6

Blood drained from Skylar Hart’s face and her skin turned ashen. She looked ready to pass out. Of course she would be terrified; Slade had held her against her will in Barnes’s van. He’d hauled her over his shoulder in the garage and threatened to end her life. And now, he’d locked her inside his vehicle.

She lunged for freedom, shoving against the door in a frantic attempt to escape.

Slade remained calm, letting Skylar’s survival instincts play out. He doubted she would listen until she had exhausted all other options. Besides, she wouldn’t be able to exit until he disengaged the locks.

He pulled the car a safe distance off the road and shifted into park. He let the engine idle, adjusted the heater. Keeping his movements slow and unthreatening, he faced her. “I am not going to hurt you.”

She continued struggling with the door as if she hadn’t heard him. When her efforts proved futile, she spread her hands and smacked palms on the window, but the glass held firm. Screams erupted from her throat as panic, raw and intense, spurred her actions.

“It’s all right,” Slade soothed.

Skylar abandoned the window, turned clawed fingers toward him and lunged.

Slade caught her wrists before she could inflict damage. “Easy now.” He bent his head, capturing her gaze as he kept his tone even, his voice low. “If I’d wanted to harm you, I would have already.”

Her screams gave way to sobs as she twisted in his grasp. “Then why…did you lock me…in the car?” She choked out the words between deep, ragged breaths. “Why won’t you let me go?”

“I wish I could. But Barnes and Mayhew can’t discover you’re still alive.”

“They don’t have to know. I can hide.”

Most likely, she’d run to the police. But, neither option would keep her safe. “There’s nowhere you could go on your own that they wouldn’t find you.” His warning might have sounded like an idle threat, but it was the truth. Barnes was a genius at using the Internet to access private information. Even if Skylar skipped town, he could use his skills to track down and ultimately silence her. “You have no idea what Barnes is capable of.”

“He’s not here. You are.” Her gaze touched on his hands. “What exactly are you capable of?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Slade had no qualms about using his strength when necessary, but he would never—never—intentionally harm a woman. He eased his hold a little. “You have nothing to fear from me.”

“I want to go home.”

“You can’t go on as if nothing happened.” He leaned in, willing her to listen, to understand. “As much as I would’ve preferred to prevent your involvement in this, it’s too late. You have to come with me.”

Wide eyed, she pressed her back against the door distancing herself as if a wild animal had her trapped. “You don’t have to do this. I need to live.” Skylar’s passionate plea held quiet desperation.

He softened his voice. “I am not a killer.”

“No? Then w-who are you?”

Skylar wasn’t asking for his name; she wanted to know what kind of man he was, needed validation that his words were true. But how could he convince her? All evidence was stacked against him, and it would take help from above to gain her trust.

Father, help me convince her. Give her a peace that only You can provide.

Slade nodded toward the glove compartment where he’d tucked his official identification. “I have ID in there. I’m going to release your hands. If you come after me again, I’ll restrain you again. If you want to know who I am, you’ll take out my badge.” He eased his grip and let her wrists loose.

Skylar rubbed her skin where the zip tie had left dark bruises.

A sudden urge to smooth away the pain took him off guard. He held natural protective instincts, but to feel something, anything, for this woman aside from professional courtesy was dangerous. Slade placed his hands on his thighs, keeping them and his thoughts at a distance. “I’ve been working undercover to take down Aston Barnes and his affiliates. Go ahead. Check it out.”

She continued to peer at him as if he had emerged from the sea’s murky depths; a monster, unwilling and unable to be tamed. Slowly, keeping a wary eye on him, she retrieved the leather wallet containing his credentials. She flipped open the tri-fold, glanced at his picture and then studied the gold and navy badge nestled within a recessed cut-out. She tested the weight, ran her thumb over the textured surface as if to assure herself of its authenticity.

While the badge’s shape and size matched industry standards, Slade had the surface custom designed with a cross to reflect his faith, integral to his company’s mission.

“Slade Marshal. Trinity Security Agent.” Skylar read his company’s name printed across the bottom. “I thought security personnel set up security systems and acted as bodyguards, not undercover investigators.”

“I do what needs to be done.”

Skylar narrowed her eyes. “Legally?”

“Always.”

She traced the engraved cross with an index finger. “So, you’re an undercover Christian?”

“You could say that.” Although pretending to be unscrupulous took its toll, he never forgot to Whom he vowed his allegiance.

Smoothing a thumb over the letters flanking the Christian symbol, she asked, “AMDG. What do those letters stand for?”

“Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. For the greater glory of God. My partner and I keep our faith intertwined with our work. We not only protect our clients physically, we pray for them spiritually.”

“What about your enemies? Do you pray for them too? Aston Barnes? Ike Mayhew?”

“I did once.” But since then, he’d had a difficult time adding to the obligatory request that God change their hearts—the two were scoundrels, and were likely to remain so, judgmental as that may be.

Skylar drew in a breath, started to speak and then hesitated as a deep V formed between her brows. “How can a Christian work undercover, under pretenses? Aren’t we supposed to be honest?”

So, she shared his faith. Good. Perhaps, given time, she would understand his motivations. “I like to remain as straightforward as possible. But when lives are on the line, I won’t hesitate to take things to the edge of truth.”

Skylar shifted. Her eyes narrowed. “Is it necessary now? Are you on the ‘edge’ of truth with me?”

Slade hoped revealing his identity would set her at ease, but it looked as if she’d decided he wasn’t human, more like a demon determined to trick her into believing his lies. Her stiff posture and rigid shoulders spoke volumes.

Still, he wouldn’t sugarcoat his answer to sway her opinion. “My top priority is bringing Aston Barnes to justice. If that means I have to keep some things private from you, or anyone else, I will. Discretion is part of my job.”

“You take your job seriously, then.” What could’ve been construed as a question came out as a matter-of-fact statement. “Who hired you to take down Aston Barnes?”

“No one.”

If his answer surprised her, she didn’t show it. “So, this is personal?”

“Very.” Barnes had chosen the wrong family to mess with, even if he didn’t know it yet. Slade would finish what he set out to accomplish, no matter how long it took, or who he had to take along for the ride. Skylar Hart included. “Willing or not, you are a participant in a very dangerous game. Stick with me, and I can offer you a measure of protection.”

“A measure of protection?” She wrapped slender fingers around his badge and held tight as she met his gaze. “No guarantees?”

“I’m good at what I do, but I’ve made mistakes.” Heaviness blanketed his chest, making it difficult to breathe. One particular misstep had nearly cost his niece her life. Perspiration beaded on his forehead, and he switched off the sedan’s heat. “I’m not perfect.”

“We’re not meant to be perfect.” Skylar handed the badge to Slade. As she met his gaze, the distrust behind her eyes morphed into curiosity. “I suppose you have a plan?”

Slade tapped the badge, warm from her touch, on the steering wheel as he contemplated his answer. If he told her details, she’d probably be less likely to agree. But if he told her only what she wanted to hear, she’d sense his hesitation. Dangling on a precipice, Slade scrubbed a hand down his face, making time for a silent, heartfelt prayer. Lord, help me balance honesty and discretion.

Slade took a breath and shifted, angling his body toward hers. “Before we discuss details I need to know if you have a family.” Skylar looked young, probably in her mid-twenties, and she wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t someone’s wife or mother.

She nipped her lower lip, turned to study the darkness beyond the windshield.

Perhaps she didn’t want to divulge personal information, but he couldn’t move forward without knowing. “Is anyone waiting for you at home, wondering where you are?”

“No. I’m single,” she finally whispered. “I live alone.” She cleared her throat, met his gaze and then spoke louder. “Why?”

Relief spread through him; she wouldn’t be leaving a child behind. And he wouldn’t have to deal with a worried husband. “I needed to know, because I don’t want anyone calling the police when you disappear.”