Mara blew out a breath. They were all ignoring the movie playing in the background. Kay and Ridley exchanged a look. Ridley shrugged. Apparently she didn’t know why Mara looked so down either.
“I have to confess I did have an ulterior motive for coming up here this weekend,” Mara said suddenly.
“You did?” Ridley asked.
Mara shrugged. “I might need Eli’s help with something soon. But it’s nothing you guys need to worry about. You’ve got plenty of your own troubles—you don’t need to hear mine.”
“It’s better than thinking about the fact that Eli suspects my best friend of conspiring against me. Besides, I’m glad you’re here. You might be able to help me figure this thing out. I know they suspect Sasha’s behind it, but I just can’t believe that. Maybe if I can put the clues together, I can figure out what’s really going on. Whether he’s ultimately after me or just using me to get to Eli—either way, if I can figure it out, maybe we can catch him.”
“I’m happy to put my diabolical mind to good use. There is nothing like the mind of a woman scorned.” Mara’s words were upbeat but her smile lacked its usual cheer.
“Scorned?” Ridley asked. “But Trent adores you. It’s so obvious how he feels about you.”
Mara let out a little sigh. “But am I the only one he feels that way about or am I just one of many? He’s been flying so many places lately. Denver, Illinois, California. He claims it’s all for business, but his company doesn’t have offices in those locations.”
“Maybe he’s visiting clients?” Kay suggested.
Mara shook her head, sadly. “He designs financial models. He’s more of a behind-the-scenes geek. Why would he need to meet with clients, anyway?”
“There has to be a reasonable explanation.” Kay hoped there was. She didn’t know Trent that well, mainly just what she’d heard from Jackson and Ridley. But if he was lying to Mara, he’d be hurting a lot of people. Her thoughts turned to Matt. He’d be caught in the middle, between his sister and his best friend.
“You’re probably right. I’m just overreacting. I’ve always had an active imagination.” Mara leaned her head back against the wall and stared at the television.
Eli poked his head around the doorjamb. “Ridley, Jackson said you guys need to go check into the hotel.”
Ridley patted Kay on the knee. “We’ll be back later. After we check in, I’m going to take a nap and then we’ll be back
for dinner. Eli agreed it’s safe to go out to eat as long as we pick a restaurant he’s familiar with and we don’t tell anyone in advance.”
Kay clapped. “I never thought I’d be so excited just to go out for dinner.”
Mara waved good-bye as Ridley left. Then she turned back to Kay. “Well, Matt and I are staying here. So, that means we can watch movies and eat chocolate all day.”
AFTER JACKSON AND Ridley left, Eli pondered the best way to convince Kay to leave, too. If he was the guy’s target, then it wasn’t in anyone’s best interest to stay near him. Jackson hadn’t wanted to leave, but fear for his pregnant wife came first and foremost.
Eli wished he could wave a magic wand and move them all to a safe place. If he told Kay what was going on, she wouldn’t want to leave him behind either. He wasn’t sure what he’d done in another life to deserve all the people in his life who loved him so much, but putting them in danger seemed like a crappy way to repay their loyalty. The only thing he could do was leave without telling her. Tank and Matt could stay behind to protect her. This guy clearly knew Eli well if he’d figured out that hurting Kay was the best way to get to him.
He shouldn’t be surprised, really. He’d known it would only be a matter of time before his past caught up with him. Considering the types of guys he’d run with back in the day, it was only surprising it hadn’t happened sooner.
Tank appeared in the doorway. “We’ve set up a surveillance van. What should we tell the girls?”
“Nothing right now. Eventually I’ll figure out a way to get Kay out of here without arousing her suspicions. If I’m the one he’s after, then I’m the one he’ll get. No one else.”
Tank and Matt left so Eli could start getting his things together. Leaving Kay wasn’t what he wanted to do, but it was inevitable. Being together was a dream. Reality was that he was a hazard. She’d come into his life and brought joy, laughter, and light. He wouldn’t repay that by knowingly putting her in danger. He would make some calls, get things in order. She would be protected always.
But not by him.
The sounds of feminine laughter floated through the walls. Mara and Kay were still in the guest room watching a movie. He moved around quietly since Hope was asleep in the corner. After he’d put together a week’s worth of clothes, he zipped them into a duffel bag, then walked over to the playpen and looked down at Hope. She was asleep with her bottom in the air and her blanket clutched in her fist. The sight filled him with a bittersweet longing.
For a short time he’d been a part of their lives, and he would cherish the memories they’d given him forever.
He carried the duffel bag out to the garage and stashed it in the back of his truck. Over the years he’d learned to function with the bare minimum, so he had no doubt that what he’d packed could stretch for a month if he needed it to. There were several safe houses he could retreat to, but it was tempting not to bother. Maybe he should just check into a hotel under his real name. Bring the fight to him.
If the Circle was truly intent on rounding up former members to bring them back into the fold, it wasn’t the kind of invitation you could turn down without expecting a fight. But the FBI was determined to bring in as many members as possible, and he would be effective bait. He could draw them out and possibly get them closer to the core of the organization. All it would take was for them to capture the right member. Someone who would crack under pressure and give them useful info.
He walked back through the house and out the front door, setting the alarm behind him. Tank had set up a surveillance van and parked it across the street and down a few houses. He’d need to get either Tank or Matt to relocate to the house before he could leave. As he got closer, the back door opened. Matt peered out from the doorway.
“You needed to see us?”