Page 59 of Out of Sight

“Please don’t go,” he begged. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know they were using me to find you. I got rid of the watch, see?” He held up his empty wrist, turning it back and forth to emphasize its bare state. “I only kept it because I thought I could pawn it for some money to take care of Kaylie. I never wanted to hurt you, never even thought about dragging you back to the Morellis. I ratted out the goddamn mafia to the goddamn police instead of following orders. I’m with you. I love you. I’m telling you the truth, I promise!”

It was time to put him out of his misery.

“Okay,” I said lightly, shrugging.

“Okay?” he asked, confused but loosening his grip on me.

“Okay,” I confirmed. “I believe you.”

“You do?”

“I had a lot of time to think once I made it out of the river,” I explained. “You being the bad guy just doesn’t make sense. I believe that you didn’t—wouldnever—betray me…or Jim.”

“Jim is dead,” Will said solemnly.

I nodded. There wasn’t much else to say.

I sat up next him and let him put his arm around my shoulder. We were both freezing cold, clothes still damp.

“We should get going,” Will said after a moment, giving my shoulder a squeeze.

I nodded, rolling my neck and shaking out my arms. I’d know better than to do that in the future; my wrist began throbbing again at the motion. My body so did not want to keep moving.

“I was heading back to the car,” I offered. “I think. I’m pretty sure.”

“Fair enough. There’s no way to tell how far the river took us, but we definitely need a car to get out of this forest.”

“Any car will do,” I admitted, looking at him sheepishly.

“Even if I have to steal one?” he teased, standing up and offering me a hand. I took it to help me stand.

“Even so. Surviving is what’s important right now.”

“You got that right. Can I…?” I raised an eyebrow at his hesitation. “Can I hold your hand?”

How did I ever doubt him? He really was a sweetheart.

I smiled as reassuringly as I could. “Yes, you may.”

He wasted no time in lacing his fingers through mine and pulling me closer, gently leading us through the woods.

I smiled. It was like we were a regular couple going on a nature hike together. You know, except for the cautious way Will kept glancing around us, looking for anything out of the ordinary. Or the way I was shivering in cold and damp clothes. Or that Will was barefoot. Where the hell did his shoes go?

But he didn’t seem to notice or care.

“At this pace I’d say we’re making a fifteen minute mile, but I’d like to move faster. If Antonio was following our trail he would have found us by now so we can take turns walking and running every mile or so, but I want to get out of these woods.”

“Whatever makes sense,” I said. “Let’s do it.”

I dropped his hand, trying to hide my delight at his look of disappointment.

“Catch me if you can,” I teased, speeding up into a jog.

He easily caught up, giving my ass a light tap as he caught up. I squealed because, hey, why not?

Flirting was a good distraction from our reality.

“Wait a sec, the woods are thinning out up ahead,” he said, putting an arm out in front of me.

---