Page 85 of Countdown

“Everything. Starting with the night I saw Michael on the television. It wasn’t long after that, everything started going crazy. My calls to Trent let Kevin—or someone—know where I was. If I hadn’t called, none of this would be happening.”

“That’s an assumption. It makes sense, but you can’t say for sure that’s how someone found you.”

“I think it’s a pretty safe assumption.”

He sighed. “Probably.”

“I think Kevin has been looking for me all these years—and monitoring the people that I told him about. He used to pump me for information. Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time.I thought he was being so attentive and loving. That he was interested in everything about me. And he was. Just not for the reasons that I assumed.”

“He wanted to figure out how to control you.”

She nodded.

“I’m sorry, Raina.”

“I’ve never been able to trust a man since then,” she said softly. Then her gaze lifted to meet his. “Until you.”

He reached over and took her hand. “I’m honored.”

A throat clearing reminded him that Penny could hear every word. He didn’t care, but Raina’s pink cheeks said she’d forgotten too.

“Love the fact that I can be totally invisible,” Penny said. “And just for the record, I didn’t know about the birthday party. Sounds like fun.”

Raina laughed and Vince grinned. Then he leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.

With Raina’s hand still gripped in his.

CHAPTER

TWENTY

Raina wasn’t sure how she’d managed to sleep, but she was awakened when Penny’s voice came through the headset. “Wake up, sleepyheads, we’re landing.” Raina blinked and glanced out the window to see a landscape of white. “Where are we landing?”

“Closest I could get you to Copper Mountain. We’re in Denver and you have a rental car waiting—in Vince’s name. I put it on my card since I wasn’t sure if you had a wallet.”

“Thank you, Penny, you’re the absolute best. Don’t worry about waiting or coming back to get us. We’ll get a regular flight home.”

“Just text a few hours before you’re ready to leave and I’ll see what I can do.”

Vince stirred and Raina finally pulled her hand from his grasp. With one indrawn breath, he was instantly alert. “We’re here,” he said.

“We are,” Penny said. The wheels touched the tarmac, then settled while the engines wound down. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve gone a few rounds with a pro boxer. And lost. But the nap helped.”

Penny pulled her headset off and turned to Raina. “Here.”

“What?”

“It’s a credit card. Use it if you need it.”

“Penny, I’m not taking your card. I have cash in my go bag.” She glanced at Vince. “The one he rescued from the fire.”

“Just keep it. If you have to charge something, you won’t want to use one of your cards. You know. Because you don’t want anyone to be able to trace it?”

“Oh.” Raina huffed a sigh, then smiled, her heart tender at the love of her friend. “As much as I hate to admit it, that’s good thinking. Fine. Thank you.”

“And one more thing.” Penny dug in the small bag next to her. “Altitude pills.” She pressed them into Raina’s other hand.

---