Run To Rome

“What about it?”

“I’ll probably never be able to repay you, but I’ll do whatever I—”

“Christ, Halli, I don’t give a damn about the money!”

“It’s a million dollars.”

“Which is peanuts compared to what I make on one Shain West movie. Hell, I’d pay ten times what the bastard asked for. What does it take for you to believe in someone?”

A sound in the doorway brought them both around. Simone stood behind the couch where she’d settled Rachel to rest after giving her a mild sedative. The petite Italian woman’s gaze shifted between them before settling on Trent.

“You need a new bandage,” she said quietly.

“Okay if I shower first?”

She nodded and Halli stared after his back as he walked away from her yet again. After she forced her gaze from his long stride and the ripple of muscles across his shoulders, she caught Simone watching her watch him. The older woman offered a sad smile, fresh tears in her eyes.

Halli walked over and gave her another hug. Despite being strangers, she felt Simone’s loss and feared what she and Rachel might face in the next twenty-four hours if they didn’t get Ben back. The comfort worked both ways.

Neither of them said a word as they cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. After they’d finished, Halli returned to the living room by Rachel. Her sister slept, leaving her alone with her thoughts and guilt.

The first sixteen years with her parents taught her to look for ulterior motives, especially when money was involved. The past ten years struggling on her own taught her to only depend on herself. So it wasn’t that she didn’t want to trust Trent, but a lifetime of hard lessons was almost impossible to set aside in two days. She’d done it once and was already second-guessing herself.

Trent’s footsteps in the hall brought her forward in her chair, but he didn’t even look in her direction as he strode past, shirt fisted in his hand. She rose and circled around the couch, only to pause out of sight when Simone’s voice reached her from the kitchen.

“You will get justice for my Renzo?”

“I will,” Trent answered. “I promise they’ll pay for what they’ve done.”

Halli stood there, the conviction and tenderness in his voice resonating in her heart. It reminded her of the gentle kiss she’d shared with him in this very spot just a few hours ago. The man who’d kissed her like that had to be someone she could trust.

“I do not work for two days,” Simone said. “I will help with anything you need. You can stay here and I will see to the sister.”

“A computer would be very helpful,” Trent asked, a hopeful lift to his voice.

“Sorry, no computer.”

“It’s okay. Any chance I can use your car?”

“Si.”

“Thank you,” Trent said. But then his next words were low and indecipherable.

When Simone’s response was just as quiet, Halli’s inner skeptic quickly reminded, that man you want to trust is also an Oscar-winning actor. And he’d said I again, not we. She entered the kitchen just as Simone pointed Trent to a chair.

“Let me bandage that before you go.”

Halli narrowed her gaze on Trent. “Where are you going?”

He rolled his eyes as he removed his shirt and sat down. “Here we go again.”

Halli crossed her arms over her chest and waited.

“I’m heading back to the boat to get the memory card.”

“You mean we.”

“No.” His jaw clenched. “I mean I’m going to get the card, and you’re—”