Page 11 of Faith
But she was making noise lately.
Could she have run? Gotten away?
Panic clawed at Gwendolyn’s throat. Nina knew too much. She knew everything. If she left, or if she was taken by one of their enemies, everything Gwendolyn worked for would be gone.
She couldn’t let that happen. No one had ever stood in her way before. She would not let anyone now.
3
Nina still couldn’t believeshe was free. She was safe. She knew it wasn’t so easy, but she tried not to think about that.
By now Gwendolyn knew she was gone. Had likely already sent people looking for her. And killed the driver. Nina had a moment of regret knowing the driver was likely dead because of her, but the man chose his fate in life by working for Gwendolyn. It would have happened eventually.
Just like everyone else who trusted her.
Nina stared at the mirror and the bruises that marred her pale skin. She couldn’t remember the last time she was allowed to look in a mirror, and the reflection staring back at her was only vaguely familiar. Same red hair, same muted green eyes, same woman. But different.
She tried to remember what she looked like before she left. The night she snuck out of the house. Twelve years was a long time, but it was so much more than the time. It was what she’d been through.
Nina ripped her gaze from the mirror and fought the anger welling up inside. She didn’t want to be like Gwendolyn, taking her anger out on everyone around her. Nina wanted to be a goodperson. Someone who helped others. And the only way she could do that was to tell Zeke and Monty the truth. The entire truth.
The sun would be up soon. Nina knew that, even though she wasn’t sure what time it was. A lifetime of being awake at night, so she was available for her duties, had trained her to wait for morning. When she could sleep. As long as Gwendolyn didn’t need her.
A soft knock on the bathroom door dragged Nina back to the moment. In Zeke’s house. Safe.
“Do you need anything?” Zeke asked through the door.
He’d been nothing short of respectful since she called him. Not touching her unless she initiated the contact, except for his first hug. He knew more than she’d admitted so far, and she wondered what he’d seen that he could read her thoughts. She wished things had been different for all of them.
But all they could do was move forward.
Instead of answering, Nina opened the bathroom door. Zeke was right there, pressed into the gap where the door was a second ago.
He took a step back, but Nina moved into his personal space and wrapped her arms around him.
He sighed and returned the hug, holding her tight against his body. Gwendolyn’s touch had been gentle and soothing when she was sad, but most of the time, it was dangerous. The way Zeke held her was reverent, like she was the most precious thing in the world and he would never do anything to hurt her.
“I’m sorry I keep hugging you. It’s just so good to feel you.”
He shook his head. “I don’t mind a bit.”
Nina had a sudden thought and pulled back. “Oh my God. Is there someone who would? I should have asked. Do you have a wife? Girlfriend? Boyfriend? I… I’m so sorry. I?—”
“There’s no one but you, Nina.”
She was sure he didn’t mean the words how she wanted to take them, but what mattered was she wasn’t getting in the middle of Zeke’s relationship. “You would tell me, right?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” Nina moved around him, spotting the massive bed in the middle of his room. He hadn’t shown her any other bedrooms. Where would she sleep?
“I’m going to sleep in the guest room across the hall,” he said, as though reading her thoughts. “This door locks and has an alarm on it. The entire house is equipped. I’ve already set the alarm. All the windows and doors have sensors. There are motion sensors around the house. It’s monitored twenty-four-seven.”
“That’s… Why do you need that?” Nina wondered if she made the right call by going to him. Who was he? Who had he become?
Zeke closed his eyes and sighed. “Montgomery owns Rose Protection Agency. I work for him. He has a team of twenty. We work with law enforcement, do private security, whatever anyone needs.”
“Do you work for the good guys?” Nina’s voice shook as she asked, hoping he knew who the good guys were. Gwendolyn made herself look good. But after the raid, Nina knew the truth was out there.
