Page 59 of No More Secrets

“Didn’t expect to hear from you so soon.” He sounds bored and uninterested. He doesn’t like that she chose staying here over him.

“I need you to come get me right now,” she rushes to explain.

He huffs with impatience. “Seriously, Shy—”

“Finn! I’m in trouble. This woman showed up today. She’s like a bounty hunter or investigator or something. Ellis sent her.”

“What?” Now she has his attention.

“Lucas took off. Finn, I’m scared.”

“Don’t be scared, baby. I promised you I wouldn’t let Ellis hurt you again.”

She’s counting on that promise with her life. “He could already be on his way here. You have to come tonight.”

He swears profusely; then his end of the line goes quiet.

“Finn?” The phone trembles her hands.

“I’m coming.” Shiloh hears a door close and keys rattle. He shouts something indistinguishable to someone else.

“How long before you get here?” Her eyes nervously dart about the office.

“Few hours. Hang tight.”

She prays she has that long. “I’ll be ready.”

She ends the call, her gaze settling on the safe. Ivy’s trusting. She’s also forgetful. She couldn’t even remember where she’d seen Shiloh before, and it was in her own damn store.

Shiloh jerks open the center desk drawer, betting she’ll find the safe’s combo written on a sticky. Sure enough, she does. Second drawer down on the left. She spins the safe’s dial, biting her lip when the lock unlatches to quell her guilt. She always felt guilty when she stole, but until now, she hasn’t had a choice. She had to survive. But between Zea’s cash and Lucas’s money, she doesn’t need more. Though she’ll take whatever extra to make life easier once she moves in with Finn.

There isn’t much cash in the safe, several hundred dollars at most, she guesses without taking the time to count it out. But she pockets the money and closes the safe. Then she raids the Pantry’s candy and cosmetics before she heads upstairs. Ivy’s door swings open just as Shiloh reaches the second-floor balcony. Zea stops abruptly upon seeing Shiloh. She’s holding a plate of food and a bottle.

“Oh.” Zea sounds as surprised as she looks. “Hello. Were you coming over to eat?”

Shiloh shakes her head, guilt knotting her throat. She jams both hands into the hoodie’s kangaroo pocket to hide her loot.

Zea shows her the plate. “I was bringing you dinner. Ivy insisted.”

She cautiously approaches the woman and takes the plate with one hand, using it to cover the stash hidden in her sweatshirt. “Thanks,” she mumbles, looking at the food so she doesn’t have to make eye contact, afraid Zea will suspect exactly what she’s been doing. Meatloaf. It smells amazing. Something else homemade she’s never eaten. Her stomach growls, and she wonders if she’ll have time to eat before Finn arrives. Will she be able to hold the food down despite her worry Ellis makes it here before him?

“This, too.” Zea shows her the bottle. “I brought this tonight for you.”

She had? Shiloh’s gaze lifts to the woman, finding it hard to hate her for ratting her out to Ellis. Her smile is bright and warm. If she didn’t know she had six identities and worked for her mom’s boyfriend, Shilohwould say the gift was genuine rather than an attempt to win over Shiloh’s trust. Still, she takes the bottle. “I’ve never had Italian soda before.”

“It’s good. I work with a lot of kids like you. They love it.”

Whatever that means. Shiloh frowns with unease.

Zea rushes to Lucas’s apartment. “Let me get the door for you.” Before Shiloh can object, she throws open the door Shiloh left unlocked. Shiloh thinks of the backpack she left on the couch loaded with Zea’s and Lucas’s cash, his laptop. She feels the weight of Ivy’s cash and the makeup and candy she stole from the Pantry and starts to sweat.

Zea steps aside as Shiloh warily enters Lucas’s apartment. “Want some company?” Zea asks with enthusiasm.

That’s the last thing she wants. She turns to tell Zea she has a stomachache and just wants to go to bed when a car enters the parking lot. A tall woman with long brunette hair brushed to a sheen unfolds from the compact sedan. Thin body decked in flared jeans and a tube top, she wears sunglasses that cover half her face.

“What’s with the shades?” Zea mutters under her breath, watching the stranger. Shiloh’s mouth quirks with humor. The woman does look ridiculous. The sun set almost an hour ago.

Sliding the shades onto her head, the woman looks up at them. “Who are you?”

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