Page 16 of To Keep

He ignored her complaining, his mind racing in too many directions. While Viko was attempting to get answers, he wanted some of his own. He’d call up a few of his informants and colleagues to see if he could make sense of any of this.

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Skye felt an odd connection with Galen, but it was obviously one-sided since he was still waiting for the go-ahead to murder her. How could anyone be so heartless? It was hard for her to imagine why she felt so comfortable around him. Her instincts must be way, way off.

She was pretty sure four more days had passed, but nothing seemed to resonate with her anymore. Even worse, she was falling for her captor. Galen was quiet, attentive, and ridiculously sexy. He could protect her from anything—if only he wasn’t her enemy.

“How about a change of scenery?”

Skye whirled around as Galen approached her. He wasn’t in his usual sweats but dressed in all black tactical gear. He looked deadly. And mouthwatering.

“What do you mean?”

“Get dressed. We’re going out.”

The brief moment of delight was quickly squashed when reality set in. “Are you going to kill me? Are you taking me somewhere to end this?” The man was neat to a fault so he wouldn’t want her brains splattered all over his white kitchen.”

“Not yet. We’re just meeting up with someone.”

She still didn’t like the sound of this. He was way too cryptic. And she had zero reason to trust Galen.

Skye did as he’d asked and went to her en suite to get dressed, quickly twisting her long hair into a loose bun. She looked into the bathroom mirror, wishing she had some makeup or at least her own shampoo and conditioner. Right now, she smelled like Galen’s bodywash, and that was doing a number on her libido.

Skye sighed and turned the light off. Who was she kidding? A man like him could never fall for a woman like her, no matter how much she fantasized about it.

“I’m ready,” she said. Galen was waiting at the front door, scrolling through his phone. “Not much I can do with only a few clothes and no makeup.”

He stopped and focused on her, his gaze unwavering. “You don’t need makeup.”

What did that mean? Was it a compliment? Or did she not matter one way or the other?

Skye followed him outside and waited for him to lock up. The gentle breeze on her skin felt incredible after being cooped up for a week. She took a deep breath of the cool, night air. When he opened the passenger door of his SUV for her, it felt surreal. She could almost pretend it was a date. Everything was much different now than last week when they’d arrived at his home. Maybe Viko would forget about her and she could play house with Galen forever.

The drive was too quiet when she craved answers. He’d only ignore her questions anyway. He took the “strong, silent type” to a new level. She wished she knew more about him.

After driving for probably twenty minutes, she was bursting with the need to speak. “Who are we meeting?”

“An old friend of a friend.”

“Who? Why? Where?”

Skye cringed after she spoke. She sounded like a five-year-old nagging her parents.

“You said you didn’t know who that woman was? The one your boss killed.”

She swallowed hard, not liking the subject. “No. I never asked questions.”

“Well, we know who the man was. He was an associate of the Circle of Monsters, did some quick contracts for Viko on the side. We’re going to see his ex.”

“How will that help?” she asked.

“She may know who the woman was. May know why Seth was at Petrov’s in the first place.”

She looked out the passenger window at the darkened landscape, suddenly feeling very alone. “What does it matter? I mean, how will new information help?”

Skye grabbed the handrest when the car abruptly jerked to a near stop and Galen swerved onto the side of the lonely stretch of roadway.

“What’s wrong?” Her breath came heavy from the rush of adrenaline.

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