Page 68 of The Verdict

Daria made a soft noise, our steps continuing in silence for a few minutes before she replied, “I’m sorry you didn’t get it.”

It was like she knew that what I’d been promised hadn’t been money.

“Are they going to turn me in?” I asked, changing topics. There were still secrets I had to protect.

I’d played out everything that had happened—everything Rhys knew—and determined that turning me over to the police was the only option. There was no point in keeping me.

“Of course not.” Daria chuckled softly.

“No?”How could she sound so sure?“The drive is useless—I’m useless to catching the man they’re after. Even if I wasn’t, they can’t trust me, and Rhys…” He didn’t hate me. Maybe it would be easier if he did. Instead, I had to watch him hate himself for not hating me the way he thought he should.

“I think you underestimate their ability to understand the instinct for survival. And as for Rhys, I can’t say what he feels for you, but I know whatever it is, it won’t let him let you go.”

I wouldn’t let her words mean anything. I couldn’t.“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you deserve to know the truth.”

My throat tightened. “Thank you.”

Her hand rested on my arm, and I turned to her. “And so does he.”

I sucked in a breath.

“Daria!”We both turned, but Rhys’s stare anchored only on me as the boom of his voice rippled through the woods.

“Looks like we’ve been caught.” Daria winked, and I wondered what I’d done to deserve what was nothing short of friendship from her.

“Don’t worry,” I murmured as we walked toward the cabin. “I’ll take the fall.”

“You can claim whatever fault you want, Merritt, but I don’t think there is any crime under the sun that Rhys wouldn’t forgive you for,” she said under her breath just before we were close enough for him to hear—but close enough for him to see the way I blushed.

“Daria.” Rhys’s clipped tone oozed with displeasure. “I’ll take over from here.”

She smiled and looked at me. “Goodnight, Merritt.”

Neither Rhys nor I moved, tension locking us in place like roots tethered to the soil until Daria had long left the cabin.

“Rorik wants me to check your side.” His concern was buried under the cold half-truth; Rorik said he’d be back tomorrow morning to make sure the glue held up.

“It’s fine.” I sighed and started to walk by him, his hand shooting out around my arm and stopping me mid-step.

“Let me check.”Flickers of heat curled around the edges of his eyes like coals eager to ignite. “Please.”

“Okay.” His hold released so I could move around him, returning inside as the daylight began to quickly fade. “If we can talk.”

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“Then there’s nothing to see.” I faced him and lifted my chin. Defiance and distrust filled the few feet between us.

“Merritt.”

I pursed my lips and asked anyway, “When are you going to let me go?”

“Why? So you can get yourself almost killed again?” His jaw pulsed.

“I could’ve handled him?—”

His growl made my knees tremble as his steps ate up the space between us. I shuddered as a wave of heat came over me.

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