Chapter Sixty-Six

Lena could feel the heat in her cheeks as she and Dane walked into the lodge late for dinner. She’d suggested they stay in bed and make a meal of the crackers and a broken-up toaster pastry she’d found in her bag, but Dane said he needed sustenance.

The couples gathered around the table had knowing grins on their faces but were too polite to say anything.

Justin, however, didn’t have an issue with being overly polite. “You two look like you’ve worked up an appetite.”

To Justin’s left, Garrett knocked him in the back of the head, and to his right, Angel gave him a shove in the arm.

“What? It’s pretty obvious they’ve been at it all afternoon.”

Oh God. Lena wanted to be swallowed up by the ground.

“We should have just eaten the Pop Tart,” Dane said by her ear with a chuckle. “Your face is so red. It makes me want to drag you back to bed.”

“Not helping.” She glared at him as she took her seat, but he only grinned wider.

“You’re just jealous,” Colton said.

“Nah.” Justin wrinkled up his nose. “I like the sex part fine. But I don’t do the happy part anymore.” He waved a finger in their direction as if they were freaks.

“It’s good to focus on something other than the mission,” Angel said as she scooped up the fussing baby and smiled into his face until he quieted.

Whatever smile Lena may have had on her face fell away, and the familiar mask of fear and guilt took its place. As humiliated as she would have been under normal circumstances, it made it worse to know they probably thought she was a bad parent. What kind of mother spent the afternoon in bed having sex when her child was in danger?

One who needed the man next to her so she wouldn’t fall to pieces, she told herself.

She knew Dane was doing the same thing.

Maybe they were using one another…but wasn’t that exactly what they would have been doing if their meeting at the bar had been real? They would have shared a night together. Relieved some stress, and gone on their way.

Except, now she didn’t know what would happen when it came time for her to go on her way.

She could have her daughter back in a matter of days. This whole mess could be over, and she would be free to continue on with her life.

That thought stopped her short. What life?

She didn’t have a home or a job. She had some money in the bank, but it wouldn’t last long. She couldn’t go back to Miami—Viktor would be looking for her. Unless he was in prison. But even then, he would probably send someone after her to make her pay for her betrayal.

Would she be offered protection in exchange for her testimony? She wasn’t sure the prosecutor would need her testimony. She could easily be discredited, since she’d helped Viktor.

The spaghetti on her plate looked as appetizing as a pile of worms. She swallowed to keep from gagging, and sipped her water.

The rest of the group had moved on, and were talking about more important things than her sex life.

“You okay? You look pale,” Dane whispered.

“I’m fine.”

No. She wasn’t fine. She was terrified.

She tried to erect a bubble of protection to keep the anxiety about the future at bay, but there was no stopping it.

In less than a week, the future would be upon her. One way or another.

She wasn’t ready.