Page 29 of Covert Affair

“I…I guess. I’m not really sure. I didn’t have a bunch of time to really look. He left his computer on one night when we were eating dinner. I went into the office to grab something when my broker called me. I heard Waylon coming down the hall so I quickly pretended like I wasn’t looking at his stuff.”

Come to think of it though, we did get into a fight that night and things got pretty intense because he thought I moved something of his that was on his desk. That’s when things between us really escalated.

“Well, I’m telling you that this guy has changed his name over half a dozen times and somehow keeps getting away. The Feds are on their way to pick him up as we speak.”

I’m not sure if I should be relieved or terrified.

“The bad news is, they’ll be calling you in for questioning too. It’s only because I’ve got some friends in high places that they didn’t insist that you stay in lock-up until they had a chance to question you.”

“Un-fucking-believeable. So I’m actually on house arrest?” I ask, because that’s sure as hell what this all sounds like.

“Not exactly. You’re on bail. You can’t run off, that’s all.”

I roll my eyes. “Oh, yay. Not like I was really planning to run anywhere anyway.”

“I told them they needed to give you some time to get some sleep before they showed up at my place to ask questions. Simon should be here before then too.”

“Gee, thanks for taking care of all of that for me.”

“Stacey, it’s okay to ask for help, and it’s okay to take that help when it’s given to you.”

Feeling both overwhelmed and frustrated, I lash out at him. “You’re right. I called you and asked for help. I pulled you into all this. But have you ever stopped to think for just one second that maybe I’m tired of being told what to do? Think about it. For the better part of a year, I’ve been under Waylon’s thumb. Bossed around and kept under lock and key. You think you’re helping and yet, you’re just like him.”

The last sentence comes out before I can stop it and I instantly regret it. Cody is nothing like Waylon.

Cody pinches the bridge of his nose and blows out a breath. “If not for the fact that we’re on the highway now, I’d pull this truck over again and show you just how much I’m not like him. You’re pissed. You’re tired. I get it. But do not ever tell me that I’m controlling you. I wouldn’t. I’m trying to keep you safe and give you somewhere comfortable to stay. If you don’t want to stay with me where I can do that, then I’ll call up my Federal Agent friend and tell him that you’d rather come straight to them and that I’m not taking responsibility for your whereabouts.”

And there it is. I’ve pushed him too far.

I’ve got no one to blame but myself for his reaction.

“I…”

“You’ve got nowhere to go. I know, Stacey. So, let's do it your way.” His voice softens and then he asks, “would you like to stay at my place until you figure something out?”

Tears fill my eyes and a knot forms in my throat. Even when I’ve pushed as hard as I could and pissed him off just because I’m the one in one hell of a mess, he’s still trying to give me what I need. “I’m…”

“I swear to God,” he whispers. “Don’t say you’re sorry.”

Fine. He doesn’t want me to apologize, I won’t. “I’d like to stay at your place until I figure out other arrangements.”

He mutters, “thank fuck,” under his breath.

Unsure of what else to say, I keep quiet and Cody keeps driving in silence until we pull up outside of an apartment complex and into a numbered parking spot.

Cody immediately turns off the truck and jumps out to come around and open my door for me. Something Waylon would never have even dreamt of doing.

14

CODY

I unlockthe front door to my apartment and hold it open, letting Stacey step inside.

“There’s a guest room down that hallway on the left and there’s a bathroom next to it that’s all yours. My room is across the hall if you need anything,” I tell her, pointing to the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. “I had my sister-in-law, Molly, bring over some clothes for you until we can get your stuff. She said she laid them on the bed for you. There’s towels and things like that in the bathroom linen closet.”

“This feels a little like deja vu,” she laughs nervously.

I grunt and nod. “It kind of does, doesn’t it?”

---