Past Sins by Debra Webb Page B

He might try to call for help—for her—but he’d never abandon her, especially in a time of obvious distress. Unlike the last man with whom she’d shared a relationship.
    She wanted to reassure Jeffrey by saying that everything was fine, but she wasn’t sure it ever would be again. She didn’t like doing this to him any more than he liked her doing it. Not that she was really in love with him…she wasn’t. She wasn’t sure she could love anyone. Not after…well, she wasn’t going there.
    But she did care about Jeffrey. He was comfortable. Reliable. Familiar. Like a favorite old bathrobe. She knew exactly what to expect out of him. He was safe. She liked safe. Her current life was all about careful and…to be honest…boring. Boring was better than dangerous. She’d faced enough danger to last a dozen lifetimes.
    “Jeffrey, everything I told you is the truth. There are things about my past that I can’t disclose, but you have to believe that I wouldn’t lie to you about anything like this.”
    He scooted back on his bed and lay against the pillows, whether to put some distance between them or just to relax she couldn’t be sure. “I don’t think you’re lying. I hesitate to go so far as to call what I’ve witnessed in the past twenty-four hours delusional, but you must admit that it feels exactly like that…as if you’ve crossed some boundary. Are you certain there isn’t some stressor your mind is attempting to escape?”
    There were stressors her mind wanted to escape rightly enough, but he was wrong on all other counts. How did she make a civilian understand how things worked in the world that had once been her life?
    She didn’t. It was as simple as that. There were reasons that security measures were doled out on a need-to-know basis. In this instance, Jeffrey didn’t need to know any more than absolutely necessary to ensure his continued cooperation.
    “You’re right, Jeffrey.” Might as well play along. Anything to get him to remain calm. “I’ve suffered a traumatic event. The man I’m going to see in Virginia is involved. I need to see this through.”
    “Virginia?” A new kind of shock claimed his expression. “We’re going to Virginia?”
    “We don’t have a choice.” Olivia curled up against her own pillows and met his gaze. “I need you to understand that my continued well-being hinges upon doing this. I need to be able to count on you.”
    His gaze narrowed slightly. “Then what about the picture of me and the personal information? Are you saying you made that part up?”
    She shook her head. “I believe that someone wants to hurt me and they’re trying to use you to get to me. It’s complicated. And dangerous.”
    “I see.” He searched her eyes as if looking for any glimmer of deceit. His own reflected his worry, his need to take care of her. “You don’t think calling the authorities would be the best way to take care of this situation?”
    “I have to do this myself. It’s very important.”
    She hated this. Hated using his loyalty to what they’d shared these past nine months. Lies, lies, lies. She’d thought she was through with that way of life. The reality that she wasn’t churned in her stomach.
    “We should try to sleep.” He yawned, gave her a reassuring smile. “We’ll be able to think more clearly when we’ve rested. Whatever this is about, we’ll work it out.”
    When his breathing had slowed to a deep, steady rhythm, she finally let herself relax fully. She wasn’t worried about him trying to run out on her. Like he said, he cared. He wouldn’t leave her.
    How the hell had this happened? Now, after all this time?
    She flopped onto her back and tried to reason out some part—any part—of this situation. There was no rhyme or reason to it.
    For the first time since the insanity began she let herself think about him…the Phantom. Holt Landry . She closed her eyes and permitted the memories she’d kept tightly compartmentalized to rush over