t seem fair.
Who else had survived? Were they feeling that same twist of survivor’s guilt she was?
Had Sage heard? If so, she’d be nauseous with worry. Two males? Who had been spared? Nick? Armando? Dante?
One female. Was it Marge or Lily?
She should have tried harder with Lily. Been kinder. Been more understanding. Maybe it was neither of them. Maybe there was a visitor.
She shouldn’t pray for it to be other people, but death was so much easier when it was someone you didn’t know. But it shouldn’t be. It shouldn’t be easier.
Strong arms pulled her into a firm chest. Aleksei’s sweatshirt was cool on her cheek and smelled of spiced pine and night air. It felt good to rest her head against something solid. To have his strength ground her and pull her thoughts out of their spiral.
“Shhh. It’s OK. Don’t cry. It’s going to be OK.”
She lifted a shaking hand to her exposed cheek, and her fingers touched wetness. She hadn’t realized she was crying.
