Page 67 of Trail to Trouble
“Whoa,” Hunter said as he held up his hand in the stop position. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
She hung her head.
“Katrina, look at me.”
Slowly, she lifted her head to meet his gaze.
“Obviously, I don’t know everything that transpired leading up to what Sebastián did to you, but the version of Katrina Holmes that I know is a smart, kind, intelligent woman. He caused this. Not you. You can play the coulda, woulda, shoulda game all day long, but he did this, not you.”
“I keep trying to tell myself that, but it’s hard.”
He covered her hand with his again.
“The guilty verdict and his prison sentence are proof that it was all him,” Hunter said with conviction and a hint of anger in his tone.
“Yeah, but he got away with killing Alyssa and my parents. I know he did it. Or at least had something to do with their deaths, but nobody could prove it. And...we believe his family is in a cartel. I can’t prove it, but I know it. I just do, which was the main reason for the change in identity.”
It was still difficult for her to say that out loud, even though nearly ten years had passed.
He gripped her hand more firmly.
“And he’s due to get out soon. On the one hand, I can’t believe so much time has passed already. The memory of it all is still raw. I live it every day with my new identity.”
“Makes sense. Well, with your new identity, he shouldn’t be able to find you. I mean, the witness protection program should keep you safe, right?”
“Sadly, I didn’t qualify for witness protection.”
His brows knit.
“But your name.”
“My brothers and I did this on our own. We had little family left, so we just made ourselves disappear. We took on new names, moved, and cut off all ties with family and friends. It was best for everyone. My brothers wouldn’t let me do it alone, so they made the sacrifice as well.”
The expression on Hunter’s face was one of compassion.
“I’m so sorry for all of this. That must have been so hard.”
“It was...is. But in any case, I hope our hiding pays off when Sebastián is released. I fear he’ll look for me. I already feel like I’m always looking over my shoulder for his family or a hired hand. It will be worse when he’s on the loose, too. And what if he tries to find me through old friends...you?”
She choked down the obstruction that clogged her throat.
“Which is why I shouldn’t be here.”
Her eyes watered. She’d thought about Hunter so many times and missed him. Though she hardly knew him—hadn’t spent but a few days with him, the connection they shared was strong.
Hunter’s shoulders rose and fell with his quick breaths. His hand perspired. Or was that hers? He flew off his chair and pulled her into a protective embrace.
She melted to him.
“I’m so sorry, Han...Katrina. So sorry you’ve had to live like this.”
The sincerity in his voice brought more tears.
“You’ve been so brave. I wish I could have helped you.”
If she hadn’t cut him off, maybe he could have. The warm body she pressed herself to, reminded her of all she’d lost by making that decision. Inhaling, she took in that earthy scent of his. The cedar notes further reminded her of their time spent together, making her regret the decision to go into hiding.
He loosened his grip a smidge and ran one of his hands up and down her back comfortingly. Why did he have to do that? It was making her feel worse, yet better at the same time.
