Page 61 of Bravo

“I know you’re in there, Sammy. Open up so we can talk.”

My first instinct is to pull the door open. But as I’m reaching for the handle to do just that, another thought hits me. What if he’s part of it? What if somehow I ended up on the doorstep of someone with ties back to the very people I’m trying to avoid?

“Sammy. Whatever you’re wrapped up in is big, and I can’t help if you don’t let me in.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” I call back.

“If you don’t already know that you can, then I can’t help you.”

If he wanted to hurt me, he’s had plenty of chances to do it already. He quite literally knew where I slept, and then there was that whole ride home from the café, and the car trip to the lumber yard. At any moment, he could’ve followed through with what they’ve been trying to do for the last two years.

Yet he didn’t.

Bradyn Hunt was nothing but kind to me.

My thoughts drift back to Cillian. He’d been kind to me too. And he’d nearly paid the ultimate price for it. The same price as all the others did. But I’m so tired of running alone. Of hiding. Of barely living. I’m just—so, so tired.

“Sammy.” The way he says my name undoes me. So even though it might be the biggest mistake I’ve ever made, I unlock the door and pull it open, though I maintain the hold on my weapon.

His expression is hard, his eyes narrowed as he looks me up and down, momentarily focusing on my firearm. “You planning on shooting me?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“Why you’re here.” Stepping aside, I allow him and Bravo to enter my room. The dog’s ears are perked forward, his focus on inspecting my room thoroughly. After he’s looked through theentire room and peeked into the bathroom, he comes back and sits at Bradyn’s side.

As soon as he does, Bradyn shuts and locks the door then sets a black tactical backpack onto the floor directly beside it.

“Care to explain how you found me?” I ask.

“It’s what I do,” he replies. Silence settles over us again. He’s furious, even angrier than he was when he’d found me during that storm. “Care to explain why you ran, Olivia?”

Olivia.I haven’t heard that name in years, and it’s an instant punch to my gut. The USB drive around my neck feels heavier at the mere mention of the one who gave it to me. Anger sings through my veins, even as every worry I had that he was a part of this thing vanishes.

Because if he were a part of it, he’d know there’s no way I could be Olivia Brown.

“I’m not Olivia.”

“No? You sure look a lot like her. And the suit who showed up at my ranch yesterday certainly thought you were.”

I stiffen. “Who was it? Who showed up?”

“A man named Klive Brown.”

My entire body goes rigid, and I can feel the blood drain from my face. Stumbling back, I drop down onto the bed, sitting at the edge while I try to regain my rational thinking.He did find me.That means it’s only a matter of time before—“Did he hurt them? Are they okay? How did you get away?”

“They’re fine. He didn’t hurt anyone. Breathe, Sammy.”

“I have to go. Now.” I push up and limp into the bathroom to shut off the water.

As soon as I turn around to head back into the main room, I run into a hard body blocking my way. Large hands go to my shoulders.

“Easy.”

“If you found me, it’s only a matter of time before they do.”

“First off, I’m exceptional at what I do, which is how I found you. Second, I shook the tail they put on me already. Now, I do agree we need to move, but you need to relax for a second. Okay? Tell me what’s going on.”

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