Page 65 of Two Steps Ahead

“Yes, absolutely.”

Kayleigh disconnected the call, still feeling a little shaken by the whole thing but glad her father was, in fact, still alive.

She was about to go inside to help Weston when her phone buzzed in her hand. Worried it may be the hospital again, she connected the call immediately.

“Hello?”

“Kayleigh, sweetheart. How are you? Are you okay?”

“Hi, Gwendolyn.” Kayleigh relaxed a little. “I’m fine. What about you?”

“I’m fine, but no one will give me any info on Leo. Said it was a security issue.”

Kayleigh grimaced. “I’m sorry. They’re keeping everything about Dad on lockdown. But I just talked to the doctor and nothing about Dad has changed. Stable, but still hasn’t woken up.”

The older woman blew out a breath. “I know this makes everything doubly difficult on you. Not only your dad in the hospital but you having to deal with this crazy merger stuff.”

“Believe me, I want Dad to wake up more than anything.”

“Me too, sweetheart. Me too. Is there anything I can do for you? Are you going to go ahead with everything if Leo doesn’t wake up?”

Kayleigh leaned back against the hood of the car. “Honestly, I don’t want to. I want to bury my head in the sand and just wait until Dad wakes up and let him take care of it. But...”

She faded off. She had to face that Leo might never wake up.

“I know, honey,” Gwendolyn whispered. “It’s scary. We all understand.”

Between Sheila and Gwendolyn, Kayleigh felt like she’d gone from having no mother to having two.

“I am going through with the merger.” She straightened. “I’m not going to let these people win, whoever they are.”

“Good for you. Leo would be proud. Are you somewhere safe?”

“I’m with Weston. He’s taking me to a safe house. Honestly, I don’t even know where.”

Gwendolyn let out a soft laugh. “That’s probably best. Go somewhere no one knows and let that man keep you safe.”

Kayleigh smiled as Weston entered the garage, their bags in his hands. “Here he is now, so I’ve got to go. But I’ll be sure to keep you updated about Dad as soon as I hear something. And you’ve got this number if you need me.”

Kayleigh hadn’t had her regular phone since they’d left the hospital. Weston had said it was too easily traced. Instead she was using a disposable noncontract phone—a dumb one that couldn’t be tracked.

“Thanks, hon. Take care of yourself.”

“You too.”

She disconnected the call and smiled at Weston. “Get everything?”

He nodded and put the bags in the back seat. “I brought all your stuff and a couple changes of clothes for me. This shouldn’t be a long stay.”

They got into the car. He pulled out of the garage and took them toward the south side of town. Once again, his eyes were darting around, looking for anyone who might be following.

“Anything new with Leo?” he asked as they drove.

“No change. Once the merger is over, I wanted to go there and see him myself. Talk to him. Maybe he needs to be around people he knows—hear my voice, know everything is okay.”

Weston reached over and clasped her hand. “That’s a good idea. By tomorrow afternoon, the merger will be complete and there won’t be any reason not to see him.”

“Good. How far is the safe house?”

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