Page 20 of Meet Me In The Dark

Kara let him lead her to the car. A physical altercation wouldn't get her anywhere with him. No, she'd have to bide her time, get to know him a little better to know which buttons to push, and keep an eye out for the exact right moment to escape—once she'd gotten Micah's plans and location from him. She snorted.

Here she was again, being taken somewhere against her will, having to be patient and smart to find a way to escape and get what she wanted. What had she done in apast life to deserve this? This was the very definition of insanity.

“What's so funny?” Billy asked, an eyebrow raised, as he opened the door to the passenger seat.

“Just can't believe I'm being kidnapped again.”

“I prefer 'involuntary relocation.'“

The good thing was, she'd learned from the other times she'd been 'involuntarily relocated.' Namely, that she had to tread lightly when she was hunting for information, manipulate wounds with defter fingers. She'd also learned something else valuable: she had good instincts for when to make her move.

So she leaned her head against the window, staring straight ahead of her as the dark, northern California highway passed them.

“Where are we headed?” she asked.

“Marcus's plane is at a private airport about two hours north of here.” Billy glanced over at her. His bald head shone in the highway lights. Lola loved bald men. She'd be all over Billy.

Lola. When was the last time Kara had thought about her friend? She hadn't even reached out after being rescued by Micah and Conor. Lola was probably sick with worry; the last she'd spoken to Kara was right before Chris's henchmen had taken her. Just another sin to add to her list.

“Can I use your phone?”

“No.”

“I need to call my best friend and let her know I'm okay.”

Billy shook his head. “Did your men not tell you? The reason Chris found you in the first place was because they intercepted your call to her last time. They're probably still monitoring her phone calls.”

Fear gripped Kara. “Is she safe?”

Billy smiled. “I think your friend is good at keeping herself safe, no matter the circumstances.”

“What does that mean?”

Billy didn't answer her.

“Billy, what aren't you telling me?”

“Not for me to tell.”

Kara wracked her brain. There was no way she was going to be able to commandeer the car from him, even if she was enough of a bitch to leave him on the side of the road. Bribery hadn’t worked.

Maybe vulnerability would.

Kara swallowed. “Have you ever cared about someone, Billy? I mean deeply.”

He glanced at her briefly before gazing back at the road. “Yes. In fact, Ilovetwo people.”

Huh.“And what would you do if they ditched you to go do something dangerous? Would you let them?”

He chuckled.

“Darlin’, I do the dangerous stuff. I don’t get left behind. You and I are not the same.”

Kara rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, you’re a big strong man and I’m a helpless little lady. What I’m asking is, if the people you loved left you behind to protect you, would you let them?”

His laughter stilled. “Love?”

She caught his gaze in the rearview mirror. “Yes. Love.”

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