Page 60 of Faith
“That’s good. Hopefully it means they’re safe,” Zeke said.
Nina got the feeling the men were thinking something but keeping it to themselves. Or between themselves because the looks they both gave her said the same thing. She just wasn’t sure what that was. “Why are you looking at me like that?” she snapped.
“Like what?” Monty asked.
“Like there’s something else.” Nina stared down her brother until he sighed.
“We’ve been worried about you. We’ve talked about moving you to a safe house or getting protection around the clock.”
“I have protection. I have you two.”
Monty shook his head.
Zeke moved toward the door. “I’ll let you two talk.”
Nina opened her mouth to argue, but she realized they already had this conversation. Sometime when she wasn’t around. Sometime when they agreed what was best for her without her input.
Zeke closed the door behind himself and walked into the bullpen, sitting at a desk next to a Black man whose name Nina didn’t remember.
“You’re not safe, Nina,” Monty said. “You said she lied to you about me, but it’s obvious she knew where I was this whole time. Probably Zeke, too.”
“She didn’t know anything about Zeke.”
“She knows everything. She knows so fucking much, Nina. And she knows you do, too.”
“I know.” Nina picked at her nail, wishing she could go back and never walk out that night. Even her father couldn’t havebeen as bad as Gwendolyn. But Nina didn’t know that when she was seventeen and vulnerable and scared and made that decision.
Monty sat on the couch next to Nina, pulling her close.
She dropped her feet to the floor and leaned against her brother. “I never wanted you guys in danger.”
“We’re used to it. We expected it. But now that we have proof that she’s watching you, we can’t leave you so exposed.”
“I can’t go back into hiding. I can’t… I need to be free.” Tears flooded her eyes and tightened her throat. It wasn’t the same, but it felt the same. Stuck indoors, watched constantly, not allowed to go anywhere alone. Nope.
“And you will be once we find her and bring her in. But all the places you told the FBI about were empty. She’s smart. She cleaned out everything. Nothing was left behind, not even DNA that could be linked to her.”
“She’s always a step ahead,” Nina whispered.
“Yeah. But that means we need to do everything in our power to keep you safe.”
“I just want to live my life,” Nina said. “I just want to be free.”
“You will be. I promise you, Nina. I will do everything to make sure you’re free. But first, I need you safe.”
A knock on the door had Nina and Monty looking up. Monty waved for Zeke to come in.
“I was going to grab some food. Are you guys hungry?” Zeke asked from the door to the office.
Nina sat up and nodded.
Monty stood. “Why don’t you ask Berkeley to order for the office? Put it on the company card.”
“Call her and see,” Zeke said, nodding toward the phone.
“No, just go ask her,” Monty said quickly. “She gets annoyed when she feels like she’s not a part of things.”
Zeke rolled his eyes and nodded. “True.” Zeke left, heading toward the front where the office manager’s desk was on the other side of the security door.
