No One to Trust (Hidden Identity Book #1): A Novel (5 page)

FRIDAY

7:00 P.M.

The door opened and Mike hovered half in and half out of the room. “Is it safe to come in?”

“Yes,” David said. “But we’re not going to be here much longer.”

Mike walked to the bedside. “Are you okay to travel?”

“I have to be.” As soon as he got the dizziness under control. Sitting still helped.

Summer stood there quietly, her eyes bouncing between the men, taking it all in. The lack of expression on her face worried him. He’d been agonizing for months about telling her the truth and had, ironically, planned to tell her today. All of it. The whole terrible story. And then beg her to forgive him.

Only he’d waited too long.

Summer stared at him a few seconds longer, then spun on her heel and was out the door.

“Summer, stop!” David shouted.

“David, get back here!”

David went after her, ignoring the pain thrumming through him and Mike’s shout to stop. And the light-headedness that made him want to keel over.

Once outside the room, the marshals flanked him. “Where’d she go?”

“The stairs,” Adam said. “But you’re in no shape—”

David bolted for the stairs, gasping as his ribs and head protested.

“David! You can’t do this!”

Swallowing against the nausea, David ignored them and pushed the stairwell door open. He started down. “Summer!” His voice echoed around him. He heard her retreating footsteps and hurried faster, tripped and caught himself on the handrail. “Summer, wait.”

Her footsteps stopped and her voice rose from below. “Leave me alone, David. I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

“It’s not safe. They know who you are. They’ll use you to get to me.”

“Not if we’re not together anymore.”

Her words cut like shards of glass shredding his heart. Not because he didn’t deserve them, but because
she
didn’t deserve what he’d done to her, what he’d pulled her into the middle of. “Summer, please.” He kept going, desperate to catch up with her. Finally, he saw her, heard the marshals behind him. It wouldn’t matter to them that his marriage had just fallen apart. All they cared about was keeping him safe for the trial. He had to get Summer to listen to him. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“Too late, Kyle . . . David . . . whoever you are.”

Her steps resumed.

So did his.

He followed her into the lobby of the hospital, his teeth clenched against the pain. She whirled. “Stop following me. We’re done.”

“We’re not done. I don’t accept that.”

Fury ignited. She jabbed a finger into his chest and he fell onto the bench behind him. For a moment, sympathy graced her eyes, then they hardened again. “You don’t get to make that choice. You made your choice when you lied to me. Stood there and
lied
to me
when I told you that was the one thing I could never forgive. How could you? What kind of man does that?” Tears pooled.

David was vaguely conscious of the show they were putting on for those in the lobby and the marshals trying to corral him, but he didn’t care. Right now, stopping Summer from walking out the door was his only objective.

He stood, pulled her to the side, and lowered his voice. “A fool. An idiot. A man who made a huge mistake and is asking for forgiveness. Please, Summer.”

She jerked away from him, her chin trembling. “Those are pretty words, David, but you’ve always been good at throwing them around. Too bad you’re saying them
after
you got caught in the lies. Well, I’m not falling for them. I don’t believe anything you’re saying.” She stepped back. “There are no appeals in this situation. We’re done and that’s final.”

His jaw flexed. “They may be pretty words, but I mean every one of them.” He gripped her upper arms. “Your life depends on you listening to me.”

“I’m done listening.” She sighed and shook her head. “I need some time. Time away from you.”

He groaned. “You can’t. They’ll find you and—”

“No. You’re not going to use that to keep me around.” Tears clouded her vision. “I can’t believe you did this to me. I just can’t—” She pulled in a deep breath. “If you’re so worried about me, tell one of your marshal friends to keep up, because I’m leaving.”

Adam intervened. “Ma’am, he’s right. Mike told me what happened to you with Corbin Hayes. You need to stay with us.”

Her lip curled, disgust shooting from every pore. “Right. You men just have to stick together, don’t you?” Without another word, she made a beeline for the revolving door.

Summer had experienced a broken heart before. Her father’s bitter duplicity and the subsequent custody battle that led to the
most miserable three years of her life. Her fiancé’s unfaithfulness and heartfelt lies that he was innocent. Only to have his lover come forward and let Summer know exactly how sneaky he’d really been.

But the pain shattering through her now didn’t compare. Out on the sidewalk, she glanced around. The darkness was broken by the city lights, headlights from passing cars. She stopped and stared at the nearest vehicle. And realized she was stranded. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Marlee’s number. Her sister answered on the first ring with, “Where have you been? I’ve been calling and calling. Are you all right?”

“Hey. No, I’m not all right. I’m stranded and I need a ride.” Summer refused to apologize. She’d explain when Marlee pulled up in front of her.

“You were supposed to go with me to take Sugar to the vet this morning. You totally stood me up.”

Summer smothered a groan. She’d forgotten she’d made that promise two weeks ago before she and David had decided to take the day off together. More pain cramped her heart at the memory. “Marlee, are you listening? I need a ride.”

“Need a ride? Where are you?”

“Three hours away from you. In Charlotte, North Carolina.” Summer sighed and sank onto the bench at the bus stop.

“North Carolina?” Marlee’s screech nearly deafened her.

Cars passed her, people hurried on their way, and Summer sat. Lonely. Defeated. Weary. And scared. She looked back toward the hospital and saw David limping toward her, the marshals not far behind him. The determined expression on his face sparked her anger once again. She jumped up and started walking again. “Listen, Marlee—”

“What are you doing in North Carolina? You’re supposed to be here. How could you stand me up? Do you know how worried I was? How could you be so selfish?”

Summer groaned and closed her eyes. Why had she called her sister?

Brakes squealed.

Time moved in slow motion. Van doors swung open.

“Summer!” David’s voice echoed around her.

She spun on her heel, saw David shoved by the nearest marshal into the door of the closest shop.

A hard hand grabbed her upper arm.

Mike Thomas lifted his weapon and Summer knew she was dead if she didn’t help Mike protect her. She yanked at her attacker’s grip and swung a leg out with a powerful roundhouse kick. The grip lessened and a whoosh escaped the man.

Satisfaction flowed at the solid connection, only to have the fear return at his retaliation. He lifted his weapon. Summer dropped like a rock to the hard concrete. Two shots sounded and she waited for the piercing pain of the bullets.

When it didn’t happen, she opened her eyes to see Mike standing over the fallen man, kicking his weapon out of reach. The young man’s eyes latched on to hers. Venomous fury, pain from his wounds—and fear—glared at her. His breath rattled and he spat blood. She shuddered and backed away from him. Adam raced after the disappearing van. Burnt rubber assailed her nose and she choked on the fumes.

But she was alive. And not a captive of the men who wanted her husband dead.

The sick feeling in her gut said life as she knew it was definitely over.

David’s punch landed with a solid thud against the marshal’s chin. Just hard enough to gain his freedom, but lacking the force that would break the man’s jaw. He bolted from the store with pained curses ringing in his ears.

None of that mattered. Summer needed him.

David pressed a hand to his screaming ribs and raced back out into the street to see Summer sitting in the middle of the sidewalk.

He rushed to her. “Are you all right?”

He grasped her upper arm and helped her to her feet. She snagged her phone from the concrete and stuffed it in her pocket. Her blank stare, automatic actions, and repeated shivers told him she was in shock.

Mike yelled, “What are you doing? Are you crazy? Get back inside.”

“I’m not going anywhere without my wife.” Beneath his palm, he could feel her trembling increase.

Then she moved. Fast. She jerked away. “They were going to kidnap me. They gave me twelve hours to find that computer. My twelve hours aren’t up yet.”

She lifted a shaky hand and swiped her hair away from her face.
David’s fingers itched to help, but he figured it would be a good way to lose a few digits.

She was still—understandably—fired-up mad at him. Real fear gripped him as he considered the fact that she might never get past her anger. And he would only have himself to blame.

Sirens screamed, law enforcement descended. Mike’s fury rivaled Summer’s as he glared at David. “We don’t need this, David. All this attention isn’t a good thing. We need to get out of here before the cops start asking questions.”

David nodded. The trial was so close, he couldn’t start being stupid now. Or more stupid than he’d already been. He looked at Summer. “He’s right, getting out of sight isn’t a bad idea.”

Summer bit her lip and glanced around. “Fine.”

David breathed a small sigh of relief. She had a hot temper sometimes, but she wasn’t an idiot.

Together, with the marshals flanking them, they started to move toward the store, then David stopped. He stared at the young man who’d been shot and ignored Chase’s prodding to hurry it up. “Pauli . . . ,” he whispered.

“Who’s Pauli?”

“A good kid.” He shook his head. “What’s he doing involved in this mess?”

“We’ll figure it out later, now go,” Chase ordered.

They moved to the store David had forced his way out of. Holding the door open, Chase Tollison glared at him. David glared right back. Summer moved past the marshal and David thought he caught a glimmer of respect in the man’s eyes before he shuttered them.

Once inside the store, Mike and the other marshals ushered David and Summer to the dressing room.

Mike looked around. “No windows. One entrance, one exit. We should be good for a short time.” He got on the phone to make arrangements for another housing situation.

Summer’s wounded stare cut him to the core. He should have done so many things differently. He thought he’d have more time. “I’m sorry.”

Tears flooded her emerald eyes. “I am too, David.”

He knew she wasn’t apologizing. They both knew she had no reason to be sorry. None of this was her fault.

Mike lowered his phone and said, “We’ve got a new location. A car will be here shortly. We’ve emptied the shop and it’s secure as of this moment. The car will pull up to the delivery entrance in about twenty minutes. Be ready to move.”

David registered Mike’s words, but his attention stayed on Summer. “I know you’re hurt and angry and you have every right to be, but you’ve got to put that aside for now and come with us.”

She jerked and flushed. “I need to go home. Marlee needs me.”

“You really think you’d even make it home before someone grabbed you?”

Summer sank into the chair abandoned by the dressing room attendant. “No. I probably wouldn’t.” A fact that had her glaring lasers at him again. “I can’t believe my life has turned into some action adventure movie.” She stood and paced to the end of the dressing room, then back. “Tell me everything. I want the whole story. Every last teeny, tiny detail.”

FRIDAY

8:30 P.M.

Summer saw David swallow hard. “Every detail, huh?”

He shifted on the dressing room bench and she noticed how pale he looked. Upon closer examination, she could see the strain running after her had taken on him. He looked wiped out and ready to drop. Tough. She pushed aside the sympathy trying to spring up. She needed some answers. “Is everything about you a lie?”

He flinched, dropped his head back against the wall, and closed his eyes. She didn’t ask him again. He’d either tell her or not.

But he had about two seconds to decide before she walked out of the store.

And into the hands of the men who’d just tried to snatch her from the sidewalk in front of the hospital. She settled in for a wait.

Her phone buzzed for the hundredth time since she’d been cut off from talking to Marlee. Her sister had probably called out the National Guard by now. She had no choice but to talk to her. Summer grabbed the device from her front pocket and pressed the green talk button. “Hi, Marlee.”

“Are you okay?” The screech hit her highest decibel level yet and Summer winced.

“I’m fine. Take it down a notch, will you?”

“Well, what do you expect? What happened? Tell me—”

“Marlee, I’m fine.”

Her sister stopped her tirade. “Okay. Good.” She sighed, then blurted, “Oh! I almost forgot. Nick needs you to cosign his loan for that little trailer on the lake. Do you think you could meet him at the bank at four o’clock next Friday afternoon?”

Summer ground her teeth. David’s words came back to haunt her. “One day you’re going to regret all you do for them.”

“They’re my brother and sister, Kyle,” she’d argued. “What am I supposed to do? Turn them away when they need help?”

“They’re leeches and they take advantage of your giving nature without a second thought. Take my word for it and run while you can.” His bitterness hadn’t made sense to her at the time and she’d just ignored the warning.

Now, she wondered if Marlee was even in touch with reality. A sick feeling engulfed her. Had she done this? Molded Marlee into this needy, clingy creature? Or was she giving herself too much power? Marlee had a mind of her own.

“Marlee, I’ll deal with that later. I’m in Charlotte, North Carolina, remember? Three hours away?”

“What are you doing there?”

“Kyle’s in the hospital.”

A pause. “What happened?”

“It’s a long story.”

“Is he all right?”

“For now.”

Marlee lost interest. “What should I tell Nick?”

Summer almost couldn’t find her voice. Marlee’s blatant selfishness and lack of concern for her and David spoke volumes. Sadness engulfed her. “I’m not even sure when I’ll be home or when I’ll be able to talk to you next. Tell Nick I’ll call him when I can.”

A pause. “You said you were okay.”

“I’m okay for now—”

“And Kyle is with you.”

She frowned. “Yes.”

“So you have time for him, but not for me. When is it going to be my turn, Summer?”

Really?

She almost said something like having more time on her hands in the near future—after she left her lying husband—but the truth was, she wasn’t even sure she’d tell Marlee a word of what had happened. Although she supposed she’d have some explaining to do when she announced her upcoming divorce. Bitterness sliced through her.

First her father; then Joshua, her lying ex-fiancé; now Kyle.

David.

Whoever.

“Did you hear me? He’s in the hospital!” She couldn’t help raising her voice. The whole conversation was beyond ridiculous. “I’ve got to go, Marlee, I’ll call you later.” She hung up with her sister
still sputtering in her ear. Weariness settled on her shoulders as she powered the iPhone down and slipped it into her purse.

She looked at David.

He’d listened to her side of the entire exchange. Shock stood out on his face. “You hung up on her.”

“Yes, I did, what of it?” she snapped. Then winced. Just because she was finally admitting to herself her sister’s true colors didn’t mean she had to turn into a shrew.

Although the knowing look on his face made her want to smack him. But she couldn’t. This latest conversation with Marlee had just switched the light on for her. She forced the three words from her lips. “You were right.”

“I’m sorry.” Real sympathy shone in his gaze. “I didn’t want to be.”

“You warned me. How did you recognize it and I couldn’t?”

“Experience.”

“Who?”

“My brother.”

“Your real brother or the one you made up?”

His lips tightened, but he said, “The real one.”

“You guys ready to move?” Mike asked from the doorway.

David’s face shuttered, hardened to a granite look Summer had never seen there before. A tremor ran through her.

Who had she married?

As he took a gun from Mike’s outstretched hand and slipped it into a shoulder holster with only a faint grimace indicating he still felt the pain from his accident, she not only wondered who she’d married, but what.

She looked at Mike. “You arm your protectees?”

Mike grunted. “Not typically.” He shot a glare at David. “But then he’s not a typical protectee. He says he either has a gun or he goes out on his own.”

She lifted a brow at David. “So you carry a gun?”

He studied her. “I’m former special forces. I was an Army Ranger, Summer.” He returned Mike’s glare. “And I didn’t have a weapon with me when Corbin Hayes showed up. If I had, things might have been a little different.”

“How?”

“Don’t guess we’ll ever know. Doesn’t matter now. I’m not going to be caught without a weapon again.”

She gaped. She’d known he was in the military, but had no idea about the rest. “But all of your Air Force medals and—” She remembered the Army tags from the box.

“Part of my cover. It’s obvious I’m military, so instead of trying to cover that up, we just decided on a different branch.”

“That’s why you never talked about it,” she murmured. “I thought it was because you had bad memories or something.”

His eyes flattened. “I do.”

She eyed the gun. “And all of our trips to the shooting range?”

“Just staying sharp. Keeping my skills up and ready.” He paused. “And making sure you were comfortable with using a gun in case you ever needed one.”

“Unbelievable,” she whispered.

“Let’s go, people. Everyone get your vests on.”

Summer gulped as she watched David velcro the bulletproof vest in place. Then it was Summer’s turn. David helped her, then Mike’s rough hand on her arm propelled her toward the back entrance of the store and into a black Chevy Tahoe. She shook her head as she clipped the seat belt around her.

David settled in beside her. Too close. She shifted to attach her left hip to the door. He didn’t miss her movement but said nothing even though his lips tightened. Mike slipped in on the other side of David and slammed the door shut.

Adam slid behind the wheel and Chase took the passenger seat. “Let’s get out of here.”

Through the black tinted windows, Summer just noticed another
SUV in front of them. She glanced back and saw another behind. She looked at David. “Are you the president or something?”

Mike snickered.

David sighed. “No, I’m not the president.”

“He’s a guy who’s going to put mob boss Alessandro Raimondi away,” Adam said. “Right now, David’s more important than the president.”

“Raimondi? The one who wants the laptop that I didn’t know existed until this morning?” Had it only been this morning? She felt like at least a week had passed since her ominous visitors had rocked her world.

“Yes.”

Darkness covered the city. Summer closed her eyes against it all, wanting to shut everything out. And right now, she wasn’t even sure she wanted to talk to God.

Guilt flooded her. Mentally, she knew she should be on her knees praying for his guidance and protection, but right now, she was just too tired, too confused, and just plain too stinking angry.