Run To Rome

She abruptly stood and stalked down the hall to the bathroom. Anything to escape his scrutiny, which she still felt all the way down the hall. Inside the privacy of the small room, Halli splashed cold water on her face a few times before wiping dry. It helped the heat in her body, but not the uncertainty frazzling her nerve endings.

Exhausted from the events of only this half day, she sat on the toilet lid and buried her face in her hands. She wasn’t going to cry. She’d meant it when she vowed to quit being a victim. She just needed a moment to fortify herself and put things in perspective. Take a few deep breaths. Form a new plan.

And how have all those plans worked out for you so far?

She ran her fingers though her hair and dropped her hands onto her lap at that sobering question. Who was she kidding? Any plan she made needed input from Trent, especially if the video was in his pocket. They had to talk before Alrigo called back.

If he called back. She refused to think about that possibility and forced herself to her feet. Not that Trent would be very receptive to her input right now, but none of them had the luxury of time.

Back in the kitchen, her gaze was drawn to him like metal to a magnet. A look of concern in his eyes surprised her, but he straightened from where he leaned against the counter and turned toward the sink. Away from her.

Not far from his hand rested Simone’s gun and the cell phone. Both ready for use in the blink of an eye.

An uncomfortable ache settled in the region of her chest at this evidence of his willingness to help when he had so much to lose. Not to mention all he’d done already. Without her asking. Heck, without her even knowing she needed him most of the time.

She knew her responsibility to her brother, but she owed Trent a debt of monumental proportions. He’d saved her life three—no, now it was four—times. Not to mention Rachel. The only thing that could ever hope to repay a portion of that debt was the video that proved his innocence. Did she dare let him keep it?

If he refused, her trust in him would be secure.

If he accepted, her obligation would be wiped clean and they’d have to find another way to save Ben. Maybe with the help of Lorenzo’s cousin Simone had mentioned. That thought brought no reassurance.

Until a glance at Rachel spotlighted the right choice, if not the solution she desired.

An exchange was Ben’s only chance. The video wasn’t hers and it certainly wasn’t Trent’s. She owed it to her brother, and her sister, both of whom had protected and watched over her ten times more than their parents ever had. They were all each of them had.

So why, with the decision effectively taken out of her hands, did guilt sharpen the pain in her heart?

The ring of the cell phone shattered the oppressive, expectant silence. Everyone froze. On the second ring, Trent simultaneously answered and spun around to face Halli. His gaze locked on hers as he spoke.

With a curious light in his eyes that made her heart pound, he walked forward.

Extended the phone.

“Your brother wants to talk to you.”

Chapter 17

“Ben?”

An unbelievable tide of relief swept through Ben at the sound of his baby sister’s small, hopeful, shaky whisper. “Halli. You okay?”

“I’m okay.”

Ben pictured her tear-filled blue eyes and his eyes squeezed tight like his heart.

“How are you?” she asked.

He’d exchanged handcuffed to the bed for tied to a chair, but kept that information to himself so the worry in her voice didn’t increase. “I’m fine. Where’s Rachel?”

“She’s okay, she’s here with us.”

More relief, just as profound. The pain in his swollen right eye was nothing now that he knew both his sisters were safe. He opened his eyes and lifted his narrowed gaze to the man who’d caused so much misery. Alrigo’d had Zucchi give Ben another round of bruises after Rachel’s escape, but it was worth it knowing the man’s plans had been screwed yet again. Until that bastard with claw marks on his face came in and gloated about shooting his sister.

“Is she hurt?” Ben asked Halli.

“She was shot in the leg, but we got help. She’ll be okay.”

He took a deep breath and began speaking fast. “Listen to me, Hal, you and Rach stay out of this now. Don’t worry about me and don’t you dare come—”