Page 7 of Vision of Truth

“Thank Christ. Baby, we’ve got to go. Now.” Strong arms reached through the shattered window and unclipped her seatbelt. At some point he’d taken off his shirt and laid it over the edge of jagged glass. “Hang on.” He gripped her under the arms and lifted her through the opening. She wrapped around him as he held her close and ran.

“Where’s Sabrina?” A thread of hysteria had entered her voice.

“My truck. Pulled her out first.” His voice was a low whisper, and her chest constricted. A car hitting them was no accident, and they might still be in danger.

“What about Agent Dawson?” she asked, lowering her voice. An involuntary shudder coursed through her, not all due to the biting cold. She couldn’t see anything, let alone Isaac’s truck. Only the quiet click of the car door opening cued her in that they’d made it to his vehicle.

“You and Sabrina are my priority.”

“What happened to Agent Nilsson?” They’d been following them the whole way, hadn’t they? “And the two squad cars behind us?”

“A cement truck cut them off. Right after that you were hit. They’re only a few seconds behind me. They’ll get a medic here for Dawson.” He deposited her in the back seat of the truck and clipped the seatbelt around her waist. “What hurts?”

“My head hit something, but I think I’m all right. Just shaken.”

She felt his body jerk and could picture him giving a quick head nod. His field training would have him assessing and acting. At least, she imagined it would. Isaac hadn’t let her in on that part of his life. There were things he couldn’t tell her for security reasons, but there was more he kept locked away just to keep his distance. Those were the things that hurt.

“Stay down with Sabrina, sweetheart.” He cupped her cheek almost reverently, shocking her.

“But you have tinted windows.” Adrenaline was starting to wear off, and her knees began to tremble.

“Know that. Don’t want to take the chance.” He shut the door and a moment later she heard the Driver’s side open and the keys jangle in the ignition. Like the person who crashed into them, Isaac kept his headlights off.

“Are you okay?” She reached out toward Sabrina and was relieved when her small hand wrapped around her wrist. Julie brushed her hand over the girl’s head and felt her nod. Her eyes prickled and she blew out a quick breath. The six-year-old was being so freaking brave. She couldn’t be prouder. And here she was shaking like the last autumn leaf.

“Tablet’s shot to hell. Shattered in the crash.” Isaac turned down a side road and finally flipped on his headlights. “Once I feel confident we aren’t being followed, I’ll pass you my flashlight and you can check Sabrina out more thoroughly. I think your body sheltered her—only a few scratches on her legs.”

“Thank goodness. I don’t even… Everything happened so fast. One minute we were driving and the next, well, you must’ve seen. Were you following us?” Maybe Kinley and Sasha were right. His role as a protector was too strong for his own good. He’d repeatedly told her she deserved a better man. She hated that he thought he was saving her from himself. There was no reason. Isaac was a good man. Solid. Honorable. Heroic.

“Yes.” Isaac glanced over his shoulder and pulled out onto a main road. He was checking his rearview mirror every few seconds. “I wanted to make sure you both got there safe. Scared the hell out of me when that car flew out of the ally and t-boned you. More when it flipped.”

Julie wrapped her arms around Sabrina and the girl clung to her. They’d gotten incredibly lucky. She only had a few aches and pains. Maybe it was the threads of shock masking other hurts, but nothing seemed to be broken. Agent Nilsson would’ve arrived at the scene shortly after they made their getaway. God, she hoped so. Agent Dawson was probably already at a hospital getting checked out, but that didn’t stop her from gnawing at her bottom lip.

“How did they find us?” The tremble in her voice was unwelcome.

“That’s a question I’ve been asking myself.” Isaac’s voice was hard. “You were safe at home for two days. Could be someone was tracking the FBI agents’ movements or there’s a leak at the bureau. To be safe, we’re going to get rid of our phones. We’ll pick up disposables later.”

“What about going to the field office?” She scrunched her face in confusion, then winced at the tight pulling sensation at her temple.

“Not willing to risk your safety. The FBI is going to have to figure out what went down without your statement. They had their chance.” Isaac’s voice was lethal, and a tingle swept down her spine. “That’s over and done with.”

Sabrina tightened her fingers around Julie’s wrist, as though mirroring her inner fears. “Where are we going? We can’t just hide out forever. You need to return to base. Sabrina needs to be in school. Me to work.”

Isaac honest-to-goodness growled. She’d never heard him like this. It was the side of himself he kept locked away. Animalistic. Warrior. “None of that is more important than keeping you both safe. We’re disappearing until this blows over. My Admiral gave me three weeks’ emergency leave. This goes longer, I’ll figure it out. Your agency placed you in the Vesey home. They’ve likely been interviewed, and if they haven’t discovered the circumstances it’s only a matter of time.”

Sabrina slapped her hands over her ears and began to rock. “We need to watch our tones. She’s getting anxious and her headphones must’ve gotten lost in the accident.” The weight of the responsibility she’d been given settled onto her shoulders. What had Mr. Vesey been thinking giving her custody?

Isaac’s intake of breath was audible from the backseat. “Where can we get her another pair?”

Her heart shouldn’t be beating faster, bursting with warmth because he was quick to want to give Sabrina exactly what she needed. “Online. Any big department store would probably have something that could hold her over, though. Maybe we’d get lucky at a 24-hour pharmacy.”

“Pharmacy’s a good idea. Might be able to get some burner phones. I’m gonna pull over to the side here.” They had driven onto a short bridge and Isaac eased to the side and stopped. “Need your phone.” He reached into the back seat and she fished the phone out of her pocket, placing it in his waiting hand. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you. Either of you,” he said glancing toward Sabrina. She burrowed closer, as close as the seatbelt allowed.

Isaac turned in his seat and exited the truck. There was one splash, followed by another as he tossed the phones into the body of water below. She kept looking behind her, expecting a second set of headlights. Her heart hadn’t stopped hammering since the crash. Sabrina was feeling the anxiety too, flapping her hands and making short cries of distress. They both jerked back when the door swung open and Isaac jumped in the front.

“It’s okay, sweet girl.” She pressed a kiss to the top of Sabrina’s head. For a child who thrived on routine in a predictable environment, she was handling things like a champ. She could take a few tips from Sabrina at this point. Her own life looked nothing like it did a week ago, and the funny thing was the moment that threw her the most was giving Isaac an out and him taking it. Not overhearing what could very well have been the murder of a federal agent. The second murder she’d been present for in her short twenty-five years. Not even becoming the legal guardian of Sabrina in Vesey’s absence had shaken her as much. In fact, it would’ve been far more difficult to hand the child over to someone she’d never met. She always considered herself strong—had lived through things most people couldn’t imagine, and yet, the possibility of losing the future she always thought she’d have with Isaac was so overwhelming, she’d been taking the day minute by minute. Small segments of time were the only things bearable when your heart was being severed. If only the bureau would be able to gather enough evidence to bring down The United Brotherhood in the span of a day, so she wouldn’t have to endure being this close to Isaac right now.

Chapter Six

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