Page 55 of Rogue Voice

“Hey,” he said, when she didn’t open her eyes. “How are you feeling? I know you’re awake.”

At that, she turned to look at him and sat up, clutching the sheet against her. God, she was beautiful.

“You should go on without me,” she whispered.

Something clenched in his gut. Leaving her behind wasn’t an option. “That’s not going to happen, honey. We’re not going to leave you here.”

“I’ve messed everything up.” Tears filled her eyes. “When I asked you to bring me with you, I didn’t realize you were there to stop my uncle. If I’d only waited, none of this would?—”

“It’s going to be okay, Bea. We’ll find a way to stop Emiliano.”

“You will?” she asked. Hope shone in her eyes.

“We will. But first, we’re going to get you somewhere safe.”

“Somewhere safe,” she muttered, as if the concept was foreign to her. “Where?”

Zurich.That was what he wanted to yell. But he wouldn’t.

“Our team’s based in Zurich. That’s where we’re going. But we can drop you off anywhere you like, Bea.”

A tear rolled down her cheek, and she wiped at it angrily, her expression suddenly shuttered.

Shit.

Was it something he’d said? He replayed his last words in his mind but, before he could figure it out, her expression cleared.

“Zurich would be good. The money I told you about, it’s in a bank in Geneva. I will get it and?—”

Jesus.Her words were like a kick in the balls.

“We’re not going to take any money from you, Bea. That’s not what this is about.”

She didn’t argue, but he had a feeling this wasn’t the last time he would have to say that to her. He didn’t need her money, but even if he did, he wouldn’t take money from her. Not when she would need it, to start her new life.

“A few people in the team have good contacts at Interpol. We will help you get a passport.”

“Why are you doing this? Why are you risking your life for me, when you know … when you know who I am?”

This time, her words were a knife twisting in his gut. “I know who you are, Bea. You’re the woman who risked your uncle’s fury to teach the kids at thehaciendaEnglish. You risked your life to give me water. You’re one of the bravest people I’ve ever met, and if I could change one thing in the world right now, it would be to get you to believe that.”

“I don’t understand,” Bea said, her expression somewhere between uncertain and mutinous. And he realized, she hadn’t had a chance to trust anyone in a long time. She was trusting them now—to get her out, to bring her somewhere safe—but trust was a fragile thing.

“I promise you can trust us, honey. I won’t let anything happen to you, not while I’m alive.”

24

Bea

The boat should have felt safer than the safe house. At least, they were no longer in Cartagena. Or in Colombia. They were somewhere in international waters, and Slate would supposedly keep them there until they were near Colon, their destination.

Fear and excitement warred within Bea. She’d never been out of Colombia. The thought of traveling had always been a far-away dream, especially since her father had died. Now, after so long standing still, she was going places. Panama first and then, if everything went as planned, Switzerland. And then wherever she wanted. Rogue had made it clear that he didn’t want her to stay with him. And that made sense. The poor man had done enough. He was too honorable to leave her here but, once theygot to Switzerland, he could let go of the responsibility he’d saddled himself with. He could get on with his life.

Bea breathed in the salty sea air coming in through the open porthole of her cabin. There were two cabins on the boat. One for her and Rogue, and one for Dark and Slate.But they’re out there most of the time, and I’m the one cooped up in here.

She wasn’t locked in, of course. She wouldn’t have stood for that and didn’t think Rogue would have even considered it. But they had asked her to stay downstairs, in the cabin or in the main kitchen area.

Dressed in colorful bermudas and T-shirts they’d bought on the harbor just before leaving Cartagena, the men were up on the deck most of the time, pretending to fish. That’s what anybody seeing their boat would see—three friends on a fishing trip.

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