Page 20 of Tracing Her Stolen Identity
“That’s what the money is for, Reece. To take care of my expenses.”
“Your medical and daily living expenses, not this,” he said, squeezing her shoulder. “If Secure Watch didn’t want to help you, they wouldn’t be, so please, don’t insult everyone who is by insisting on paying.”
“I’m disabled, not a charity case, Land,” she said, anger rising in her chest.
“Did you hear me say you were?” he asked. Skylar couldn’t see his face, but she could hear his exasperation loud and clear. Rather than distract him further, she sighed.
“Fine, I’ll graciously accept the help of all of you at Secure Watch without bringing up payment. That said, youcan’t stop me from creating a special mosaic as a gift.” She stressed the wordgiftso he didn’t get his undies in a bundle about it.
Laughter rang out, making her smile, even though she didn’t want to. “I certainly can’t stop you from doing that, nor would I. Having a one-of-a-kind Skylar Sullivan mosaic is worth more than cash.”
This time, Skylar’s laughter filled the cab. “Land, you’re smooth, but not smooth enough to make me forget that my name is mud right now in the art community, not that it was all that great to begin with. I was making gains, but now…” She didn’t finish—she just shook her head under the blanket.
“Now, you’ll come back stronger than ever once the real culprit of the gallery crimes is caught and revealed. You’ll be hailed as the hero for helping apprehend and bring them to justice.”
“By hiding out in a cabin in the woods?”
“It’s all about the spin, Sky. Spin it right and not only does this not hurt your career, but it also helps it.”
“That would send this Binate guy right over the edge.”
“I like to aim high,” he said, and she could picture that one gray eye of his winking the way he used to do when they were kids. “There’s a rest stop ahead. There aren’t any headlights behind me, so I’ll pull over and help you get upright and better secured for the rest of the ride. We’re driving into heavy deer country, and I don’t want you to get hurt if I have to hit the brakes.”
“You won’t hear me argue. Another ten minutes and I won’t be able to sit up.”
“Why didn’t you say something sooner?” She heard theanger in his words, which was another reminder that he didn’t live in her world and never would.
“To what end, Reece? Getting out alive but sore was better than getting out dead in a body bag. Don’t judge me when you haven’t been a part of my life for years. I’m tougher than you think I am.”
“You’re right. I haven’t been part of your life for years, but whose fault is that?” he asked softly. She suspected he didn’t want her to hear the question at all, but she had, and it made her grimace internally. Before she could respond, the truck slowed and they took a turn to the right, rolling her gently into his side to remind her that she would never enjoy the comfort of his warm body ever again.
He left the truck idling when he got out and slammed the door.Slammedwas the apt description, but she was too busy trying to throw the blanket off to worry about his mood. The faster she got upright, the better for her body and their mission. Lingering in one spot wasn’t a good idea, and she wouldn’t be the reason for it.
By the time Reece had her door open, his gentleness had returned. “Take it slow,” he said, offering his hand for her to grab with one hand while she pushed herself up with the other.
Bright lights filled the truck as a vehicle came down the exit, illuminating Reece where he stood at the passenger door. Reece ducked as she heard a pop and then the sound of pinging metal.
“Stay down!” he yelled, dropping her hand, yanking his handgun from its holster and firing off a shot.
Chapter Twelve
“Where the hell did these guys come from?” Reece yelled as he aimed for the tires on the truck as it passed them. They’d drilled the back of his truck full of holes, and he owed them one. On a breath, he squeezed the trigger, the bullet finding its target and blowing apart the giant tire of the lifted truck. The operator lost control immediately. Before he could get off another shot, the truck went careening into the grass until it bounced off several trees and rolled, landing on its roof with the tires still spinning.
“Let’s go!” Reece slammed the door and ran to the driver’s side, throwing the truck into Reverse and slamming the pedal down as far as it would go, praying none of the bullets had hit any of his tires or the gas tank. The engine roared under him, but the gas gauge didn’t budge, nor did the truck fishtail. His truck might now be ugly, but at least it would get them to Secure Watch.
“Reece! What if that was Binate? Shouldn’t we check?”
He briefly cut his gaze to hers once they were on the road again. “I let my guard down again with you and look what happened. There isn’t a chance in hell I’m doing it again by approaching that truck. That leaves you open and defenseless, which is all Binate needs to grab you. I’m notstopping this truck again, so push yourself up using my shoulder and buckle in. Use my arm if you need extra leverage.” He held his arm out in a V for her to grab, and after a few attempts, she managed to get herself upright and belted in. Rather than belt her legs together, she leaned over and wrapped her arms over them to hold them.
“You can’t ride that way for the next hour,” he said, glancing at her.
“The way you’re driving, we’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Her words made him laugh, and he eased off the gas a bit. “I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t mind picking up a cop right about now. In the absence of an escort, I’ll push this truck to its limit if it means less time on the road alone. I need to update Secure Watch.”
He went through every second of their drive in his mind, from leaving the safe house until they took that exit. No one was in the rearview mirror, especially not a truck that big. Where had they come from?
“That truck came from the wrong direction, Land,” she said, turning to look at him. “It came down the on-ramp.”
