Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Aurora felt like she was watching a movie. This couldn’t be her life.
Rick—except she realized now that probably wasn’t his real name—was leading her through a series of alleyways, moving her away from Ocean Lane and from her home. She felt strangely calm, like none of this could really be happening. She had fallen asleep. She was dreaming.
Except a pragmatic, rational part of her, the part of her that was every bit Max Bennett’s sister, told her that all of this was very much happening.
She was in life-threatening danger. And her only hope seemed to be following this man she had known as “Rick Harrison” toward some unknown destination.
Rick spun around to face her. “Wait. Give me your phone.”
“Why?”
“It’s important. They could be tracking you with it.”
She handed him the phone, thinking he’d hit some button, flip some switch. But instead, he dropped the phone onto the concrete and smashed his boot into it.
She screamed. “What are you doing?”
“Did you not hear me? They might’ve been tracking you. Now, they can’t.”
“What about your phone? Do I get to destroy it?”
“I left it back on the rooftop, emitting an emergency signal. I had no service, but even if I did, I have no idea who might’ve been listening in to a call. If the security system was compromised, my device could’ve been as well.”
Oh my god. How is this happening?
He charged out of the alley and passed a kiosk, which was selling souvenir T-shirts and hats. Rick stopped to buy one of each, paying with cash.
“Here, put these on.”
“Won’t that make me draw more attention? I’ll look ridiculous.”
“Just do it.” He shoved a hat down on her head. Grumbling, she shrugged on the shirt as they kept walking.
“Keep your head down. There are cameras all over this area, and I have no clue how much these people can access.”
“You haven’t told me where we’re going.”
“A friend’s place.”
“But—” She stopped herself from stating the obvious—that he’d said he was new in town and didn’t know anyone.
He didn’t really live next door to her, either. That had all been fake. A lie.
She’d nearly had sex with him just that afternoon. And she didn’t even know this guy’s name. Usually, she had slightly higher standards than that.
He changed directions suddenly, dragging her to a different curb just as a bus pulled up. It was a free local shuttle that ran along a main avenue to and from the beach. They boarded, sitting near the front with their heads down.
Aurora couldn’t get her heart to slow down. She didn’t want to keep holding his hand, but she also felt like she’d spin away from reality completely if he let go.
They didn’t go far. The bus entered a hip neighborhood, driving past small, overpriced bungalows built in the 1920s. At the next stop, he tugged her hand, and they got off.
Finally, after dragging her along several more blocks, the guy who probably wasn’t Rick walked up the driveway of a white bungalow, through a gate, and into the back yard.
“Come on. Keep up.”
He knocked furiously on the back door. When there was no answer, he stooped to snatch a key out from under a propane grill.
The key twisted in the lock. The door creaked open.
Feeling like she was sleepwalking, Aurora wandered inside. Not-Rick was inspecting each door and window, flipping latches and locks. The house was crowded and cozy, a single story, full of knickknacks and pictures of people she’d never seen.
“Where are we? Why is it so cold?” Her teeth were chattering together.
“It’s not cold. You’re in shock.” He took a blanket from the back of the sofa and laid it over her shoulders.
“Wait. Wait. I don’t even know your name. You’re not Rick, are you?”
He blinked. “No. My name is Devon Whitestone.”
She searched his face, and he looked the same as before. Yet she couldn’t find any sign of the man she’d been getting to know the past few days. The man she’d started to like.
“And the hedge fund?”
He shook his head. She felt like such an idiot. He reached for her, his expression apologetic, but she shrank away.
“Don’t you dare touch me. I’m pretty sure you saved my life, and I’m grateful for that. But you’ve been lying to me since the moment we met.”
He turned away. In the kitchen, he took a cordless phone off its cradle and flipped through a notebook on the counter. “Thank god he has a landline,” Devon muttered.
“You don’t have anything else to say to me?”
Now he was dialing the phone. “Like what?”
“An apology?”
“I don’t have time for that right now. I did save your life, but the saving is ongoing.”
She sat on the couch, tipped her head back, and hollered in indignation. Not at him, really, but at this whole situation. She felt completely powerless—lost—and she detested the feeling.
“We need to find a way to reach Max.” She had many mixed feelings about her brother, but he was the only person she trusted to handle a situation like this.
“That’s what I’m working on.” Devon held up a finger and spoke into the phone. “Chase? Hey man, don’t say anything. Just listen. You saw the caller I.D., so you know where I am. Get here. Tell no one.” He paused. “Yeah, it’s bad.”
Devon put the handset down and rubbed a hand over his face. “What a mess.”
“Who was that?”
He walked into the living room. “Chase Collins. He’s a police officer and my friend. I’d trust him with my life. He lives here.”
“Okay.” Aurora tugged the blanket tighter around herself. “He’ll help us get in touch with Max?”
“Yeah. That’s my plan.”
“But what if…” Her voice cracked. “What if something’s happened to my brother? Or Lana? What if those Syndicate people went after them, too?” Because of me, she thought. A lump balled in her throat.
Rick—no, Devon—knelt on the carpet in front of her. “That’s very unlikely. But you know Max can take care of himself. And Lana seems pretty capable, too. They’re fine.”
Her lips were trembling, and her eyes stung.
“Hey, listen to me. You’ll see them soon. But no matter what, I’m staying right by your side. Okay? Even if you’re pissed off at me, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
She choked back a sob. “I am still pissed. But would you just hold me for a little bit?”
He got up onto the couch and put his arm around her. Aurora sank into him, resting her head against his chest.
A car drove up and parked beside the house. Aurora sat upright, blinking. She’d fallen asleep in Devon’s arms. He gave her a small smile as he stood.
A police officer burst through the back door. “Christ, Dev, there was shit all over the radio. Shots fired, fatalities. What is going on?”
Fatalities, Aurora thought with a shiver. Devon had said those men weren’t coming after them. He’d killed them. He’d killed them to protect her.
Chase pulled Devon into a hug, pounding on his back. Then the officer spotted Aurora on his couch, and his eyebrows shot up.
“This is Aurora Bennett,” Devon said.
“Bennett? As in Bennett Security? Your boss?”
“That’s the one. There’s a lot to explain, but first I need to call in. It has to be discreet, though. I’m not sure, but we might be compromised.”
“We had units over at that building.”
“They might’ve been injured. I hope to god it was minor.
Aurora’s the witness to the Wolfson murder.
Her identity was supposed to remain secret, but there must’ve been a leak.
Only a few people in the West Oaks District Attorney’s Office, myself, and Max Bennett knew.
Possibly some more, if anyone inside West Oaks PD figured out why you had units at Aurora’s building. ”
“Shit.” Chase was nodding. “Okay, I get the need for discretion. I’ll get in touch with Bennett. But I’ll need a little time to make sure nobody else is listening in. This is Dominic Crane’s men we’re talking about, right? Silverlake Syndicate? Do you think they know who you are, Devon?”
“I’m not sure. If they’ve been watching her, they might’ve seen me with her.
But I’ve been posing as her neighbor under a different name.
Most of my coworkers didn’t know what assignment I was working.
But if Crane’s guys have someone inside Bennett Security, they may have been able to connect the dots.
That’s why I couldn’t go to my own place.
If you can see to my mom and Ruby, get them somewhere safe until I know more, I’d appreciate it. ”
“You don’t have to ask. It’ll get done.”
“I’m sorry about this, Chase. I wouldn’t have brought you into it unless I had no other options.”
Chase squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “No, I’m glad you came here.
I’m only subletting this house from my cousin.
Not like I could afford it on my salary.
But make yourself at home. Just stay safe, okay?
I’ll touch base with Bennett, and we’ll figure out what to do.
And Dev, if there were shots and fatalities at that building, there’s going to be a shitload of official questions coming at you. ”
“I know.” He took out the gun from his pocket, wrapped it in a dish towel from the kitchen, and handed it to Chase.
“I took this from a guy on the roof. I fired it. There’s another I left behind a water heater at the building next door to Bennett’s.
Can you get them into evidence as soon as you can? ”
Chase tucked away the bundle. “Sure thing.”
Aurora got up from the couch and walked over to him. “Thank you for everything you’re doing. I’ll pay you back somehow, I swear.”
He waved his hand. “Don’t mention it, really. I’m just glad my friend here was around when you needed him. He’s the best guy I know.” Then Chase glanced around his home, grimacing. “I guess I should pack up some things and stay somewhere else. I don’t think this place is big enough for three.”
“I’m not kicking you out of your own home,” Aurora protested.
But Chase had already gone into the bedroom, where he picked up a duffel bag and started shoving clothes into it from various drawers.
“I already told you, it’s no trouble. Devon has backed me up before.
He’s an honorary cop, and we have to stick together.
” He flashed her a handsome grin. “Besides, this is my job, right? Protect and serve.”
Chase went over to Devon, and the two men embraced again. “You take care of yourself, brother,” Chase said.
“You, too.”
“I’ll head to your mom’s as soon as possible.”
Devon briefly closed his eyes, emotion floating over his face, before his expression turned stoic again. “Thank you.”
Chase left, and Devon locked the door.