Page 72 of Last Chance

“Keeps you from suspecting him and his motives. Janie, he arrived in Hartman before you did. What does that say to you?”

“That he cared enough about me to come to the only place where he knew I would eventually return.”

And perhaps he came to Hartman to finish the job the hijackers could not complete.

“Don’t.” Tears filled her eyes. “Please, Sawyer. Don’t say it.”

Heart breaking for her, Sawyer wrapped his arms around her and held her close for a moment. “I’ll uncover the truth, no matter what it is or where it leads, Janie. When I do, we’ll handle the fallout together.”

She sniffed. “I don’t want David to be responsible for the attacks.”

“If he is?”

“He’ll be responsible for the deaths of more than a dozen people who were innocent.” Her voice broke. “I can’t handle that.”

“Yes, you can.” He eased her closer to his body. “You’re strong, Janie, and you’re wise enough to know you were an innocent victim as well. If David is responsible, you’ll deal and live a vibrant life because to do otherwise would give him more power over you than he deserves.”

Janie was quiet a moment, then murmured, “You’re right.” After a few more beats, she loosened her hold on him and stepped out of the circle of his arms. “Come on. Let’s get this over with. If I’m wrong about David, I’d rather know the truth than live in a fantasy world that could lead to harm for you and your teammates.”

Sawyer’s respect for Janie and her strength grew. A tough lady, indeed. He led her from the security room. They stopped by his room to grab his Go bag, then proceeded to the back door.

After they reset the alarm and stepped outside, Sawyer escorted Janie to the SUV where Brody and Max were engaged in a quiet discussion.

“Ready?” Brody asked, his gaze shifting to Janie.

“Yes. Thanks for coming, Max.”

“No problem, Janie.” He opened the back door for her and Sawyer, then sat on the shotgun seat while Brody climbed behind the wheel.

During the drive into Hartman, Sawyer and his teammates remained vigilant. Fortunately, no trouble interrupted the journey to Kingsbridge Inn.

Brody parked at the side of the hotel. He and Max stepped out and scanned the area. A signal from Brody had Max slipping around the corner of the building.

“What’s he doing?” Janie asked.

“Checking to see if he spots a threat to you.”

“And if he does?”

“We’ll deal with it. Don’t worry yet. Let’s wait and see if Max notices anything worth worrying about first.”

She lapsed into silence, although Sawyer knew she was still concerned about the upcoming confrontation with her brother. Couldn’t miss the clenched fists and shallow breathing as she looked out the window at the nearly empty parking lot.

“Janie.”

She turned. “Yes?”

“Trust me?”

“Always.”

“Then you know I will stand for you and with you. David’s decisions are his own, and he’ll have to live with the consequences of his actions. If he’s innocent, you and he have nothing to worry about. Unlike what your brother thinks, our skills aren’t for sale to the highest bidder. I care about you, Janie. No one is going to hurt you on my watch. No one.” Including her brother.

A nod. “I believe you. Thanks for watching out for me.”

His vow was a slight comfort, he knew. His gut said David Moran was up to his neck in trouble. Whether he was responsible for the danger to his sister was another matter. He just hadn’t figured out what trouble dogged Janie’s brother and if that trouble had spilled over onto her.

Max returned a moment later and signaled the area was clear. Brody turned and gave a slight nod to Sawyer.

---