Page 58 of Hero's Heart

“We’re going to need to steal another car.” He looked around then led her toward another garage. A few minutes later, they once again had transportation.

Sloane was too scared to be concerned aboutrepurposinganother vehicle. That had been such a close call. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. “If we hadn’t gone out, they would have caught us. Killed us, maybe.”

“I’d like to think we could’ve gotten out in time, but it would’ve been fucking close.” Callum’s jaw was tight. “Let me call Lincoln.”

He put the phone on speaker and drove quickly but carefully through the city streets in their stolen vehicle.

“Callum. Jesus fuck. Thank God. I thought they’d gotten you. I was calling everyone we know.”

“We’re okay, although barely. We’re getting out of town. What happened?”

She could hear Lincoln tapping away on his computer. “I think it’s the phone. You need to ditch it.”

“Roger. We’re going to need to change where our paperwork is delivered. It’ll need to be waiting for us at the port in Odesa. I’ll get us across the Ukraine border without it and contact you once we’re in Barcelona.”

“Got it. Stay alive.”

“I plan on it.”

Callum ended the call, his expression grim as he rolled down the window and tossed the burner phone out onto the street. Sloane watched as it shattered against the asphalt.

As the window slid shut, Sloane couldn’t help but feel a profound sense of loss. The safe house had been more than just a place to hide; it had been a sanctuary.

It had beenhome. And now, it was gone.

Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she turned her face toward the window, not wanting him to see her moment of weakness. He carried the weight of their safety on his shoulders, and she didn’t want to add to his burden.

But he noticed anyway.

“Hey.” He reached over and grabbed her hand. “We’re safe. Don’t worry.”

“I know. That’s not it.”

“Talk to me.”

She wiped at the tears with her free hand. Her thoughts were so stupid, given everything, she was embarrassed to say anything about it.

“Tell me, angel. Was that too close of a call?”

She shook her head. “I just thought we’d be going back, you know? I…I was hoping to take that art history book home with me. That’s stupid. I know.”

“It’s not stupid at all. We’ll get you another copy of that textbook,” he promised, his voice soft but filled with determination. “The exact same one. As soon as we’re safe, I’ll track one down for you.”

Sloane turned to face him, searching his features, finding solace in the unwavering strength and tenderness that radiated from his gaze.

“You don’t have to do that,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s just a book.”

“It’s not just a book,” Callum countered, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. “It’s a symbol of everything you want for yourself, for your future.”

And a symbol of the time they’d spent together. A way to remember him. But maybe saying that would be too much.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He turned his full attention back to the road in front of them. “But for now, we focus on making it out of this alive.”

Chapter 20

Callum’s knuckles were white as he gripped the steering wheel, the stolen car careening down the empty road. His mind raced, adrenaline still pumping through his veins from their narrow escape. Beside him, Sloane slept fitfully, her brow furrowed even in slumber.

---