Page 22 of Hunted

With nothing else to do, he went into his bedroom and watched an old movie. He barely saw the actors or heard the dialogue; he was too caught up in his own head. Finally, around three, he fell asleep. Despite that, Clint woke early to the sound of someone talking on the phone in the hallway. Leila. Her tone was quiet, but after years of getting up before the butt-crack of dawn in the Navy, he was a light sleeper.

“I don’t know, Mama,” she said, her voice tense. “We don’t have much but there will be a few boxes I’ll need to have shipped. I’ll need to check rates and schedules and all of that.”

Clint stared up at the ceiling, a knot of stress forming between his shoulders. She was serious about leaving then. His protective instinct railed at the thought of her out there on her own without him. It was irrational, but that was how he felt.

Grumbling to himself, he got up and pulled on a pair of loose sweatpants then padded to the door. He spotted Leila standing in the door to her bedroom, holding Thomas on one hip. Her sleep shirt stopped mid-thigh, giving him a nice look at her long, tanned legs. His body tightened with desire despite his wishes. Now wasn’t the time or place. Her face was turned away from him and he cleared his throat to get her attention.

Leila turned and saw him, her gaze giving his bare torso a quick once-over before she said into the phone, “I need to go, Mama. Love you. I’ll call you later.”

“Everything okay?” He asked, crossing his arms and leaning one shoulder against the doorframe.

She nodded. “Yes. Thomas was fussing, so I was up. My mother doesn’t always consider the time difference.”

“Hmm.” He could tell from the way she was avoiding his eyes there was more to the story. Not to mention what he’d just overheard. Never one to beat around the bush, Clint lifted his chin. “You’re planning on leaving.”

It wasn’t a question.

With a sigh, she nodded. “I’m sorry. I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me, especially letting us stay here, but I really think this is the best option.” She gave him a weak smile. “Maybe the only option.”

He wanted to tell her it wasn’t. That he’d protect her, protect Thomas. But he knew there were limits to what he could do, what she would let him do. Given that her ex had managed to track down the kid’s day care, who knew what the man might do next? Maybe she was right to go. It was her life, her kid. She had to make the choice that was right for her. He had no right to interfere in it. So, instead, all he did was give a curt nod before retreating back into his bedroom. “If that’s what you want.”

Leila watched him disappear into the shadows of his room then heard the shower start in his attached bath. She carried Thomasback into her bedroom and put him down on the center of her bed. He could play there while she packed. She was glad to have the task. It gave her something to focus on so that she didn’t dwell on the loneliness and resignation she’d seen in Clint’s sad blue eyes. It broke her heart, but what else was she supposed to do?

Her top priority now had to be protecting her son. Yes, there was a chance Mike would follow her to Puerto Rico and bring danger to her mom and grandparents, but sheknewhe was a danger to her here in Vegas. At least he’d have more of a struggle finding her in Puerto Rico. He didn’t speak the language, wouldn’t have his gang to back him up. And maybe he’d consider it victory enough to have chased her out of town—maybe once she left, he’d finally leave her alone.

With a sigh, she pulled her suitcase out from the closet. Besides, Clint had been right earlier. They didn’t know each other that well. How could she trust him to keep them safe when there was still so much they didn’t know about each other? Even if his intentions were good—and she believed they were—he was only one man and Mike had who knew how many aggressive gang members waiting to help him. She shivered at the thought.

She sank down onto the edge of her mattress, her mind swirling and her heart aching. Moving home would mean uprooting her son, giving up the job and career she loved at the dental clinic, losing the few friends she’d made here in Vegas. All of the things she’d worked so hard for, everything she loved.

Tears stung her eyes before she swiped them away. Her old doubts and fears resurfaced. What kind of mother did this make her, that she would tuck her tail between her legs and skulk off at the first sign of danger? Her own mother would never have been such a coward. No. Samantha Ortiz would have fought to thedeath to protect what she cared for when Leila and her brother had been growing up. She would never have backed down. She would’ve fought like hell to save what was hers.

God, Leila felt like even more of a loser than she had before.

Dammit.

Feeling sorry for herself wasn’t in her nature. Neither was hiding away from her problems.

Time for her to stand on her own and take action. Stop counting on other people to solve her problems. If living with a single mother all her life had taught her anything, it was to be self-reliant.

Decision made, she stood and changed into jeans and a sweater, then she began packing up their things.

Time to go back to her apartment and prepare to stand her ground. Alone.

Just the way it should be.

That’s what I want, right?

Doubt crept in, but she pushed it aside. Yes. It was what she wanted. Because it had to be. She couldn’t be dependent on Clint. She couldn’t be dependent on her family either. In order to reclaim her self-respect, she would have to figure out how to depend solely on herself. She’d protect her son with everything she had inside her. She checked to make sure that the gun she’d purchased was in her purse. Clint had taught how to use it, and she had the necessary permits. It was a last resort, of course. She wasn’t looking for trouble, but if it came to her, she’d do what she had to.

Now, she just wanted to get leaving over with. If she hurried, she could be out of there before Clint was done with his shower. This would all be easier if she didn’t have to face him again. She’d leave him a note to thank him and say goodbye.

More tears fell, but she couldn’t give in.

She was on her own now.

For better or worse.

13

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