Page 70 of Torched

“Isn’t that convenient?” I cock my head at her, not convinced of her explanation.

“I’m telling the truth, Liam!” Her eyes turn glassy, frustration in her expression. Her black hair sits messily on her head from our narrow escape and for the first time since she strolled onto my yacht, her lipstick is smeared around the edges. She looks like she’s about to lose it, and it tugs on my conscience just a little. Like a drop in the ocean, but it’s still there.

“He’s been after me for years. Stalking me. Threatening me.” She takes a step closer, almost making it look like it’s not intentional.

“Is this supposed to make me feel sorry for you?”

“No!” she exclaims as loud as she can without revealing our position. “I just want you to trust me.”

“I’ve done that before. It bit me in the ass.”

Her eyes move from left to right as if she wants to make sure we’re still alone. “Look, I know you hate me. But I’m sorry, okay? I’m sorry for what I did to you. I’m sorry I let Junior pull me into his sick little games. I fucked up. And I’ve been feeling like shit for it ever since.” I hold her gaze, my mind trying to figure out her angle. “I know you don’t trust me, but please believe me when I say I’m not the same person as I was. I’ve changed. That night changed me.Youchanged me.” She presses her hands on my chest, looking up at me. The darkness in her eyes is lightening under the burning sun, and I let Gen’s words fly through my mind: ‘Do you think she changed?’ “I’m not here to hurt you or anyone else. Not even Imogen.” The name of my girl makes my jaw tick. “But right now, you need to trust me if we want to get out of here. I know what this man is like. He’ll torture before he talks to you. I’ve escaped him more than once.”

I realize I might be putting my fate in the hands of the devil, but it seems like I don’t have any other choice. I can call Kane right now to pick me up somewhere, but I have no clue where I am, and I have no idea where Dax and his crew might be. I need a solid place to hide and enough getaway time to make sure Kane can send a car safely. I’m not risking them following us back to the safe house and putting Callie and Imogen in danger.

I dip my chin toward Cristina. I don’t want to put my trust in her, but if I know one thing? I know it’s Cristina Reyes who wants to live above all. If this guy is really after her, she’s going to do anything in her power to stay out of his grasp.

“What are you suggesting?”

A smile splits her face, a sense of victory in her eyes. “We need to blend in.”

24

IMOGEN

PRESENT DAY

“He’sgoingtobefine.” Jeremy tries to comfort me.

“You don’t know that!” I snap. “He could be lying dead on the floor for all we know!”

“He’s not, Gen. I promise. He’ll get out of there.”

I want to believe him. I’m doing my best to keep it together, but I’m freaking out.

“Who was that anyway?!”

“I don’t know.” Jeremy shakes his head.

Great.

“How do we know she’s not working with them?” That bitch never shows her true colors, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she’s screwing us over once again. She keeps trying to convince us she’s changed and part of me wanted to believe it for the last few days. But that is now shredded to pieces. My gut is telling me she’s up to more than just getting that diamond in her hands.

“We don’t. But I’ll find out.”

Goosebumps trail my arms with a force that has me shuddering like a wet dog when I feel my heart racing for a different reason than the minute before. Adrenaline is being replaced by a sense of utter fear, suddenly feeling lost and alone. I bury my face in my palms, never letting go of the gun, despair washing over me like a bucket of ice. My tears refuse to be held back and my shoulders shake as I sob.

These days on the yacht fucked with my head, the tension felt in my core the entire time, but he got me through it. He made me smile. He gave me confidence, and he made it easy to believe that we will win this. That it will be over before I know it and that we’ll go back to our lives.Together.

But now I fear that vision blowing up in my face, scared as hell that Liam won’t come back to me with a heartbeat. That Cristina will sell him out like she did before.

The weight of a warm hand falls on my back. “He’s trained, Gen. We will get him back.”

I let him pull me against his side, staining his black shirt as he softly removes the gun from my grasp. “I can’t lose him, Jer.”

“I know, sweetheart. You won’t.” He rests his chin on my hair and I suck in his comfort, needing his touch to let me know I’m not alone.

For the rest of the ride, we all sit in silence, with me sobbing against Jeremy’s chest. A few minutes later, I feel the van drive onto a wobbly road, the vehicle rocking from left to right.

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