He blinked, obviously surprised. And maybe something else. Hurt? Standing, he nodded. “I’ll be in the house if you need me.”
Her smile was tight. “I know I won’t actually be alone, but I just need a few minutes. I need to focus on something other than this mess, and it’s impossible with you sitting there.”
He laughed softly, the warm emotion she’d caught in his eyes earlier returning. “I understand. I’ll be close, but you take all the time you need.”
She finished the last of her coffee, leaning back in the swing and bringing her knees up to her chest so she could pull the oversized sweater over her legs for warmth. When Flynn popped his head out the front door and tossed her an afghan from the living room, she almost asked him to rejoin her. But she needed these moments alone, and she was grateful that he was so willing to give her space, despite the seriousness of her situation.
Detective Kline had chosen the team well. Valerie just hoped that witness protection would be as good.
The sun slipped beyond the horizon, the pink sky slowly being taken over by deep navy. When the first star appeared in the night, Valerie sent up a silent wish. It was the same one she’d wished since the night she and Ben had laid on the hard floor, held prisoner with dozens of other trafficking victims. Separated by gender, they’d moved as close to each other as they could, hands through the chain-link that stood between them. Her heart ached at the hole his death had left.
Star light, star bright.
Smiling, she recited the childhood poem in her head, though she was in her twenties.
I wish for this nightmare to end.
Tucking the afghan up around her chin, she closed her eyes, letting the memory of Ben’s soft smile fill her with a warmth the balmiest of breezes couldn’t. She could still feel his touch two years later, his voice echoing in her head.
Everything is going to be all right, Val.
He’d been wrong.
He’d died days after he’d said those words, but Valerie hadn’t found out until Detective Kline saved her from the same fate two years later. Ben’s death was still fresh, and grief overtook her in painful waves in ordinary moments.
But it seemed as if Ben were close now. So close she could almost feel him. His arm wrapping around her shoulder. His nose nuzzling her ear, whispering sweet words of—
A hand clamped over her mouth.
Her heart jumped into her throat as her eyes flew open. Struggling for a breath through her nose, she stared up at the large shadow above her.
“Valerie. Wake up.” The voice belonged to Flynn, and she went limp with relief.
Blinking away the fog, she realized she’d dozed off. He held a finger to his lips, and she jumped up, letting him lead her by the hand into the house.
When she walked into the dark room and he locked the door behind them, her stomach clenched all over again. “What’s going on?” Her voice trembled, and she hated the fear that made her whisper in a strangled, raspy rush of air.
Flynn kept moving, brushing past Zeke, who was double-checking all the locks on the windows. “Someone tripped the alarm at the end of the road.” He was eerily calm as he pulled his phone out to show her the car rolling down the gravel drive. The bright headlights sent streaks of light across the video as it continued toward them.
Her heart pounded painfully against her ribs. “Do you know who it is?”
He shook his head, leading her through the dark house. “It’s too dark to make out anything helpful.”
“Maybe it’s just Nick.”
She caught the look Flynn gave Zeke before he answered. “Nick wouldn’t come here and risk giving away your location.”
Bile rose into her throat as he pulled her into the room she slept in each night, headed straight for the closet door. But she knew there was no closet behind that door. It was a panic room, installed by the previous owner.
Valerie’s breath came in panicked gasps, and she dragged her feet. Flynn tugged on her hand, but she stood in the threshold of the bedroom, frozen in place. “I can’t.” Her voice was thin, trembling. “I can’t be locked in that room alone. Please.”
Flynn shot a look back at Zeke and put his hands on her shoulders, the silver glow from the full moon lighting Flynn’s face just enough for her to see the pity in his eyes. “I know you’re scared, but there are only two of us. We can’t keep you safe unless you’re in there.”
“What if something happens to—”
“We’ve got this, but I can’t be worried that you’ll get caught in the crossfire. It’s one car. There’s a cell phone on the shelf in the back of the room. No texts. I’ll call and say the password when it’s all clear. If anyone else calls, hang up and call Detective Kline, got it?”
She nodded, body quaking as she took one step after another, until she stood inside the panic room hidden behind an unremarkable closet door.
Flynn nodded at her, all business as the heavy metal door closed between them.
The lock clicked, engaging automatically, and she swallowed, her breath becoming more shallow. On the wall, a keypad glowed, the button labeled arm blinking. It was the only light in the dark room.
She closed her eyes, forcing herself to inhale slowly. Hold it for four seconds. Release the breath slowly.
Your name is Valerie Price, and you will get out of this alive.
Hands shaking, she opened her eyes again, calmer. She pushed the flashing button, and the lights turned on instantly as the room went on lockdown.
Valerie breathed a sigh of relief. She
