Page 2 of Unveiled

“Do you have anywhere to go, any money, anything?”

Tatum shook her head and cried harder. “I don’t even have clothes except for this God-awful wedding dress that I didn’t even pick out.”

“Well.” She turned in her seat and looked Tatum in the eye instead of talking to her reflection. “As you can see, I have the clothes part covered in spades. We’re about the same size by the looks of things, except you’re taller, but they should do. The rest we can figure out.”

“We got it all covered,” Mark added. “At least we do for about two weeks. Will that be enough for you to sort out what needs to be sorted? We can help with that, too, if you just say the word.” As Mark spoke from the driver’s seat, Tatum took in all her surroundings and noticed tell-tale signs that this couple was a family of more than just the two of them.

“I couldn’t ask you to do that. I mean, it’s obvious you have kids, and you don’t know me. Thanks, but no thanks.”

Charlie and Mark shared a look and beamed smiles at each other. “That’s exactly why I would invite you into our home. You care enough to say no. I’m pretty good at judging people and you’re good people, Julia. But no, it wasn’t our home I was offering up.”

Charlie had the same thought; it was like a light bulb going off above her head. “Rush.”

“Yep, Rush’s place.” Apparently, Rush was a person. “I set up a place for my friend who’s moving here in a couple of weeks. Got him an insane deal on a great place, if I do say so myself.”

“Brag much?” Charlie asked.

“Not bragging, just telling Julia how amazing I am at negotiating.” Charlie mouthed bragging. “Anyway, I hired a housekeeper to come in and get the place all set, but I can call her off and pay you to do it. That’ll cover your cash flow, lodging, and food problems. I had groceries delivered last night. Cable’s on and Rush’s furniture and stuff has been delivered and set up. Plus, it has an actual landline so you can make any arrangements you need since I’m assuming you don’t have a cell stashed in there somewhere. And lord knows, Charlie has you covered for clothing.”

This is too good to be true. A place to lie low, food, money. Nothing like this could come without a catch.There were not good people like that in the world, not that she’d known, anyway.

“I don’t mean to sound ungrateful for the offer, but what’s the catch? Why would you do this for a stranger who has nothing to offer you in return?”

Charlie reached over the seat and squeezed her hand. “Once you get to know us, you’ll understand. We’ve seen too many good people suffer. Witnessing so much evil and hate, well. . . neither of us can stomach the thought of someone seeing your situation and taking advantage of that. Or worse, leave you to be found by whatever and whoever you’re running from. If it wasn’t bad, at least in your mind, you wouldn’t have been booking it down the road dressed like that. That’s all we need to know to take a chance and help you.”

Charlie turned back around in her seat, rooted around in her purse, and took out a card. “Here. This should tell you something. I hope if it’s the kind of situation that needs a different type of help, you’ll let us know. So, what do you say?”

Tatum looked down at the card. COLE SECURITY FORCES. Holy shit. When Charlie said Mark was in security, Tatum pictured a mall cop situation. Not a kick international ass and take names type situation. She knew exactly who and what Cole Security Forces was. They were big league.

Tatum turned her face toward the sky. While she wasn’t in danger from them, she didn’t know if Cyrus and Dale were connected to them as they seemed to be everyone else with power. She felt her mom and dad were looking out for her from heaven. How else could she explain the sheer luck of this being the first car to find her other than divine intervention?

“I say, thank you for your help, and your extremely generous offer. I accept. But you have to promise to let me find a way to repay you both someday, when I can.”

“Deal.” They answered in unison. They were almost too cute as a couple. As much as she didn’t believe in love and happily ever afters right now, if she ever would again, it would be because of the two people who just scooped her up off the street and saved her life. Now she just had to figure out how to fix that life in two weeks’ time.

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