“What’s wrong?” he asked.
But Verity couldn’t answer. Hell, she could barely even get her fingers to type the next message.
Do you know why?
Her hands began to tremble as she waited for the reply.
They didn’t say. All I know is they have a warrant. They’re in with the Dean now. What kind of trouble did you get yourself into?
She had no idea. She couldn’t think of any reason for the police to be searching her office…any reason that didn’t chill her to the bone that was.
She began to tremble all over as the blood started to drain from her face.
“Verity,” Jake prompted her.
Sheer panic started to take over, closing her throat. She’d never deluded herself into believing there wouldn’t be consequences for what she was doing out here, but somehow she’d always thought the worst of the fallout would be between her and Roman. Not once did she ever think that the police would come knocking on her door…or even worse, her boss’.
Dear God, she was going to lose her job.
The realization hit her like a bolt of lightning, shocking her system until she couldn’t move, couldn’t even breathe.
That job was her life. Her passion. It was everything she’d ever lived and fought for.
“Verity,” Jake called out again.
When she still didn’t answer, he pulled over to the shoulder and hit the brakes. A cloud of dust crested over the top of the cab as they came to a sudden stop. Jake didn’t wait for it to settle before taking the phone from her hand. He cursed under his breath as he quickly scanned through the messages.
When he looked back up at her face, the look in his eyes was angry but resolute. He clasped his hand over her shoulder, and, just like that, a little of her fear slipped away. It was almost as if she could feel some of his strength seeping into her with just a simple touch.
“Listen to me, Verity. We’re going to take care of this,” he said, his voice low and even. “I’m going to call my office. Someone there should be able to figure out what’s going on.”
Verity gave a shaky nod. That sounded like a reasonable first step. Maybe things weren’t as bad as they seemed.
“While I’m doing that I need you to send Cheryl another message,” Jake went on. “You need to tell her that she needs to get out of there before the cops talk to her. Tell her to go away for the weekend. It won’t keep the cops off her long, but it will buy us a couple of days.”
Then again, maybe things were exactly as bad as they seemed.
“A couple of days before what?” she asked.
“Before the police get their hands on her phone and all the messages that you two have been sending back and forth to each other. Before they find out exactly who you’re with and where we are.”
Verity’s heart clinched hard in her chest. He couldn’t be saying what she thought he was.
“You can’t be seriously suggesting that we run from the police,” she said.
“No,” Jake said, cocking his chin to the side. “But we can make it damned hard for them to find us.”
“But what if it’s just a misunderstanding?” she tried. “What if we can clear everything up with a simple conversation?”
The tight lines around his eyes deepened, and Verity instantly knew that wasn’t an option.
“Then we can have that conversation in a couple of days.”
“Are you sure?” Her brows pulled together. “People are shooting at us. Maybe we’re better off with the police.”
“Maybe,” Jake admitted. “Then again, maybe not. All I know is that right now someone else is trying to make that decision for us, and until I know exactly who that is and why, we need to fly under the radar. Understand?”
Verity bit into her lip as she gave a reluctant nod. “Yeah.”
“Good,” he said and opened the driver’s side door. He paused before he stepped down onto the ground and turned back to her. “Oh, and tell her you’re not going to be able to contact her for a few days. Then turn your phone all the way off.”
“So the cops can’t track it?” she asked.
“The cops. Roman. Silas. Take your pick,” Jake said before pulling his own phone from his pocket and closing the door.
***
Jake propped his boot heel up on the rear bumper of the truck and his back against the lift gate. He let his gaze lazily wander down the two-lane country road as he hung on hold, but he couldn’t help the tension that crept into his jaw while he waited for Charlie to pick up the phone.
It wasn’t any better knowing that she wouldn’t keep him hanging. She never did. If there was one constant in this job it was that Charlie was always there when they needed her.
No thanks to him.
Jake gnashed his back teeth together as another sickening wave of guilt washed over him.
He hadn’t spoken to Charlie in months. And the terrible truth was if he had any other options he wouldn’t be on the phone waiting to talk to her now.
But there weren’t.
If it had been anybody else sitting in his truck right now, he would have found another way. But it wasn’t just anybody. It was Verity, and for her he’d do anything.
Even the one thing that he’d been avoiding since the day he’d walked out of the hospital.
He didn’t want to dig too deep into why that was. Not now, at any rate.
Later, he’d have time to figure out what exactly he saw in her dark eyes that held him so rapt. What it was inside her that made her passion burn so much brighter than everyone else’s. How she was able to draw out his most private thoughts and emotions with a single touch.
Later, when she was back safe at home.
And he was alone again.
“Hey, stranger.” The familiar bubbly voice on the other end of the line jerked Jake right back into reality. “It’s been a while. For a second there I thought the receptionist was pranking me when she said you were on the phone.”
Jake brought his boot down and kicked the dirt.
Damn it. This was every bit as hard as he thought it would be.
“Sorry,” he grumbled. “I wouldn’t have called if it wasn’t important.”
There was a slight pause on the other end. Long enough for another wave of shame to crest.
“Jake, you’re my friend,” Charlie said. “I’m happy to hear from you. I’ve missed you. We all have.”
The sincerity in her voice only made him feel worse. He couldn’t help feeling that he’d have an easier time if she were angry with him…as angry as he was with himself.
After all, his sloppiness had nearly gotten her killed. What kind of person could forgive a mistake like that?
“Anyway,” he said, clearing his throat. “I’ve got a problem and I need your help.”
“Of course. Anything.”
“You remember that woman you sent my way?”
“Verity,” Charlie said, her voice instantly brightening again. “She was sweet. A little on the mousy side, but determined and sweet. I had a feeling you two might hit it off. Was I right?”
“Yeah, well, the assignment has hit a snag,” he said, side-stepping the whole hit it off topic entirely. “I was hoping you could find out why the Ann Arbor PD is searching her place of employment.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Charlie said. “Give me a minute.”
“Sure.”
Jake looked down at the dirt beneath his feet as he waited for Charlie to work her magic. In the background he could hear the faint click of computer keys. The wind rustled through the leaves of an oak tree a few feet down the road. But those faint sounds weren’t enough to alleviate the crushing silence that stretched between the two of them.
Suddenly, Jake felt like a total ass.
“So, uh,” he started. “How’ve you been?”
He swore he heard a slight chuckle on the other end amidst all the furious typing.
“I’ve been good, Jake. Real good,” she said. “Missed havin
g you around though.”
Yeah, he wasn’t about to touch that one either.
“And how’s the shoulder?”
He could barely get the question out without the familiar image of her splayed across her couch in a pool of her own blood flashing in his head again.
“Just fine. It’s been all healed up for a while now,” she said without hesitation. “All that’s left is a gnarly scar.”
He unconsciously let out a small grunt as another pang of guilt stabbed into his side.
“No, it’s super cool,” Charlie rushed to say. “I like to show it off when Bowie’s around just to see his face turn white. Who knew the big guy was so squeamish?”
Jake cleared his throat. Bowie Tamatoa was many things, but squeamish was not one of them. What he happened to be was madly in love with Charlie for the last couple of years…even though she was the only one that never seemed to notice.
“You’d just think that after everything he’d seen,” she went on, “he’d be used to the sight of—whoa.”
Jake straightened up instantly. “Whoa, what?”
“You weren’t kidding when you said you hit a snag,” she said. “More like a brick wall.”
“What did you find, Charlie?”
“It’s not just the local PD in Ann Arbor that are looking for Miss Green. She’s wanted for questioning by the FBI. Looks like they’ve put out feelers in all the areas that Verity’s been known to have visited recently. That includes San Francisco.”
“Shit,” Jake grumbled.
“That’s not all,” Charlie added. “She’s been flagged by the TSA, so there’s no way she’s getting on a plane.”
“What the hell do they want to question her about?”
Charlie hummed to herself for a half second, and Jake could see her in his mind, sitting in front of her bank of computers, quickly scanning over all the information on her screens.
“Looks like the FBI received a reliable tip that Miss Green is involved with an international antiquities smuggling ring.”
“Reliable, eh?” Jake said with a scoff. Must have been someone with some pretty solid federal connections. Someone like John Silas.
“I think at this point we have to assume that the FBI is about to come knocking on our door any minute now,” Charlie said. “Do you want to be the one to break the news to the Captain or shall I?”
“I think I’ll leave that up to you and ditch this phone as soon as we hang up,” he said.
“Wise move.”
“Do me a favor, and pass along a message to Carter for me,” he said.
“You mean, ‘everything’s gone to hell’ isn’t going to be good enough?” Charlie said with a dark laugh.
“Not this time,” Jake said. “Tell him this isn’t about the art. Tell him John Silas is involved. Silas and the Norteños and I’m guessing a whole shitload of heroin.”
A moment of stunned silence stretched out on the other end of the line.
“Wow,” Charlie finally said. “You’ve been gone so long I almost forgot that when you get into trouble, Jake, you don’t half-ass it.”
“No, I guess I don’t.” Jake couldn’t hold back the smile that pulled at the corner of his lips. He’d missed Charlie’s humor…more than he wanted to admit.
“Yeah, I’ll tell him,” she said. “And you stay safe out there.”
“Thanks, Charlie,” he said. “I will.”
“And come home soon,” she added.
Jake pressed his lips together as he lowered his phone and ended the call.
That was one thing he couldn’t promise. Not yet.
Chapter Eight
The sun had just started to dip down below the horizon when Jake drove back into Augustville. Verity wrenched around in her seat as the city limits sign flew past her window, certain that her eyes were playing tricks on her.
“Wait,” she said, trying not to let panic overtake her again. “Why are you bringing us back here?”
“Because it’s safer than anywhere else.” His voice was calm and steady, but the vague answer didn’t do anything to ease her anxiety.
“How can you be sure?” she prodded.
“Because I am.”
“But—”
“Because we already have a place to stay, and at this point finding somewhere new is riskier than staying put.” Jake kept his arm straight on the steering wheel and his eyes pointed dead ahead as he rattled off the rest of the reasons. “If we did move, our options are limited. The bigger the city, the more cops will be looking for us. Silas and Roman think we’re headed south, so staying to the north is safer. And this is the last location I gave the people back at my office, so they can find us if need be.”
Those were all decent reasons.
Still, the knot in the center of her belly refused to loosen. It had been there for the last couple of hours now, ever since her emotions had broken free from their cage, growing tighter and tighter with every dark thought that ran through her head, until it felt like she was going to snap and shatter completely.
What she needed was a release.
But how?
The answer came the moment Jake pulled into the parking lot. Verity’s eyes were instantly drawn to the neon signs burning bright in the window across the street.
The bar.
Why not? It had worked well enough for Jake. Hell, he’d hidden quite successfully from his troubles for months in a bar like that one. Surely, there wouldn’t be any harm in her doing the same for just one night. Hell, a few drinks might even dull a few of the relentless worries pounding against her skull. It was worth a shot.
And if that didn’t work, she could always get drunk enough to pass out. That was guaranteed to silence those terrifying thoughts for a couple of hours at least.
Verity scooped up her purse the moment the truck stopped. She threw open the door.
“Where are you going?” Jake called after her when she started walking away from the motel.
“Where does it look like?” If he expected her to stop and ask for permission, he was going to be terribly disappointed.
It only took him a few long strides to catch up with her, but to her surprise, he didn’t try to stop her.
“I thought you hated bars.” He fell into step beside her.
“I do,” she said as she started to cross the street. “But a day spent dodging bullets and running from the law has a way of making a girl reassess her fears.”
It must have been the truth, because Verity didn’t even feel a flutter of trepidation as she pulled open the tarnished metal door and strode right up to the bar. She found a couple of empty stools down near the end. She lifted herself up on one and gestured toward the bartender. A moment later, he came over.
“What can I get you?” he shouted over the loud music blaring from the speakers.
It wasn’t until then that Verity realized that she had absolutely no idea what to order.
She turned toward Jake.
“What were you drinking the other night?”
She could barely make out the little lines around his eyes crinkling in the low overhead lights.
“Bourbon,” Jake said.
Verity nodded and swiveled back around to the bartender. “Two doubles, please.”
The bartender didn’t bat an eye, but he did glance over at Jake.
“Neat,” he clarified.
The bartender nodded and grabbed two glasses. He pulled a bottle down from behind him and poured their drinks.
“Thanks,” she said, pulling some cash out of her purse as he slid the tumblers over.
She didn’t waste any time before picking up the glass and downing the contents.
Just like before, red-hot fire slid down her throat. Verity closed her eyes, though this time she didn’t mind the pain. If anything, she relished it. The sharp sting reminded her that she was alive. That all the demons at her door hadn’t succeeded in capturing her yet.
The heat hit her belly and immediately started r
adiating out, banishing some of the ice that had crept into her veins over the last few hours.
She let out a small sigh and opened her eyes to find Jake’s gaze focused on her. His expression, while undeniably intense, was completely inscrutable.
So, she didn’t try to figure it out.
She had other things to worry about.
Like how to drown her own sorrows and fears.
She looked down at his untouched glass.
“Not thirsty?” she asked with a raised brow.
Jake didn’t take his eyes off hers as he shook his head.
“Then why did you order it?” Verity asked.
“I didn’t.”
“That’s right.” Verity shot him a sly smile. “I did. I guess that means it’s mine.”
She reached over and grasped the tumbler, but Jake’s hand wrapped around hers before she could pull it back.
“What are you doing, Verity?”
“I’m pretty sure I’m drinking my problems away,” she answered honestly. “Or I would be, if you’d let go of me.”
He stepped in closer. So close that his leg deliberately pressed into hers. The simple touch did more to burn away the frost inside her than any drink could.
“It won’t work,” he said.
A dark laugh slipped from her lips before she could stop it. “It seemed to work for you.”
“No, it didn’t. All I did was make my troubles worse by pushing them away,” he said, his expression turning dark. “And I’ll be damned before I let you make the same mistake.”
Verity shook her head hard.
“The only mistake I ever made was believing that I could help Roman. That I could save him.”
The admission came out of nowhere. This wasn’t what she wanted to say. This was exactly the kind of emotion that she was trying to hide from—messy and confusing and painful as hell.
Tears began to prick at her eyes, but Verity forced them back.
She yanked the glass free of his grasp, but then couldn’t seem to find the strength to lift it. Not with Jake looking at her like he was now. His expression was the same as it had been back at the lake. His eyes swimming with a mixture of understanding and resolve and…longing.
Jake: The Sinner Saints #3 Page 9
