Defending Sophie Page 7

  As Hawk guided the vehicle down the on-ramp to the highway, Gaige twisted his head to and fro, looking for any vehicle that looked suspicious. The drivers tailing them might even switch out the black sedans for something else and they needed to be vigilant. Fuck his Uncle Jeff. Never in his life did he ever think his family was capable of shit like this. Rape? Covering it up? Possibly murder? He hadn't even had the time to sift through his mind on any of this, but it sure wasn't looking good.

  Turning to look at Sophie, he was startled to see she was staring at the back of his head. He tilted his head to the side and her lips turned up at the corners in a soft smile.

  "What can you tell me about Kate's death?" Her smile faded and a haunted look passed over her soft features. He hated asking, but he needed to know.

  She turned her head to look out the window and he saw her swallow a few times. Her eyes blinked rapidly, then she cleared her throat quietly and turned to face him. Hawk maneuvered the SUV off the highway and he braced himself with his hand on the console between them to keep from falling over. Sophie held onto the armrest in the back to keep herself upright.

  "The day she died, she was feeling better. I even got a bit of a laugh out of her in the morning at breakfast. Then she got a text from a friend of ours telling her that Killian slammed her with another Article 15 for being late the day before. She wasn’t late. We went into PT together. I'm Sergeant First Class in our Company and Kate was my next in command. We walked in together, then went to our posts. We weren't late. Killian had been harassing her like that since the rape. She was pissed and later that day told Killian she'd be filing a complaint against him and she was going to the police to give them as much information as she could about Tommy. The Army’s Criminal Investigation Command, CID, were doing nothing by way of investigation and that was the last straw.

  Hawk parked the truck behind the used car dealership and turned to look at him.

  "Now what?" He asked to no one in particular.

  Sophie turned in her seat and saw the Bakery Supply Store across the road. "We need to meet Gigi over there." She pointed out the window and the uncertainty that flashed across her face saddened him.

  He jumped from the SUV, ran around to the driver's side, and opened her door. He saw her struggling a bit with the seatbelt. Since it latched on her right side and that was the side she'd injured, he reached across her and whispered, "Let me help you."

  He could smell her. The fresh shower soap from last night still lingered and in the heat of the vehicle it intensified. He tried to focus on what he was doing but he was acutely aware that his body leaned over hers. He was bent across her breasts, and he fought the urge to touch his lips to hers. His heartbeat pounded through his ears as awareness of Sophie took over all of his senses.

  The seatbelt unlatched and he stood back quickly, the heat on his face near burning. Hawk had walked to the back of the SUV and pulled their bags out, but he smirked when their eyes met.

  Pulling his thoughts back to their safety, he took Sophie's left hand in his right and tugged her forward. "Let's make tracks and stay low."

  Chapter 15

  She could have kissed him. Just once to see what it felt like. He had on his Cattlemen’s aftershave and it gave her goosebumps, even in the heat of the vehicle. His face was even with hers and he had looked up at her once and she could have sworn he wanted to kiss her, too. Why did they have to be joined together because of her bullshit? Oh what she wouldn't give to spend a carefree day with him, not worried about being hunted or afraid.

  Stepping from the vehicle her nipples pebbled when he took her hand in his. His was work roughened and masculine; and while her hands had never been soft and supple due to working with weapons and her work as a communications specialist out in the field, hers felt soft next to his. It gave her a bit of a thrill to feel feminine and be in the presence of a man. A real man. Her ex had been such a soft boy-man. No work roughened hands on him. He was more of a girl than she was in so many respects. He sat at a desk, looking over spreadsheets all day. When something needed to be done on their home, he'd call someone, but never attempt to do something himself. The day he announced that he was late coming home from work because he'd stopped for a pedicure was the last straw for her. Sadly, she knew right from the start that he wasn't 'the one'. But, her parents forced the issue. He was the son of their good friends and they wanted this match to happen. Now, having a new appreciation for arranged marriages, Sophie knew two things: one, she'd never again marry someone she didn't love, and two, if she ever had a little girl of her own, she'd never force her to marry someone she wasn't madly in love with.

  They walked between the cars at the used car lot, and at one point a car drove past on the road. Gaige wrapped his arm around her shoulder and turned them so it looked as if they were car shopping. Feeling his body pressed firmly against hers did funny things to her body. It screwed with her mind, too. She continued to get off track.

  "Okay, let's go." Gaige whispered in her ear and shivers ran down her body. He removed his arm from her shoulders and took her hand again. Hawk was watching them on the other side of a vehicle. Gaige nodded and Hawk took off first, walking brusquely. He was surprisingly agile, but, at first glance, you'd never guess it.

  Hawk looked both ways, nodded that the coast was clear, and walked across the road. She and Gaige followed close behind. Her eyes scanned the parking lot for Gigi's car and she prayed Gigi wouldn't be mad at her for her little white lie. Actually, lie by omission, but she needed help and didn't know if Gigi would help her if she knew the truth. But, she also didn't tell her she had Gaige and Hawk in tow, and this might piss her off. Gawd, she wanted life to get back to normal.

  Not seeing Gigi's little SUV she worried that she wouldn't come, but something told her to walk around the back of the building. She pointed toward the back, and without saying a word Gaige headed in that direction. They stayed close to the building, all of them were hyperaware of their surroundings and they continued to look for black sedans that might contain the enemy. Whoever that was, it seemed they had a few and they were multiplying.

  Just as they turned the corner she saw Gigi's vehicle and her heart hammered in her chest and her tummy felt queasy. Gigi sat in the driver's seat and the look on her face said anger. She ran to Gigi's vehicle and as soon as Gigi saw her running toward her, she opened her door and stepped out.

  "Gigi, thank you so much for coming. We need your help."

  "We. Is this the man..."

  "No, he's a friend. He flew out here from Indiana to help me, and now we're all in trouble. You're the only other person I feel like I can trust. Can you help us get away from Riverton?"

  She felt Gaige stand next to her without looking. His presence calmed her in some way, even though they still had some talking to do. She realized at this moment that if he were helping his uncle, he would have driven her right to base and turned her in.

  Gaige held out his hand to Gigi. "Gaige Vickers. This is my colleague, Hawk."

  Gigi eyed them both up, suspicion clear on her face, but shook hands with each of them.

  Inhaling deeply, relief flooded her body when Gigi finally said, "Get in. We need to move. But I want to hear all about what the hell is going on while we drive."

  Gaige walked Sophie around to the passenger side of the vehicle and held the front door open for her. Climbing in behind her, Hawk climbed in behind Gigi.

  Gigi's Ford Edge, was a nice vehicle, but Hawk made everything look ridiculously small. She stifled a giggle ‘cause she didn't want to start something, but his knees were seriously high in the back of the SUV. She assumed Gaige looked similarly, he was only a couple inches shorter than Hawk.

  "Let's hear it." Gigi maneuvered her Edge out of the parking lot and onto the road.

  Sophie filled her in on the details as she drove them back to Canyon Creek. Surprisingly, Gigi listened without interrupting and seemed to understand the situation. At least as much as anyone could.

/>   "I'm sorry I let you think I was a battered wife. That wasn't fair."

  Gigi shrugged. "As far as I'm concerned you were, still are, a battered woman and that's enough for me. I help women when I can." She drove past the bakery and Sophie's brows furrowed. "This is the first time I've helped men though. But I guess there's a first time for everything."

  Turning to the east and down a country road, which wove itself around the bottom of the rocky hills above it, she softly asked, "Are you AWOL?"

  A frown instantly appeared and sadness fell over her. "I'm sure they've reported me AWOL. It would be a tactic Killian would use to get everyone out looking for me. I've been a stellar soldier and worked my ass off. This bastard is going to kill my career."

  "As long as he doesn't kill you, Katherine, the other can be worked out."

  For the first time Gaige spoke up. "I'll be able to fix this once we get everything sorted out. I've got some contacts I can rely on."

  She twisted in her seat to look into his eyes. "What if your uncle gets to them first?"

  "He doesn't know who they are. It's all good."

  Pulling up to a neat ranch style home with a stone exterior, which made it look as though it was part of the terrain behind it, Gigi hit a button on her visor, then softly said, "We're here."

  Chapter 16

  Gaige looked around the area. "I don't want to seem unappreciative, but where is here and do I assume this is your home?"

  Gigi looked into the backseat at him. "Yes, this is my home outside of Canyon Creek."

  "And, why are you bringing us here?" They had to be careful, and he didn't know Gigi. Apparently she helped battered women, but what did that mean for he and Hawk?

  "Katherine said she needed help and I could tell yesterday that she indeed was afraid of someone. But, as is usual in cases like this, it takes a while for some women to open up or ask for help. When Katherine called me today, I felt that was a step forward."

  Clearly Sophie had given Gigi Kate's name to hide her identity, that was a plus. He hadn't done that, but wasn't as worried about it as he wasn't wanted. Until maybe now. He nodded his head and locked eyes with Gigi. Hers were pale blue, clear and bright. She held herself with a confidence and strength that was impressive.

  "Fair enough." He waited for her to turn and tap the garage door button on her visor and watched as the door slowly raised. The interior of the garage was neat and clean, the walls were drywalled, plastered, and painted white. Nothing hung on the walls. The back wall held four flat doors, also painted white, and behind which he assumed were the gardening, yard tools, and other things normally stored in a garage. Slowly moving into the garage, she tapped the button to close the door behind her. He watched as she sat still and waited for the door to close before opening her door. Her eyes caught his in the rearview mirror.

  "Old habits. In case you haven't figured it out, my ex used me as a punching bag for years. He'd jump out from behind doors to scare me. He loved it when I was frightened. Once I got rid of him, I still couldn't shake the feelings of not being secure. I never get out of my vehicle until I know someone can't run in and grab me. I've changed all of the doors in my house into sliding barn doors so no one is hiding behind one. All doors are opened wide and stay that way until I go to bed at night, in which case, I lock myself securely behind my bedroom door. It may seem weird to most, but I'll never live in fear again."

  For the first time since they all got into the vehicle, Hawk responded. "No one should."

  But sadly, she was living in fear, she just managed it in a way to make herself feel safe again.

  They exited the vehicle and waited as Gigi walked them to a door on the driver's side of the vehicle. She unlocked it with her key then entered the room. The lights immediately turned on and the room flooded with light. The kitchen was neat and clean and brightly lit. The open concept meant the living room was visible from the kitchen, with no spaces available for a body to hide. Gigi meant what she said, no doors where someone could hide. Living like that for so many years played on a person's psyche. There was only a short hallway in the home. From the kitchen, an open sliding door lead to a bedroom, which was decorated in muted greens and ivory. Two open bedroom doors lead off from the east side of the living room. The living room didn't hold the usual large picture window, but two smaller windows with decorative grating in the glass. He'd bet she never opened those windows, keeping them closed and cooling the house with the air conditioner. Clearly, she'd thought all of this out.

  "I've got two spare bedrooms." She held her hand out toward the living room. "Take your pick and partner up how you choose. There'll be no judgment here. My room is off the kitchen." She pointed to the room with the muted green decorating. "I have my own bathroom, but I'm afraid you'll all have to share the one between your bedrooms."

  Not seeing a bathroom door, Gaige entered the first of the rooms and noticed a barn door to the left. Looking into that room he saw the Jack and Jill bathroom which was open to the other bedroom. Stepping back out he saw Sophie standing perfectly still, her thumbs tucked into her front jeans pockets. If he didn't know better he'd think she was looking casual, but her shoulders were stiff, her back rigid, and her jaw was tight.

  "Soph...Katherine, why don't you take the room you like and Hawk and I will bunk up together in the other."

  She stared at him for a few moments, her long dark hair hung limply over her shoulders, her eyes held uncertainty and he saw her swallow. This was not the Sophie he knew from before. This woman before him had lost her spunk. He'd love to help her find it once again and he wondered if he should have Jax come out here and room with Sophie to help her get her sass back. No one had more sass than Jax.

  "I'll take that one." She pointed to the farthest from the kitchen and he nodded.

  Gigi then said, "I'll have something whipped up for supper in about an hour. You all make yourselves comfortable. I have a Murphy desk against the far wall." Pointing to a wooden cabinet, she continued. "Wi-Fi password is taped to the desktop and if there is anything you need, just ask."

  Gigi went into her bedroom and closed her door. The lock clicked from the inside and his heart felt heavy for her. A woman who had been abused and scared to a point that she'd probably never feel totally safe again. People could really suck.

  He walked into the bedroom he'd share with Hawk, set his duffle on the bed and dragged his laptop, cord and mouse from inside.

  Hawk entered behind him and quietly said, "You think she's been reported AWOL?"

  "I'm going to check that first. Then I'm going to email Casper and find out what he's knows about this and if he's heard anything regarding my presence here.” Casper was GHOST’s military contact who reported to their main contact in the State Department and his code name was the only name Gaige knew. His real name was top secret to everyone for safety purposes.

  Walking out of the bedroom and to the Murphy desk he gripped the handle on the wooden door and gave it a tug. The desk slowly pulled down, and a panel which served as it's legs, moved out to support it. Ingenious way to hide a desk. Inside the cabinet, were cubbies and slots where Gigi had billing and paperwork organized. She was neat in all things.

  Bending he plugged his laptop into the wall receptacle to the right, set it on the desk, and opened the lid. Entering his password, he looked to his left and saw a chair on wheels in the corner of the room. Pulling it up to the desk, he sat, his hands folded in front of him, his chin resting on his knuckles and he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Today certainly didn't go as planned. Remembering Gavin, he tugged his phone from his pants pocket and called him up.

  "Sorry, we ran into trouble. We won't be flying out tonight, stand by for morning."

  "Yes, sir."

  The line went dead and he silently offered a thank you to the Lord above for giving them Gavin, not only was he a great pilot, he was discreet and professional.

  As soon as his computer finished loading, he tapped the icon for GHOST's milita
ry access software and entered his user name and password.

  A few clicks and he was on the screen to access military personnel files. He typed in Sophie's name and watched as the information slowly populated the screen. He read the information on her and his heart beat with pride at the soldier she was. Top of her class in AIT, top 95% in shooting, perfect attendance, communications specialist and a good one at that. She had five special accommodations added to her credit for outstanding work. Damn it, Tate would be so fucking proud of her. Gaige was proud just reading it all now. Then, his blood ran cold.

  She was not only listed AWOL, she was wanted for murder.

  Chapter 17

  A soft knocking sounded at her bedroom door and Sophie jumped. She'd been sitting on the end of the bed, not sure what to do next. She thought about taking a nice long shower, in a clean bathroom with fragrant soap. But, she didn't have clean clothes and nothing to wear while her clothes dried. She could ask Gaige for his shirt again, but she was undecided if she should even do that.

  She stood and walked to the door, slid it open and smiled when she saw Gigi. "Hi, come in."

  "I brought you a few things to wear. I hope you don't mind, but I noticed that you are wearing the same clothes you had on yesterday and you don't have a bag with you, so...."

  Her words hung in the air. "Thank you, Gigi, I really appreciate it. I haven't had the chance to get anything and Gaige said I can't go to my apartment because we don't know how secure it is."