by Mary Alford
Reyna tore the rest of his shirt away from his arm and he froze. He wasn’t used to people taking care of him. Her eyes locked with his. Hers were huge pools of green. She drew in a breath and he realized he was staring at her full lips, thinking things that couldn’t fit into his life.
“Let me take care of your wound properly,” she managed in a soft, soothing voice.
Jase tried to gather his straying thoughts. “There’s no time. We have to keep moving. They could have snipers on this side of the mountain. A roadblock.” The possibilities were limitless.
She didn’t listen. Instead, she dabbed the wound thoroughly while he tried not to wince as the antiseptic hit the exposed area, and then she stuck a bandage over it.
“There. That should keep it from being infected. I can do a more thorough job once we’re...safe,” she added as an afterthought, then moved away.
He prayed that moment would come.
“Jase, we could have died back there.” Her words tumbled out, but he could barely hear what she said over his own pounding heart. His reaction to her was completely unexpected. “What do we do now?”
“I’d say that depends on you.”
Her delicate brow knit in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“I think you do. No more secrets, Reyna. As you can see, these thugs are deadly serious. You said yourself you believe they murdered Eddie for something you have. Tell me what they’re willing to kill for.”
* * *
Throughout the frantic drive to Defiance, Reyna had asked God for guidance. Prayed for proof Eddie hadn’t been delusional. Then she’d discovered Jase was really alive, as her husband had believed, and now in the space of a few hours he’d risked his life to save hers...twice. But could she trust him? She turned in her seat so that she could see him more clearly.
“Why did you come here to me, Reyna?” he asked, his indigo-blue eyes piercing into hers. “Who are those people following you? If you want me to keep you safe, you’re going to have to tell me what’s really going on.”
His questions hit a little too close to home and an unfamiliar battle raged inside her. She was normally a straightforward person, but she couldn’t get past the fact that Jase Bradford was harboring secrets of his own.
Reyna decided to lay it all on the line. “I do need your help, but I’m sorry, I don’t trust you. You lied to me.”
She could see from the muscle ticking in his jaw that her declaration stung.
“You’re right... I did, but only out of self-preservation. I didn’t fake my death without a good cause, Reyna. Somebody wanted me dead. They still do. I had to be certain you weren’t working for those people.”
“And are you?” she asked curiously.
“I hope so,” he answered after a moment.
Not exactly the answer she wanted to hear, but at least she now knew where they stood. They were two people forced to trust each other when their lives depended on it.
“So now you understand how I felt when you lied to me. You could be part of them.”
“Them?” he snatched at the word. “Who are you talking about?”
“I’ll do my best to explain, but it’s so hard. I feel as if I’m drowning in what-ifs,” she said with frustration. “This is so far beyond my understanding. Nothing about it makes sense.”
His expression softened as he watched her. “I get that. Tell me what happened to Eddie. Why do you think he was murdered? How is his death connected to the people following you?”
Taking a deep breath, Reyna struggled to let go of her misgivings about Jase. “I should start by telling you Eddie left the CIA a year after your...death.”
Her revelation clearly floored him. “You’re kidding.” She watched the color seep from his ruggedly handsome face. “Why would he leave the Agency? He loved the job and he was working in Langley. He was safe.”
She stared at him, surprised. “What do you mean he was safe?”
Something came and went in Jase’s expression before she could name it. He cleared his throat. “Only that he wasn’t in a war zone. Did he tell you why he left the CIA?”
She couldn’t dispel the feeling that Jase hadn’t told her everything. He kept his secrets close. Eddie had, as well, and look where they’d gotten him. It seemed to be part of the job description when you were a spy. “He never really said. He just came home one day and told me he was done with it. And that he’d joined the Marines. I was speechless.”
“The Marines?” Jase looked baffled. “What happened to him? How was he killed?”
Reyna would never forget that day. It was imprinted into her memory like an indelible stamp. “Two men showed up at my door and told me Eddie was dead. One was a marine. The second man was dressed in a suit. He never identified himself. The marine told me Eddie’s platoon had been hit by sniper fire. The strange thing is, Eddie was the only one who died. No one else sustained injuries. It seemed almost as if he was the only target.”
Jase never broke eye contact. “You’re right, it does sound peculiar.” He thought for a second and then asked, “Was the second guy CIA?”
“That was my guess, but he never said, and I don’t understand why the CIA would show up. Eddie wasn’t with the Agency at the time of his death. Anyway, it had me curious so I called Kyle Jennings and left a message. I never heard back from him.” She studied Jase. Something about what she said obviously made him uneasy.
More secrets.
If it weren’t for the urgent call she’d received from Eddie shortly before he died, she might not have thought anything about his death was out of the ordinary. But Eddie’s call had shaken her.
She shared the details of the conversation with Jase. “My husband was scared for his life. He kept repeating ‘I wasn’t able to prove what happened. Tell him I’m sorry I wasn’t able to prove what happened.’ I had no idea what he was talking about.”
But Jase clearly did. He looked as if he’d been punched in the gut.
“What is it?” she asked.
He looked away. “Nothing. Go on.”
She sighed and stared out at the darkness. “They didn’t want me to view his body, but I insisted. I had to see him one last time.” She shook her head. “It was...the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I barely recognized him. They told me his injuries were severe.”
“I’m so sorry,” Jase said gently. “That must have been so difficult.”
She drew in a quavering breath. “It was...heartbreaking, seeing him like that.”
Reyna watched as Jase glanced into the rearview mirror once more. She looked over her shoulder. “You think they’ll keep coming after us.”
“Without a doubt. Which is why we need to get off this road as quickly as possible. It’s best if we keep moving for the time being.” He peered through the windshield at the sky. A handful of stars had popped out. “The storm’s letting up at least.”
Jase put the Land Cruiser in gear. “You still haven’t told me what you have that those men want.” He spared her a glance.
The gravel road dead-ended onto pavement that appeared to be at the opposite end of town from where Reyna had entered. Nothing looked familiar. The compass in the console said they were heading due north. Just the opposite direction of where she had stashed the laptop. She wasn’t going to leave without it. Whatever was on it had been significant enough for Eddie to risk his life to get it out of a war zone. The laptop was her only bargaining chip. Which meant, like it or not, she had to tell Jase where she’d left it. “I have a laptop that Eddie hid before he died. We have to go back for it.” Reyna briefly explained about the letter she’d received from Eddie.
Jase brought the SUV to an abrupt stop on the shoulder of the road and faced her. She could see she had his full attention.
He ran a hand across his stubbled jaw. “I can’t even imagine how difficult it must have been receiving a letter from Eddie after his death.”
“It was...so horrible. Almost like losing him all over again, and the n
ote was extremely cryptic. He started out by saying how much he loved me and looked forward to us being together soon.” Reyna’s voice caught and she blinked back tears. “Then he mentioned our first date.”
She thought the letter was frightening until the men had shown up at her door and threatened her. “I didn’t understand what he was trying to tell me until I thought about where Eddie took me for our first date. You see, Eddie’s family owns a farm outside of Stevens, Texas.”
Reyna remembered how emotionally difficult it was to go back to the farm.
She drew in a breath. “We went on a picnic there for our first date and afterward we went horseback riding. So I went back to the farm and I found the laptop in a fireproof box in the stable where they used to keep the horses. Eddie hid it there along with the photo of the Scorpions. I realize now that since you and I had never met, he wanted me to know what you looked like.” She paused for a long moment. “My guess is he hid it the last time he came home on leave. I remember he was acting strangely. He was paranoid someone was watching him. He’d disappear for long periods of time.”
“He knew you’d be the only one who would know where to find it,” Jase said. “Sounds like Eddie went to a lot of trouble to keep it from falling into the wrong hands. What’s on it?”
“I wish I knew.” She sighed impatiently. “Jase, there are a bunch of photos that I don’t understand and another file that’s encrypted.”
He continued to watch her as if trying to ascertain whether she was telling the truth. “Where is it? We can’t go to the car. They’ll have found it by now.”
“It’s not in the car. I thought if they caught up with me, they’d search the car and find it. Then they wouldn’t need me anymore. I couldn’t take the risk.”
“You left it in a storage facility somewhere,” he concluded.
She looked surprised. “Yes. How did you know?”
“I found the key in your bag.”
The key. He knew about the key, which meant he’d gone through her things. “You had no right going through my stuff!”
“I think I’ve earned the right.”
Anger flashing in her eyes, she clamped her mouth shut.
Jase blew out an annoyed breath. “Look, Reyna, whoever’s following you won’t go away until they have the laptop. Something on it is of vital importance to them, which means not only do they need the laptop but they will want to silence you once they have it. They can’t afford to leave any witnesses behind.” He leaned in closer, his warm breath fanning against her skin. “After what just happened, I’d think that would be clear. If you want my help, tell me where it is.”
She hesitated then said, “There’s a small town southwest of here. Eldorado. It’s there.”
Reyna watched him process this new bit of information. “I’ve been there before. Eldorado is a good seven-hour drive from here.”
She tried to determine what he was thinking but couldn’t. “I’m not leaving Colorado without it. You said yourself what’s on it is extremely valuable to these men. It is to me, also. Please, Jase. I can’t do this without you. I need your help.”
He watched her for a long moment before responding. “Okay, let’s go to Eldorado.” Jase put the SUV in gear and did a U-turn in the middle of the road.
As they headed southwest, Reyna settled back in her seat and closed her eyes, pretending to rest. She wished she trusted the man seated next to her the way Eddie obviously had, but if the past few days had taught her anything, it was that nothing and nobody were as they seemed. Especially a former spy.
FOUR
“Babe, if anything happens to me don’t let them get away with it.”
“What’s going to happen to you? Eddie, what are you afraid of?”
Her husband tried to laugh away her concerns, but his laughter didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Nothing. Forget I said anything. I’m just being paranoid.”
On impulse, she added, “Eddie, don’t go back. Stay here with me. I’m sure we can get you out of your commitment. We can call Kyle. He’ll be able to help. Please, don’t go back there.”
“No. Kyle can’t help. I have to go, babe. It’s my turn,” he told her simply.
“Your turn? Your turn for what?”
He leaned over and kissed her sweetly. “It’s my turn to die.”
“Eddie...” She reached out to touch him, but he disappeared before her eyes.
“No! Eddie, no!” Reyna cried out, and then an instant before she could hold him one last time, she awoke.
She was crying. It was just a dream. She’d had that same one dozens of times since Eddie’s death, reliving those final words he spoke to her before he left for Afghanistan. Each time after she awakened, she was no closer to finding the answers she was desperate for than when they had first told her about Eddie’s demise.
Reyna struggled to shake off the dream’s heartbreaking effects. She realized she was alone in the SUV. Jase was nowhere in sight. It was just getting light out and they were in Eldorado parked just down from a rundown café.
Where was he? Her heart slammed in her chest. Had he deliberately gone along with her plan to retrieve the laptop, and once he had it, he’d turn her over to the people following her? She’d been foolish to trust him.
Her panic became paralyzing. She frantically searched through her bag and found the key where she’d left it. Still, he could have convinced the storage clerk that he’d lost his key.
She had to get away before it was too late. Reyna grabbed the tote bag and quickly got out of the Land Cruiser. She started running toward the diner. She had no idea what she was doing.
She reached for the door when it opened and Jase emerged, carrying a bag and a couple of coffees.
He stopped dead midstride when he saw her. “Are you okay?” he asked in concern when he spotted the tote bag.
He’d gone for coffee. Relief made her limbs weak. He’d driven straight through the night. No doubt, he was exhausted and needed the caffeine.
“I just wanted to get some air,” she said in a wobbly voice.
Jase pointed toward a couple of tables near the diner. “Do you want to sit for a bit? It’s nice out and there’s no one around right now.” He glanced down at his watch. “It’s still early, and, according to the waitress, the storage facility doesn’t open for another half hour.”
Reyna forced a smile. “Yes, that would be nice. Thanks.”
He took the tote from her and pulled out one of the chairs. “I’ve got cinnamon rolls and coffee. I hope you drink it, otherwise...”
Reyna was touched at the somewhat awkward yet chivalrous way he treated her. She had gotten the impression that he spent a lot of time alone—he clearly wasn’t used to having people around. At any other time, she might have found his behavior charming.
“Thank you. Coffee’s perfect.”
He handed her a cup and opened the pastry bag. When he unwrapped a couple of cinnamon rolls, her stomach growled, reminding her of the length of time that had passed since she’d eaten.
“They look delicious,” she said.
He grinned at her. “Help yourself. There’s plenty.”
Reyna took one of the cinnamon rolls and dumped sugar and cream into her coffee. With the coffee stirred to perfection, she took a bite of her cinnamon roll and closed her eyes.
“That good, huh?” He chuckled at her ecstatic expression.
“They’re wonderful. Of course, part of it could be that I really don’t remember the last time I ate anything.”
Jase pulled his coffee close and took a sip without answering. She noticed he’d changed out of his bloody clothes.
He spotted her staring at his shirt. “I keep a change of clothing and some emergency supplies in the back of the Land Cruiser. In the mountains you never know when you’re going to get caught out in bad weather.”
She nodded. “How’s your shoulder?” She could tell he favored it.
He grimaced. “A bit better. I switched out the bandage.
It’s stopped bleeding...just hurts like crazy. But I’ve had worse on a good day in Afghanistan.”
She accepted his attempt to make light of his injury. Eddie had been the same way. Always the protector, never wanting to ask for help. It came with the territory. She couldn’t imagine the horrible things they had witnessed.
She glanced around at the picturesque view before her. “You know, Eddie and I always talked about seeing the mountains one day...” A whimsical smile crossed her face.
“Really? Where did you guys want to go?”
“All over really. Eddie wanted to come to Colorado.” Her expression sobered. “I wished he could have seen this. He would have loved it here. Minus the drama, of course.” Tears were close and she struggled to hold them back. “It’s hard going on with your life without the person you love. It’s so unfair.”
Jase nodded. “Yes.” Something akin to grief came and went. She remembered Eddie telling her once about Jase and Abby’s romance. She couldn’t imagine the pain he’d gone through. Losing the woman he loved while having to go into hiding himself.
Reyna tentatively touched his hand. “Eddie mentioned that you and Abby were a couple.”
He grew tense. A muscle worked in his jaw and he didn’t answer.
“What was she like?” Reyna prompted because she realized she wanted to know about the woman he’d once loved.
For the longest time, she wondered if he would answer. He stared at the table, looking into the past. “She was...beautiful and strong and she could hold her own against any obstacle thrown her way. I think I fell in love with her the moment I met her.” A hint of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “I still can’t believe she’s gone,” he murmured. “The worst part was I never got to say goodbye.”
“I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks,” he said, and cleared his throat and changed the subject. “Can you think of anything you may have forgotten to mention yet? I’ve been mulling over what you told me in my head and nothing adds up. It would help to know what we are up against.”
She liked the way he used the word we. It made her feel as if she wasn’t in this alone anymore. She thought about everything that had happened since Eddie’s death. One thing in particular stood out. “There is something, but I’m not sure how it fits with anything. Shortly after Eddie died and I moved back to Stevens, Texas, someone new showed up at my church. A man. Former marine, he said, and he looked the part. The weird thing was it was as if he went out of his way to be my friend.” She released a breath. “At first, I didn’t think much of it. He seemed nice enough. Told me his name was Frank. He was pleasant to talk to until he mentioned something that caught my attention and sent my radar up.”
