Page 69 of Two Steps Ahead

Weston nodded and Kayleigh connected the call.

“Hello? Gwendolyn?”

“Kayleigh, thank God you’re alive.” Gwendolyn’s voice was high and thready, panicked.

“What’s wrong?”

Kayleigh turned to Weston, who mouthedspeakerphone. She switched it on immediately, holding the phone between them so he could hear too.

“Gwendolyn, are you okay? What’s going on?” Her shoulders tensed at the soft sobs and shallow breathing coming through the line.

“Someone just rammed my car off the road. I’m not sure what to do. I tried to call Jasper but he didn’t answer. And I don’t know if he can be trusted anyway.”

She didn’t know Jasper was in the hospital.

“Are you safe right now? Is anyone after you?” They had shot at Dean. Kayleigh couldn’t stand the thought of anyone shooting at Gwendolyn.

“I don’t see anybody, but I can’t get my car out of the ditch. I’m outside of town, so there’s not very much traffic. What should I do?”

“Gwendolyn, it’s Weston. Where are you exactly?”

“I’m on Jarratt Road. I got a hotel out here because I wasn’t feeling safe at my house.”

Kayleigh rubbed the back of her neck. They’d been so worried about her and Leo, they hadn’t thought about Gwendolyn’s safety.

“Is there anywhere nearby you can get to?” Weston continued. “Somewhere with people?”

“There was a gas station about half a mile back.”

“Good. Go there. Start walking right now, but stay on the line.”

“Okay.”

Weston put the phone on mute from their side.

“Are you going to send someone to pick her up?” Kayleigh asked.

He frowned, dragging his hand across his chin. “Yes, but we’re stretched thin right now. Between you, Leo and Dean, we’re out of people I trust implicitly.”

Kayleigh tugged on her lip, trying and failing to think of a solution while the sounds of Gwendolyn’s panicked breathing rattled through the phone as the older woman walked. “She’s scared because of me, Weston. Someone tried to hurt her to get to me. I can’t stand that.”

He cupped her cheek. “This is not your fault. The safest thing for her would be to come here with us. We’re the closest ones to her. If I pick her up, I can minimize the potential risk of bringing a tail here.”

“Okay, yes. Thank you.” She pressed a kiss against the hand cupping her cheek.

Weston unmuted the phone. “Gwendolyn, send the address of the gas station. We’re closest to you, so I’m coming to get you.”

“Thank you.” Kayleigh could hear the relief bleeding out of the other woman. “Thank you so much.”

“Watch out for other cars. Hide if you see any. Get to the station as quickly as you can,” Weston said.

Kayleigh was glad he didn’t tell her what had happened to Dean. That would just make her more panicked.

“Be safe, Gwendolyn. I’ll see you in just a little while,” Kayleigh said, hanging up the phone. She looked up at Weston. “I guess that means no more sex in the supersecret safe house.”

He laughed, tugging her closer and pressing a kiss to her lips. “I’ll make it up to you after this blows over.”

“Mmm, I’ll hold you to that.” Kayleigh’s phone vibrated with a text—the address from Gwendolyn.

---