Page 15 of Operation: Integrity

“I believe so, but I didn’t think I’d be putting you in danger by taking you for a walk or I wouldn’t have.”

She hadn’t meant to accuse him. “I didn’t think you would. But the barn and big house kind of scare me.Connor scares me.” She hadn’t admitted that to anyone but herself.

“Only small measures of learned trust will help you feel better. You won’t immediately trust anyone, and that’s a good thing.”

Except she had immediately trusted him. Even after he’d walked away from her, hurt her in what had felt deeper and more personal than any other things she’d been through, she’d still trusted him. She’d tried to blame him at the time, but coming face-to-face with him, she’d felt deeply like the divide between them was her fault. It always would be.

“Distrust is a good thing,” she repeated. She’d never learned that before.

“Distrust is self-preservation until you can relearn body and facial cues that give us clues about who is trustworthy and who isn’t. When all else fails, trust your gut. God gave it to you for a reason.” Sam came up short as a car pulled up the drive. He reached out and tugged her behind him. Zeus lowered his head, and a soft growl came from his chest.

“Who is that?” There was something familiar about the vehicle or maybe the driver. The car came to a stop and the engine shut off.

Nathan emerged from the car and Kelly gasped, burying her face in Sam’s shoulder. Zeus took her cue and his growl deepened as he moved into a protective stance.

Connor’s voice came from her right, and she peeked over Sam’s shoulder.

“Can I help you with something? Are you lost?”

Nathan laughed and she recognized it as fake. Would Connor? “I’m looking for my girlfriend. She was kidnapped a few months ago. I got a tip from the police tocheck at a halfway house. They told me she was somewhere out here. Any idea where I can find Kelly Chambers?”

Sam inched her closer to the barn, holding her in place behind him.

Connor answered, keeping Nathan’s attention. “I don’t know a Kelly Chambers.”

Nathan looked their way and his gaze dropped to the drone in Sam’s hand. “I think you’re lying.” He strode toward Sam.

Kelly’s legs turned to jelly, and she couldn’t move, couldn’t run. Nathan would take her away. He’d take her somewhere no one could find her. He’d kill her and he’d brag about it to whoever would listen, back where he was safe from police.

“Stop right there. If you come any closer, I’ll call the police,” Sam said, his hand moving to his pistol.

“Call the police? What are they going to do? We’re at least twenty minutes from town. I just want my girlfriend back. You might think you’re doing the right thing, but she’ll trick you. She’s wily like that. Let me take her off your hands. You want to come back with me, don’t you Kelly?”

Sam moved his hand out, preventing her from going even if she’d thought about it. She hadn’t planned to, but the protection was something she wasn’t used to.

Connor stomped off the steps, his footfalls heavy and intimidating. He stood more than a head taller than Nathan. “I think it’s time you get off my property. If your girlfriend decides to return to you, she’ll ask to go. Until she does, consider yourself unwelcome here.”

“You’ll pay for that drone you destroyed.” He pointedat Sam’s hand. “You don’t have any clue who you’re dealing with.”

Connor laughed. “I think we do. Tell Evie that Kelly isn’t going anywhere.”

She heard Nathan’s gasp and peeked from behind Sam’s shoulder. Nathan scowled at her, his eyes as cold as ice. “This isn’t finished. I’ll be back.”

“Bring the police with you next time. Otherwise, you’re not welcome here,” Connor said. Sam shifted his position in front of her and she felt momentarily exposed. In that second, Nathan stared at her.

“You owe me. I’ve done so much for you, given you food and a roof over your head, protected you when everyone kicked you to the curb, and this is how you repay me? Did you try to send the police after me? They didn’t believe you. No one will ever believe you. You’re nothing but a?—”

Sam turned to cover her ears and the sound of his hands brushing against her thankfully drowned out whatever Nathan called her, but the sentiment hung in the air like smoke.

How could she defend herself? She’d reported his name and where she’d thought she’d been held, yet here he was. Didn’t that prove he was right?

“Kelly, let’s go inside.” Sam tried to direct her steps, but she wanted to see Nathan leave, never mind that her feet were planted and she couldn’t have left on her own if she’d wanted to.

“Want to go out, Kelly? You know you enjoyed it. You agreed the first time. You agreed every time. You liked it.”

“Stop. Right now.” Connor took a few more steps toward Nathan.

“What are you going to do, big man? I haven’t threatened you, so there’s nothing you can do.”

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