Page 24 of Defenseless
“Which is a decision in and of itself,” Kara pointed out. She paused, and the two stared at each other for a long moment. “I love you,” Kara said, wrapping her in a big hug. Sabina hugged her sister back, committing the feel of her to her heart. “I understand we make decisions together,” Kara continued. “But if you can’t reach me and you need to do something, know that I trust you. I always have and I always will.”
Sabina squeezed her a little harder then stepped back. “Take care of yourself, and if anything happens, I’ll use email.” Years ago, they’d set up dummy accounts with a free public service. They rarely used them, but when Kara was traveling, it was sometimes the only way they could reach each other. It was how Sabina had let her sister know she was relocating to the West Coast.
Kara nodded, her reluctance to leave mirroring Sabina’s. Then finally, she straightened her spine, set her shoulders, and walked away. Sabina remained where she was until her sister’s car was no longer in sight. Never once did Kara look back.
CHAPTERTEN
“Chad called.You should call him and let him know you’re back,” Olivia said as Sabina dropped her friend’s keys into her hand. She’d stopped off to get the car washed and detailed. She’d even taken the long road home. Despite all that, she still wasn’t sure what she’d do with the permission Kara had given her. She and her sister had been living in the shadows for as long as not, and that was a hard habit to break.
She smiled at Olivia. “I’m not surprised. Sorry about that. I hope it didn’t put you in an awkward position.”
Olivia shook her head. “I’ve known all the Warwick boys my whole life. It’s hard to feel awkward around people who pretty much lived those uncomfortable teen years with you. His call did worry me a little, though.”
“I’m sorry,” Sabina said again. She should have planned for Chad checking in on her. “I promise I won’t go haring off again without telling anyone unless I have to.”
Olivia shrugged. “You don’t answer to me. I just want the people I like to stay safe, so if there’s anything I can do, please know you can always call on me.”
Because that was how it was in Mystery Lake. Not that everyone loved everyone else, but when push came to shove, they were there for one another. Or at least that’s how it seemed to Sabina and her two months of experience with the town.
“I will, thank you.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to stay for dinner?” Olivia asked, gesturing to her kitchen that lay at the back of the house. Sabina hadn’t eaten anything all day. Her stomach grumbled at the scent of spices emanating from the room, but she shook her head. She still had some thinking to do.
“Maybe tomorrow after the session with the girls?” she suggested. “I know I got your car detailed, but I feel like I owe you more than that. How about dinner and drinks at Dirty Boom?”
Olivia waggled her eyebrows. “I’m never one to turn down dinner and drinks at the Boom. It’s a date.”
They finalized their plans as they walked to the HICC Jeep Olivia had driven home. A few minutes later, Sabina was inside it and, not yet ready to head home, driving north. She didn’t have a destination in mind, but the gentle curves of the mountain road soothed her.
She didn’t bother to call or text Chad. She wasn’t ready to talk to him yet, and when she’d checked in with Ava earlier, Sabina had asked her to let him know she was home so that he didn’t worry. Unfortunately, she learned that Chad had asked Leo about taking her home the night before. That little fudging of the truth—fine, that lie—was one more thing she’d eventually have to apologize for.
After forty-five minutes of aimless driving, her stomach began to protest in earnest. There was a town fifteen minutes farther north. Or she could head back to Mystery Lake. If she did, she’d reach the diner on the outskirts of town in thirty minutes, and she could eat before heading home. Decision made, she found a safe spot to turn around and started making her way south.
Not paying attention to much of anything, before she knew it, she was finishing her BLT and asking for a second cup of coffee. She didn’t need the caffeine, but since she wasn’t counting on getting much sleep that night anyway, she took comfort in the warmth and familiarity of the hot drink.
She was lifting the mug to take a sip when Chad slid onto the seat across from her. Startled by his appearance, she dropped her hands, and the mug landed with a loudthunkon the tabletop.
“Chad,” she said, hating how surprised she sounded. Like the phone call to Olivia, she should have known he’d track her down.
“Sabina,” he responded, his gaze sweeping over her, taking her in.
“I’m fine,” she said.
His eyes met hers and although normally, they were nearly dark as pitch, they seemed to darken even more. “I see that.”
She held his gaze, but then a scuffling at the counter pulled her attention away. Ryan, Mitch, and Ethan were each propped on a stool. She spared a moment’s thought wondering why Chad thought he needed their backup. But then she saw their empty plates and glasses and realized they’d been there a while. Chad could have tracked the Jeep, but she’d bet one of those men had called him.
She took a deep breath and faced her colleague—her friend—again. “I’m sorry I lied to you last night about Leo. I had a lot on my mind and needed the short walk to my apartment.”
Disappointment flashed in his eyes. She should be used to it by now, but she hated it. The worst part was, she knew how to make it go away. She’d spent the afternoon debating whether to tell him everything, and she’d almost decided she would.
But she wasn’t quite there yet.
“I need time,” she said, knowing he’d know what she was talking about.
“You’ve had years, Sabina,” he countered. “You hide your past. You fled across the country. You out-and-out lied to meandyour team. And you abused your friend’s trust by borrowing her car specifically so that you could skulk away without anyone knowing. All that simply because you’re not willing to talk to someone. Everyone is entitled to their secrets, but yours are starting to impact the people around you. The people who care about you.”
She flinched at the honest assessment. He was right. Trying to slip away from Chad was one thing. She wasn’t proud of it. For right or wrong, though, she had her reasons. But lying to her team about where she was today? That wasn’t good.
