Page 59 of An Eye For Illusion

He laughs, throwing his head back. “He almost caught you earlier. If I hadn’t stopped you when I did, he sure as hell would’ve figured out you were following him.”

My eyes narrow in anger. “No, he wouldn’t have. Even if he did, I could have played it off.”

His face turns serious. “What am I doing here if you don’t trust me to do my job?” I start to tell him off. So far, he’s done a whole lot of nothing, but before the words leave my mouth, he continues. “I promise you I’ll find a way out for you. You have my word.”

My eyes widen at the promise he just spoke and at the sincerity I find in his gaze. Can I trust him? Can I put all my hope in him? I’m still not sure, and I sure as hell don’t trust easily.

“I know you don’t believe me, and I know I haven’t earned it yet, but trust me when I say I’m working on it. I’m so fucking close.”

His words take me by surprise. They reinforce the fact that there is more that he isn’t telling me. But why?

“Why can’t you tell me?” I want to know why he won’t at least say something that helps put my mind at ease, just a little morsel of truth.

His eyes find mine and hold my stare, begging me to trust him, but everything in my body wants to revolt because I find myself leaning into him. Begging for an answer that will allow me to get out of this car and to trust him.

“Because the further away you stay from this, the safer you are.”

His answer leaves me breathless. Safer? Further away?

My eyebrows knit together.

“I know I’m not telling you what you want to hear, but I promise I will as soon as I can. I swear on my father’s grave.”

I inhale sharply. “No.”

His eyes go wide in confusion. “No?”

“Don’t do that. Don’t say things you don’t mean.” My heart is pounding in my chest because for the first time I realize how damn serious he is. How much he cares.

“I know you don’t know me that well, sweetheart, but I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

He leans over, his chest coming dangerously close to mine as he reaches across my body. I inhale his cedar scent, and my eyes close on their own accord. Holy hell, why does it feel so good to have him so close?

Just when I think he’ll kiss me, he pulls the handle on the door and shoves it open. His breath skates across my cheek as he pulls back, and the night air suddenly feels chilled against my heated skin.

“Go home, Jade.”

His sentence effectively dowses the fire that was starting low in my belly because of his proximity.

I look at the street and realize Elliott has made it a significant distance. He’s about to turn a corner, and we’ll lose him. He’s almost back to his car that was parked four blocks up. It’s now or never. If I don’t get out, we could lose the one new lead we’ve had in weeks. It only takes me a moment to make my decision.

“Don’t fuck this up, Colin,” I say as I exit the car, slamming the door shut behind me.

He hesitates for a second, then two before taking off down the road after my fiancé.

“I don’t know who the man is or why Elliott was in that part of town to begin with. Colin alluded to knowing more than he’s telling me, but I still don’t have any fucking answers.”

“I’m sure he’ll come up with something soon.” She’s trying to reassure me, but nothing helps lessen this sickening feeling taking residence in my stomach.

“What if he doesn’t find it in time? What the hell am I supposed to do if I have to walk down the aisle and profess my love to a man I can’t stand?”

I finally find the chicken piccata, but my stomach is too upset to eat, so I shove it back in the fridge and slam the door shut.

“It won’t come to that. We’ll make sure of it. I still think you could tell your father, and he would help you end this.”

I chew her words over in my mind. It isn’t like I haven’t thought of them myself, but I won’t risk him getting hurt because he tried to help me. I got us into this mess, and I’ll get us out.

“I can’t. I won’t.”

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