Page 27 of Protective Assignment
She would have just told him if they had mugged her or something, right?She had started opening up to him, a little at least.If something bad had happened, he thought she would have at least mentioned it to him.
But the fact she hadn’t said anything about it made him wonder if something darker and more dangerous was going on.Something that might have been tied to the life she had tried to escape before.He could only imagine what she had been through and how bad it had been for her if she had been anywhere near those psychos.From what he’d heard about them, they got their claws into people and never let go.
What if she was one of them?It would explain why she had been so reluctant to talk about her past, if she had been wrapped up in something involving the Shepards.
Or maybe he was jumping to conclusions again.
Maybe he should just focus on what was right in front of him instead of trying to figure out what was going on with River.He had a job to do, and he needed to get his head in the game.He could worry about her and whatever she was keeping from him later.He’d be damned if he would be the cause of their team failing.
As Xavier pulled the truck away from the lodge, he couldn’t help but glance back over his shoulder toward the building.That invisible string that drew him to River pulled hard.He wondered if she was watching them right now.Wondered if she was panicking as much as she seemed to be when he mentioned the Shepards.
But mostly, he wondered when she was finally going to tell him the truth about her past, and what had led her to be standing on the side of the road in the rain on that night he’d met her.
Chapter Sixteen
Her mind raced so fast she couldn’t even stop to think straight.All she knew was that she had to get the hell out of there as soon as possible.She had to put as much distance between herself and this place as she could, and she needed to do it right now, before the Shepards caught up with her.
As soon as those words had come out of Cade’s mouth, she knew there was only one thing for her to do—run.Immediately.No matter how much she wished she could stay, how much she wished she didn’t have to do this, she didn’t have a choice.If they were that close to her, even within fifty miles, she was in danger.And she was going to put everyone else in this place in the line of fire, too.She couldn’t bear the thought of it.These people had been so nice and welcoming to her, she couldn’t stand even the idea of causing them so much pain.They didn’t deserve it.
But she knew Cade and the others would try to stop her if they were around when she ran, so she had to take the chance while they were away.She waited until after she saw Cade and Xavier drive away to make sure they were really gone then went back to the cabin to gather the supplies she’d managed to put together.
Even though the cold was really starting to set in, shehad to get on the road again.Fast.If she had learned one thing from these last few months, it was to trust her instincts, and they were screaming at her to get as far from here as fast as she could.The sooner, the better.
Her hands shook as she ripped open her bag and started stuffing it with all the supplies she had managed to secure so far.There wasn’t much, but it was more than she had set out with the first time around.If she had made it this far before, she could do it again.
She was doing her best to convince herself, even though all she wanted was to curl up in a ball and hide.Her heart hammered in her chest, and she was sure she had given away the truth of at least some of her past to Cade when he had mentioned the Shepards to her.If he hadn’t been so distracted by the mission he was going on, she had no doubt he would have taken the chance to interrogate her.And when he found out the whole truth, he wouldn’t have wanted anything to do with her.How could he?He would want to put as much distance between the two of them as possible, and she wouldn’t blame him.
She sealed up her bag, her hands shaking, and tried to steady her breathing.She wished there was a vehicle she could take, or even a bike.But they would notice the absence and someone would come after her before she got far enough way.Either one of them or the cops.That would be even worse.No, she was going to have to leave on foot, like before.She’d walk as long as she could before finding a place to hole up for a bit and make a new plan.
At least this time she’d have the rations she’d stocked and the clothes she got in town.She’d make a quick detour to the basement in the lodge and grab another sleepingbag, then be on her way.With winter coming in soon, she’d need the extra layers and protection.
She tried to take a deep breath as she swiped away tears that had started to fall from her eyes.It was going to be okay.It had to be.This had only been a stopping point, a short rest.She’d known she’d have to move on soon.That was why the thought of leaving had never been far from her mind.Yet, the thought of leaving the friends she’d made and Cade… His name alone sent a sharp pang through her chest.
She should have known better than to let her feelings get in the way, especially when it came to Cade.Whatever she felt for him, whatever they had stirring between them, it was nothing more than a pipe dream.A fantasy she had concocted based on a truth that was never real.He could never be with someone like her.He was so kind, so caring, so protective—because he thought she was on the run from an abusive ex, not that she had been part of a group like the Shepards of Rebellion.The very group he was out to help stop now.
Stepping out of her room and into the cabin’s small living area, she noticed Cade’s jacket draped over the back of the couch.He must have forgotten to take it with him when he left.She grabbed it without thinking and lifted it to her face, inhaling his woodsy scent.It would be the only thing of his she could take with her, the only reminder of him she would be able to cling to when she was out on her own again.She hoped he wouldn’t mind her taking it.Maybe he would be able to forgive her if he knew what she was saving him from.How bad things would have been if she hadn’t left while he was gone and he found out abouther connection to the Shepards.The danger she could have brought to their door.It was better this way.
She put the jacket on, almost laughing at how it swallowed her small frame, and hooked her bag over her shoulder, readying herself for what was to come next.Throwing open the door, she sprinted out and ran straight into Hannah, who was hurrying down to her own cabin.
“Oof!”Hannah exclaimed as they crashed into each other.River stopped dead in her tracks, cursing to herself silently.She should have checked that no one was around.She had hoped she would be able to make a clean getaway, but now that Hannah had run into her, it was going to be next to impossible to make it out without drawing more attention to herself.
River looked up, and her heart twisted when she saw that Hannah’s eyes were wet with tears.
Her eyes widened in horror.“I didn’t hurt you, did I?”she gasped.
Hannah shook her head.“No, no, I’m fine,” she replied, but River could tell that wasn’t true.In the short time she’d known her, River had never seen her this upset, especially not in tears.She was always bubbly and had a smile for everyone.It was obvious to her that Hannah was definitelynotfine right now.
“Hannah, what’s going on?”she asked, already panicking that this had something to do with her.Hannah sniffed, and River put an arm around her and guided her down to her own cabin.
Once they were inside, River set about trying to make her some coffee.It took her a few minutes to figure out how to use the coffee machine, but eventually she pulledit off, and handed Hannah a steaming mug as she sat down opposite her.
“What’s going on?”River asked again, concern dripping from her voice.She would never forgive herself if she had managed to bring some kind of danger to this place or if she had landed Hannah in trouble because of what she had been keeping from them all this time.
“I… I don’t even know anymore,” she admitted, shaking her head.There were dark rings underneath her eyes, and it looked as though she hadn’t slept properly in days.
“You can tell me,” River urged her.“It’s okay.”
Hannah sighed, lifted the coffee to her lips and took a long sip.
