Page 44 of Tell Me No Lies

Piper shakes her head, refusing to believe what I’m saying. “No. No way. They’ve put in too much work. They have passports and a place to go. They won’t back out now.”

I turn back to the road, an old, aging ache digging into my gut. “That doesn’t always matter, Sugar. They can have it all waiting for them and still back out if you don’t move them the second they decide.”

The weight of Piper’s gaze rests on me. I can feel it almost as tangibly as a touch. “If that happens, I’ll talk to them. Make them understand how much they need to leave.”

She sounds hopeful, and I don't want to take that from her, but I have to. "That's not how this works, and you know it."

I wish it was, but it's not. "You can't make someone leave if they're not ready. And trying to convince a woman who’s changed her mind will be the fastest way for us to be discovered. There’s a chance she’ll tell her husband, and then we won’t be able to help any of them." I know how quickly a group like this works to remove anyone they deem a threat to their way of living.

Piper’s head falls back against the seat and her eyes roll toward the ceiling. "I know." She lets out a frustrated groan. "I just don't like the thought of women feeling trapped."

"Would it help if I told you not all of them feel trapped?"

Her head rolls my way, expression sour. "No. Because that just means they don't even know how oppressed they are."

"Is it oppression if they agree with it?" It's so easy to try to push your own thoughts and beliefs on someone else. Even easier when it’s someone you care about. I've done it, and it didn't end well.

"I just don't understand how they wouldn’t see it for what it is."

Piper's voice is so soft and out of character it makes my head snap her way. What I see makes my chest tight. She looks haunted. Stricken by an emotion I know well. I've never doubted Piper carries her own pain. Her own past. But for the first time I wonder if maybe my demons might align with hers.

But she doesn't give me the chance to press deeper. Her face tips away from mine, dropping down as she thumbs across the screen of her cell. "Are we almost there?"

I understand the need to change the subject, so I let it happen. For now. “We’ll be pulling up to the hotel in about ten minutes."

Piper nods, and continues scrolling, falling silent for the remainder of the trip.

I glance her way occasionally, still trying to come to terms with the change in the woman beside me. Not just in the physical sense—though seeing Piper in a long denim skirt and a more than modest top has been wild—but in her temperament. She's been more reserved than normal this trip. With the exception of the lip gloss conversation, she’s been quiet and calm and accepting of what she has to be while we’re here.

I don't fucking like it. I don't like seeing her forced to temper who she is. It makes me want to pick a fight with her the second we’re in the safety of our room, just so I can see the real her. Know she’s still there.

"Oh shit." Piper’s eyes widen out the windshield as we reach the hotel. "This place is freaking packed."

"That's probably a good thing. Makes it less likely anyone will notice us." I grew up a lot like these people, but it's been a long time since I've had to act like it, and Piper’s not the only one I'm concerned will give us away. My own anger and disdain for these kinds of organizations run deep, and masking it is going to be hard as hell.

I pull up to the curb, getting in line behind two other cars. After shifting into park, I turn to Piper. "You stay here. Don't look at anyone. Don't talk to anyone.” I keep my tone serious, hoping she understands how important this first impression is. “I'll go check us in."

Piper's eyes drift out her window, locking onto where a group of men stand, talking loudly on the sidewalk.

"Eyes on me, wife." My tone is sharp because I know that's what it takes to get her attention. When they come my way, their dark depths are filled with the fire I've missed. I can't help but smile, a little relieved to know it’s still there. "Good girl. It's not going to be easy, but I need you to listen to me. Always. I don't know what will happen if someone figures us out, but I'm not expecting it to be a simple removal from the premises."

Piper’s brows pinch together, like it hadn't occurred to her what might happen to us if someone discovers what we’re here for. "What do you mean?"

I lower my voice, just in case the men outside can hear, even though they haven’t even glanced our way. "I mean, this event is an attempt to bring people into the group, and discovering we’re here to take people out won't go over well." I lean closer, holding her gaze so she understands. "Especially if they figure out we're the ones responsible for sending so many of their people to prison."

Instead of looking afraid, Piper’s lips curve. “We did do that, didn’t we?”

Her smile and the pride it carries is contagious, and soon I’m grinning along with her. “Yes, we fucking did.”

She sits a little taller in her seat. “And now we’re going to take even more of them away.”

“Yes, we fucking are.” Without thinking I lean across the seat and press a quick kiss to her lips. “I’ll be back.”

She blinks at me, looking stunned as I climb out and close her in. I try not to fidget with my pressed khakis or crisp button-up as I stride to the entrance, head up, doing my best to look friendly and excited to be here.

It's not as hard as it would have been when I first pulled up. Not now that Piper’s given me an accidental peptalk. And not now that I've seen the excitement and determination in her eyes. I want this for all the women we came here to help, but I also want it for her. I want her to know she helped these women, because it's clearly important to her.

Just like it's important to me. Hopefully not for the same reasons, but I'm beginning to suspect they might be close.

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