Page 52 of Whispers on the Water

“Sam…” Greg begins, and I’m torn between wanting to run into his arms or fleeing the room to jump into the nearest river. “As you know, I work with the FBI and have been authorized to make you an offer.”

Shifting uncomfortably so I’m facing him, I urge him on.

He rubs his hands together, watching them instead of me. “Surrender to me, and they will make sure you get home, quickly, and you will be granted house arrest while taking care of the medical tests for your nephew.”

“What will I be charged with?”

He sucks a breath and winces a little. “First degree murder, among… other things.” My entire body goes rigid at the sound of how serious the arrest will be. His hand shoots out like he wants to hold me, but it recoils at the last second. “I’m sorry, but I have no control over that, Sam.”

My eyes widen as my breath catches in my throat. I’m going to be arrested for murder, probably in the next day or two. Now, I wish his hand had found its place in mine. I want his touch. Need his reassurance.

“And if I don’t agree?” I hate the waver in my voice. It’s betraying how uncertain I feel about everything.

Tilly jumps to her feet, her eyes wide with panic. “Without him, the minute you try to cross into the US, you’ll be arrested and thrown in jail.” I start to argue, but she shakes her head. “They’ve flagged Penny’s passport. If you don’t take the deal, who knows if they’ll let you help your nephew. You could end up helpless in prison.” The way she says it, so much passion in her voice, I know what she’s not saying. Without the deal, I could be watching from the sidelines as my nephew dies.

With a careful look in Greg’s direction, Tilly huffs out a long breath. “Get out,” she says. Greg’s brows furrow in confusion, but she doesn’t wait. With both hands on his chest, she’s shoving him towards the door. “You’re distracting her, and I can talk sense into her if you don’t quit with the puppy dog eyes.”

As he’s pushed out of the room, he says over his shoulder, “I won’t let them fuck around with you.” Tilly opens the hotel room door, and he steps out. With one final look at me, his face hardens. “And if you decide to run, I’ll look the other way.”

Tilly slams the door behind him and leans against it. “God, you two…” She’s shaking her head.

“What?”

“The minute he was in here, you were both undressing each other with your eyes.”

Naked Greg hadn’t entered my mind once since he arrived, but now that she says it…

“Ugh, you’re doing it again!” Tilly flops onto the mattress and puts a hand to her forehead.

“I’m not!”

She props herself up on an elbow. “And I suppose you just forgot to wear a bra?” I look down, my face flushing. The fabric of the T-shirt is thin and leaves little to the imagination.

I jump to my feet and start rummaging through my bag, desperate to avoid any talk of what I might hope for with Greg here. However, as I attempt to subtly hide it under my shirt, Tilly suddenly appears next to me. In a swift motion, she grabs hold of what I was trying to wear. “Hey! That’s mine,” she laughs. “I thought I left this in Benito’s stupid Honda.”

“Woah, wait a second. You actually went out with him?” She settles back on the spring mattress with a shrug.

“He’s taken me out a few times. Admitted he’s in the FBI and looking for you. He’s nice.”

“And what about Tommy?”

Tilly blows a long raspberry. “Tommy who? Oh, right. The guy that turned me down and avoids me like the plague now.”

“You guys obviously spoke after I left. You called from his phone.”

“Yeah, well that was about you. It doesn’t count.”

I cross the room and lay next to her. Though it might not be any of my business, I want to help. “He says you stopped talking to him. He has no idea when he may or may not have turned you down. Says he might’ve been drunk.”

There’s a flicker of what looked like hope in Tilly’s eyes, but it disappears as quickly as it comes. “Drunk minds say what sober mouths are afraid of.” There’s a brief moment where I consider arguing more, but it’s her battle to believe and not my job to convince her. We’re both quiet until Tilly, still fiddling with her stolen bra, speaks quietly. “It’s a good deal, Sam.”

I close my eyes. “I know.”

“And just because it comes from him, doesn’t mean you need to ignore it.”

I roll my eyes. “I know that too.”

But Tilly turns her body to me, propping her head up with her hand. “He loves you.”

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