Page 22 of Harmless Secrets

Devon looked at her. “Why not?”

“It’s a place with no escape. I don’t like being stuck without an escape route, and Hawaii would box me in.”

“And Seattle is safer?”

She nodded. “A flight to the east sends me to all kinds of places it’s easy to disappear in. Plus, Canada is just north. I didn’t pick it by chance.”

Although, it had appealed to her. After spending time in South Africa, she had wanted something cold and damp. The scenery, the climate, and the location had all been perfect for her. She had built a beautiful life in that house in the woods.

“Believe me when I say we won’t be trapped. Plus, we have family there who can help. Remember, it’s a tourist haven. It is easier to disappear there and be one of the crowd. It might be small but there are close to a million people there. Dee knows that better than anyone.”

“I did hide in plain sight for a while,” Dee said. “Plus, Devon just bought some huge stupidly expensive house near Kaneohe. It has a kick ass security system.”

He made a face at his sister. “I know you have no problem with the pool.”

She smiled. “So, there you go. You’re coming to Hawaii.”

Panic made it hard for her to breathe. She didn’t like anyone making choices for her. “I never said I was going.”

“Let me explain things to you.” Devon’s voice had dipped and menace dripped from every syllable. “I am taking Bridget. I want you there too, but I am not leaving her with you.”

“Just what the bloody hell do you mean by that?”

“I mean that I will file papers and get a DNA test. You are an English citizen on American soil.”

She crossed her arms and smiled, although she knew there was no humor in it. “For your information, according to your government and the papers and ID I have, I am an American citizen.”

“Oh, where did you get your documents from?” Dee asked. “I used this guy in LA a lot.”

Alicia blinked and turned to look at Dee. “What?”

“When I was on the run, I used this great guy in LA.”

“This is not a negotiation,” Devon said.

“Don’t you understand?” she asked. “You exposed us. I have been here for years with no problem. You show up and so do whoever is after me. They have to know you live in Hawaii.”

“Only part of the time. I still spend a lot of my time in Las Vegas. The house wasn’t bought in my name, so while they might know I go there, on paper, I don’t own anything.”

Of course, he covered that. He might not have spent a lot of time in the Company, but he was definitely perfect for the life. There was a reason recruiters had been hot to get him into the program.

She sighed. “Still, I don’t like the idea.”

Dee reached across the table and took her hands. “Listen. I know it seems we might have exposed you. And we might have.” Devon opened his mouth, but Dee held her hand up. “Don’t argue with me, Dev. We have no idea what the hell is going on, or if we tipped them in her direction.”

She turned her attention back to Alicia. “But wouldn’t you want Devon to figure out how and who? I promise you, he can find them if they are lurking there. We have a great group of friends who can help out in this situation. It might have been what Micah said, a coincidence.”

She opened her mouth to argue, but Dee shook her head. “At least give yourself and Bridget some time to regroup. And it’s Hawaii. How hard will that be? She’ll get to know her cousin, and you will get to figure out where to go from there. And there’s always a way off the island since Devon has his own plane.”

She wanted to say no. Life would be easier without Devon in it. No complications, just her and Bridget. She glanced at him. Determination stamped his features. Well, that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.

“Okay,” she said. “But first sign of trouble, I am gone and so is Bridget.”

Seven

About an hour later, Micah and Devon settled in the kitchen at the same table by themselves. Both Dee and Ali had gone to bed, leaving them alone to discuss the situation.

Devon was exhausted, both emotionally and physically, but he didn’t think he could get to sleep. His brain working through all the connections. Devon knew he would never figure out what the hell was going on right at this moment. Still, he couldn’t seem to stop thinking. He’d shut down one idea and another would pop up.

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