Page 10 of Fate's Unseen Shadow

She frowned, confused by his phrasing. “But I am Elizabeth Cassin.”

“Not until we catch Teddy’s killer.” He picked up her pearls from her neck, rolling one pearl between his finger and thumb. “You need to become Ella. Whoever she is,” he added in a lower voice.

She understood. She wasn’t the woman who wore sweater sets or ate lunch on her private jet on her way to another business meeting anymore. The last month had undoubtedly changed her. The biggest question for her was who she’d be at the end of this.

She forced a confident tone. “Got it. Right now, I’m Ella, your newest bartender.”

He quirked a smile, his brown eyes skimming over her face. “Good luck is all I can say.”

“Will I slow you down finding the runaway if I ask to go to the apartment? The idea of a shower and real bed after a month without one is more than a little tempting. Or if you give me the key, I’ll drive myself there.”

“No need. I need to run by there to change.” That smile dropped away. “The car you’ve been living in…is it yours?”

“Yes.”

Everyone in the room stopped moving. Slater stepped forward. “And you don’t expect someone to run your plate and find you?”

She had worried about that a little. “I’ve tried my best to stay out of sight.”

“Shit,” Damon muttered under his breath and held out his hand. “Keys.”

“Why do you want my keys?”

“So Slater can drive it. We’ll unload your stuff, and then he’ll ditch the car somewhere. Or hide it. You don’t exactly blend in with the rest of society driving it. We pay our bartenders well, but driving that will raise a lot of suspicions.”

“What kind of car is it?” Xavier asked.

She pulled out her key. “Last year’s model of a BMW i7.”

“All black. Top of the line,” Damon added.

Xavier snatched the key before Slater lifted his hand. “I’ll handle that, thank you. I have a house with a garage to keep it safe. I love that car. I test-drove one before I settled on getting another truck.”

She chuckled at his enthusiasm. “Then have fun driving it. Thank you for not ditching it.”

“Ryker, any mention of the car she might be driving in the FBI report?” Damon crossed to the front door, opening it.

“None. I went back and looked.”

“It’s registered to a small holding company I have.” Ella followed him. “I typically take a driver service and work when I travel. I’m not sure if anyone even knows I have it. When I left, I walked the few miles to the garage on the outskirts of Atlanta and pulled it out of storage.”

Xavier moved outside the apartment, his head swiveling back and forth before spotting it underneath the trees. “Oh, yes. She’s a beauty that doesn’t deserve to be locked up in a garage.”

“Slater and Ryker. Start research on the fifteen-year-old. I’ll meet up with you after I settle Ella into the apartment.” Damon touched Ella’s upper back, ushering her off the sidewalk. “C’mon. Let’s get you somewhere to sleep.”

With a big exhale, she let him lead her to the parking lot. They followed Xavier to her car. He opened the door but didn’t get inside. Standing there, he set his hands on his hips, staring atthe interior. “It’s impeccably clean for someone who has lived in their car for a month.”

“I can use a trash can and stay organized, even if it’s a car.”

“I’m going to enjoy driving it. Can I take it out sometime?”

“Go ahead,” she called over her shoulder as Damon kept walking past Xavier to the passenger side of the same black sports car she’d spotted at Cager.

He opened the door. “The apartment is about ten minutes from here.” After he moved around the car and sat beside her, he pushed the button to start it. “The apartment complex is similar to this one. You won’t have the entire floor to yourself, but it’s nice.”

“I’m sure it’s wonderful. Thank you.” She looked down at her hands. Her throat tightened and her eyes filled as relief hit her. “I was a day or two away from giving up. I ran out of money. I haven’t had a real meal in a very, very long time until today. I just…”

“It’s okay, Ella. You’re safe now.” Damon looked over at her, and that did it. His kindness and generosity broke the rest of her.

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