7

Skylar was locked in the sedan with a madman. The air in her lungs constricted, preventing an immediate response. She couldn’t disappear. She had to contact Willow, warn her she was in danger. And if she didn’t show up at work Monday morning, she’d look doubly guilty of account fraud.

Skylar shook her head and found her voice. “No. I can’t walk away from my life.”

“It’s for your own protection, and it’s only until Aston Barnes is off the streets.”

“That shouldn’t take long. We’re both witnesses. Once we tell the police what happened—”

Slade’s expression grew taut. “I’m not telling them anything. Not yet. I need something from Barnes before I turn him in, and I don’t know how long it will take to get it.”

Her stomach dropped and thoughts tumbled. “You might be willing to set aside your life to go after Aston, but I’m not. I’ll turn him in on my own. Aston kidnapped me, remember? My word is as good as…” Her voice faltered. Her word didn’t mean as much as it once had.

Once a thief, always a thief. The harsh words—spoken long ago by her ex-fiancé—still haunted her. If only she hadn’t given in to her former employer’s demands that she skim money from client’s accounts. But she had. She was guilty and always would be. She had the criminal record to prove it.

Her reputation had been compromised. Could she stand against Aston alone? What choice did she have? “I will not let him get away with this.”

“I won’t either. But I won’t back up your statements until I get what I want.”

What could it be that Slade wanted so badly? Did it matter? She had her own problems. She had to remain focused. “You don’t understand. I have responsibilities.”

“Responsibilities worth dying for?”

His tone wasn’t cold or calloused. But his words had the same effect as if he’d wrapped fingers around her throat and squeezed.

Slade ran a hand over his face, his features growing dismal. “Barnes has no mercy. He will go to extreme lengths to preserve his reputation.”

“Then he and I have something in common.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

Skylar knew precious little about the man seated beside her, but judging from his confident demeanor, she doubted Slade would understand what it meant to lose credibility and respect from everyone he’d ever known. “Never mind.” Skylar attempted the door handle again. Still locked. “You can’t hold me against my will. It’s illegal and immoral.”

His brows pinched together creating fine lines across his forehead, but he didn’t release her.

She attempted another angle. “Actions speak louder than words. If you’re really not a criminal like Aston—”

“Has it occurred to you, Miss Hart, that I don’t have to go out of my way to protect you?” A shadow passed beneath his blue irises, turning them steel gray.

“Has it occurred to you, Mr. Marshal, that I haven’t asked for your protection?” She lifted her chin.

A muscle in his jaw contracted. Moments passed and then he disengaged the locks. “By all means.” He gestured toward the door. “My life got a lot more complicated when you were shoved into it.” His softly spoken words took full effect as cold silence followed his statement.

“You haven’t exactly simplified my life either.” Irritation spiking, Skylar shoved open the door. Cool air rushed in as she rushed out. The night creatures and insects sounded loud in comparison to the sedan’s muted interior. She stood in the doorway, suddenly hesitant. Clouds had hidden the moonlight, masking the forest in shadows and obscuring the blacktop beyond the headlight’s beams.

She could walk away. Follow the road to…somewhere. But she’d seen movies depicting what could happen to vulnerable pedestrians in such surroundings. Worse yet, she’d seen news reports based on actual events involving crimes against women.

Skylar suppressed a shiver as it worked its way up her spine. She was caught in a nightmare; she could’ve been a murder victim tonight. Although she no longer believed Slade Marshal intended to bury her, Aston Barnes still wanted her dead. She’d seen firsthand Aston’s callous disregard.

Slade hadn’t moved, hadn’t shifted the car into gear, or shown any indication he’d leave her stranded. Freedom lay a few feet away, but then what? Would she be safer with him, at least temporarily?

She leaned in, assessing Slade’s stoic expression. “Why is it so important to you that Aston doesn’t find me? What do you want from him?”

Slade thrummed long fingers on the steering wheel. The engine continued to idle and dashboard lights illuminated his taut features. He opened his mouth to speak, and then his gaze flickered to the rearview mirror as blue lights flashed behind them. “Looks like I should’ve called off the search.” His words held a sharp edge.

A sheriff’s department cruiser closed the distance, parking behind Slade’s vehicle. Thank You, Lord. She was no longer at Slade’s mercy.

“The police can’t keep you safe,” Slade warned.

“We’ll see about that.” Skylar stepped away, wrapping her thin jacket closer. The temperature had dropped, and the breeze had turned into a steady wind. Hair strands wisped against her face, and she swept them aside as she rounded the sedan. She met the deputy as he exited his cruiser.

“Ma’am.” He aimed a flashlight beam at her with one hand while his other hand rested on the gun attached to his belt. “Please return to the vehicle.”

She froze. The deputy would be cautious. He didn’t know she wasn’t a threat. She had no desire to be handcuffed or shot, so she took a step back. “My name is Skylar Hart. I’m the woman search and rescue is looking for. I was kidnapped.”

The young deputy widened his stance as he turned his light toward Slade. “Keep your hands where I can see them,” he called loud and clear.

Slade passed her a glance that conveyed irritation, held up his hands, and then rolled down the window. He greeted the officer, squinting against the bright light aimed at his face. “Been a long time, Deputy Landers. I heard you had transferred from Roanoke.”

Recognition lit the man’s features, and he relaxed. “Detective Marshal. I heard you swapped careers and went off the grid.”

Skylar puffed out a breath as her lungs constricted. These guys knew each other? Slade had been a detective?

The deputy averted his flashlight’s beam and shook hands with Slade. “What brings you out here?”

“I’m on a private case,” Slade explained as he gestured toward Skylar. “You can cancel the search. She’s safe with me.”

Deputy Landers glanced at Skylar. “Glad to see you’re in good hands.” He returned his attention to Slade, a wide smile beaming across his face. “You were always good at missing person cases. Where’d you find her?”

“She found me.” Slade cleared his throat. “If it’s all the same to you, I’ll see to it she gets to where she needs to be. I’ll have her send in a statement as soon as possible.”

The admiration evident in the young officer’s face didn’t waver. If anything, his expression grew even more earnest. “Yes, sir. I’ll let the others know she’s been located.” He took a step toward his cruiser.

“Wait!” Skylar lunged forward. “Don’t leave me with him.”

The officer did a double take. “What seems to be the problem?”

How could she explain her hesitation? If she told the deputy that Slade had been involved in her kidnapping, he probably wouldn’t believe her. “You called him a detective. He told me he was a security specialist.”

Slade stepped out, leaned against the sedan and crossed his ankles. “I was a detective, but I’m not anymore.” His broad chest exemplified strength hidden beneath layers of black clothing, making him look like a panther ready to pounce. But his features conveyed a forthright honesty and he made no threatening moves.

Still, she wasn’t convinced. Skylar turned toward him, crossing her arms as cold air raised goose bumps. “Why didn’t you tell me you used to be a cop?”

Slade lifted his brows. “Do you discuss your past with people you’ve just met?”

No, she didn’t. “This isn’t about me. You want me to trust you? Give me a reason.”

Slade’s lips quirked. “There’s a diner not too far away. We could grab something to eat and talk there.”

Although a little faint, she had no appetite. “I’m not hungry.”

“Well, I am.” Slade’s gaze darted over her. “Even if you don’t want to eat, you need to get warm, get off your feet. You’ve had a rough night.” His tone lowered, taking on the raspy timbre that had captured her attention in the van.

She hadn’t imagined his compassion. A melancholy ache formed in her chest, tempting her to accept his offer. Then again, he had been a detective. Perhaps this was all a deliberate attempt to coerce.

She needed more information before making a decision. “Deputy Landers, if I come with you and tell you everything that happened, I’ll need protection until the men are arrested.”

“We can send an extra patrol unit around your neighborhood for a while,” the deputy offered.

Skylar’s blood ran cold. “That’s it? You couldn’t assign an officer to guard my home?”

“Round the clock protection is something they do in the movies, ma’am. The sheriff’s department doesn’t have the resources. We can take your statement, assign a deputy to locate and speak with the alleged abductors and—”

“Alleged abductors? I assure you these men did take me against my will.”

“I don’t doubt your sincerity, and I’m sorry for what you’ve been through, but we have to follow standard procedures. We must gather sufficient evidence to make an arrest,” Deputy Landers explained.

Aston would refute her claims, had probably already covered his tracks. It would be Aston’s word against hers, and for whatever reason, Slade wasn’t ready to back her up. What if the police began searching her background and uncovered her criminal history? Once they found out, the authorities might not believe she’d been abducted at all.

“Until this is sorted out, you shouldn’t be alone.” Deputy Landers flicked a glance toward Slade.

“I agree.” Slade nodded.

“Well, I don’t have to go home. My uncle has a large house, plenty of space.” And if she went there, she’d have time to speak with him about the danger Willow was in and the missing charity money.

“It’s not that simple.” Slade’s somber tone cut through her thoughts. “Barnes won’t hesitate to harm your relatives if they get in his way. Anyone you’re in close proximity with could be in danger.”

He would have to point that out. “You’re not leaving me many options.”

“I am your best option.” Slade leaned in. “Please come with me to the diner. Listen to what I have to say. We’ll decide where to go from there.”

“You’re not afraid to be near me?”

He shook his head. “I can handle Barnes.”

Skylar was beginning to think he was the only man who could.

Lord, what do I do?

Officer Landers’s radio crackled. A dispatcher spoke, relaying a numbered police code. He looked at Skylar. “Domestic dispute. I’ve got to go. Who do you want to leave with? Me or him?”

Time had run out. Should she risk her past being exposed? Or take her chances with Slade?