No One to Trust (Hidden Identity Book #1): A Novel by Lynette Eason Read Free Book Online Page A

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