Page 38 of Two Steps Ahead

He immediately called his brothers.

“San Antonio Security, this is Chance.”

Weston didn’t even ask why Maci wasn’t answering the phone. If Chance had killed her, Weston didn’t want to know about it. “Chance, it’s me.”

“Thank God, Weston. Where the hell are you? Do you know Leo Delacruz’s place burned down last night?”

“Yeah, we were there. Kayleigh and I had to take off into the public wilderness area behind the house and hide out. Someone is after her.”

Chance muttered a curse. “You okay? What do you need?”

“We’re all right, but we could use a ride. Water, food. We just spent the night in the nature reserve and we’re both a little worse for wear.”

“Injuries?”

“None,” Weston replied.

“Good. Where are you?”

Weston pulled up the GPS app on his phone and rattled off an area of the road a bit farther off their path to Chance.

“I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” his brother promised. “Stay safe.”

“We will.” Weston disconnected the call and turned to Kayleigh. “My brother Chance is on his way.”

“Can I call my dad?”

He hated to disappoint her but it was too dangerous. “We can’t. Not yet. If this is an inside job, like we’re thinking, Leo’s phone may be monitored. We can’t take a chance on leading anybody to us.”

Her lips tightened, but she nodded.

He hooked a hand at the back of her neck and trailed his thumb down her cheek. “Let’s get somewhere safe, then contacting your dad will be top of the list of things to do.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

He led them the rest of the way to the rendezvous point, keeping them both in the shadows of a group of trees until Chance pulled up.

“All good?” he asked.

Weston helped Kayleigh into the back seat and climbed in next to her. Chance tossed back some water bottles and granola bars, as well as a blanket.

“Yeah, thanks for the lift. Spot anything suspicious coming out?”

He met his brother’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “No. Luke was coming in from the other direction to make sure there were no problems. Brax is tailing me about a mile behind.”

Weston nodded and tore into one of the water bottles as Kayleigh devoured a nutrition bar.

“Kayleigh, I’d like you to meet my brother Chance. Chance, Kayleigh Delacruz.”

Chance held a hand up in a friendly wave. “Nice to meet you. Sorry Weston hasn’t learned that showing a lady a good time doesn’t have to include wilderness survival training.”

Kayleigh smiled. “Our next date will involve no running through the wilderness.”

Their next date. Weston was determined there would be one.

Hell, there would be hundreds.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news...” Chance continued. “We got more intel about the fire, and it’s not good.”

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