Page 29 of Unleash You

She placed a hand her over mouth. Her pretty eyes filled up with tears. “Will you go back for him?”

“That’s the plan.”

“Would you let me know when you do?”

“You’ll be the first to know.”

“Wesley will keep an eye on you. Stay out of trouble?” Tyler smiled at her, and she nodded.

“When do you leave?” she asked.

“In a few days. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.” Tyler met both our gazes.

I stood and placed my arm around him. “It’s almost over. We had no way to know the mission would follow us home.”

“Charlie was an asshole for dragging you into this.” He pointed his head toward Rebecca. “No offense.”

“None taken.” She downed the rest of her drink.

Obviously, Charlie had been thinking with his dick when he offered Rebecca his help. Then he went and complicated things when he got our commanding officer involved. He put Rebecca in the crossfire. It wasn’t fair to her. She lost her brother, her livelihood, and her home.

“Is there a place where I can change? I’m tired. I haven’t had a restful sleep since I left New York.”

“Yeah, you can take the bedroom next to mine.” I offered her my hand. “I’ll show you.”

Tyler nodded. “That works. I’ll let Derek know. And Mom.”

“Oh shit. What are we telling Mom?”

Tyler rubbed the back of his head. “Can Anabelle say Rebecca is a friend from college? Or you know, something that doesn’t involve the Venezuelan cartel?”

“Christ. I’ll talk to Anabelle.”

I ushered Rebecca upstairs. The party was basically over, but a few guests still lingered around the bar and the patio deck. Rebecca followed close to me, her gaze sizing up the place. No doubt memorizing every exit on our way up to the next level.

“This is me.” I pointed to my door. “You’ll be over here.”

The room had a bed against the left wall with a view of the gardens, same as mine and all the others. Anabelle had helped Mom decorate every space in the house. This one was done in creams and golds with an upholstered daybed near the window. Elegant and fresh and so Anabelle.

“It’s beautiful.” She placed her bag on the bed.

“Do you have any clothes? Anything I need to pick up for you?”

“Just a suitcase. It’s in my rental.”

I nodded. “Okay. I’ll grab it for you.”

“Thank you, Wesley. I didn’t know where else to go. I can see Anabelle wasn’t too happy about seeing us hug. I can talk to her, if you want.”

“Don’t worry about it. Make yourself at home. I’ll go fetch your things.”

I sighed when I closed the door behind me. Rebecca was safe for now. But it was only a matter of time before her past came back to haunt her. I needed to find Charlie so he could marry her and take her away from all this, just as he wanted.

After I got the housekeeper to help Rebecca with her luggage and get settled in, I found myself going back to the gardens instead of turning in for the night. My mind kept going back to Anabelle and the disappointment in her face when she found me holding Rebecca. If only I could tell her who she really was, explain why she needed me, why we owed her this.

The cicadas chirped loud this late at night. As I followed the path to Fox’s Bank, fireflies scattered in the dark like floating lights. The patio french doors to Anabelle’s bedroom stood wide open. She was still awake, and by the sound of her laughter, Zack was still with her.

I sat on the grass, peering up at their dark silhouettes. I should be the one up there with her. But if I went up there right now, I’d have to lie to her about Rebecca, and I didn’t want to do that. I needed time to figure out what to say to her. Not that it helped me before when I confessed I was the one who’d written to her all those letters. God, I’d made a royal mess of it.

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