Concealed Identity. Jessica R. Patch

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СКАЧАТЬ in her eyes, and she held her hands up. “I don’t want any trouble.”

      “Then that makes two of us.” But trouble had reared its ugly head. Question was, had it come for her or because of her?

      Easing into his cover, he pasted on a grin, hoping to disarm her. He needed Blair Sullivan to trust him. “I’m Holt Renard. Was on my way home when I came up behind that vehicle.” He’d been following her for two days, not that he wouldn’t recognize her. Jeremy had a few family photos on his mantel, and Holt had thoroughly examined the case files on Mateo Salvador. “Why were they shooting at you?”

      Not that she’d tell him if she did know, but she was scared and it might tumble out. Had it been Alejandro in that SUV? Or Hector Salvador, her late husband’s brother and the head of the Colombian Salvador Cartel? Did he find out Blair was fraternizing with his greatest enemy? Was she playing both sides? Eyes that held goodness and honesty told him she wasn’t playing anyone. But looks could be deceiving.

      Recognition lit her face. “I know you. You were at the auction today. Trying to outbid me. You’re Superman.”

      Wow, she’d really nailed her head good. He’d been called a lot of things, but Superman wasn’t one of them. Had to admit, he kinda liked the idea. But reality smacked him with truth. Holt was no one’s hero. The one person he’d wanted to save most in his life, he couldn’t.

      He cocked his head and contained his amusement.

      She shook her head as if confused. “Did I say that out loud?”

      “That I’m Superman? Yeah. You said that. And you’re right—I was at the auction today.” It had been a great place to blend in and study her without raising suspicion. He didn’t think she’d paid him a lick of attention. Apparently, she had. He clasped her hands and helped her to her feet. She swayed a bit, and he steadied her. “Got a name?” he asked.

      “Gigi!” Blair’s face flashed with panic, and she hobbled to her truck. She opened the passenger door, and Blair’s sister moaned and touched her head as she exited the vehicle. A small cut above her forehead oozed a few drops of blood. “You okay, G?”

      Gigi nodded and then threw up in the field.

      “We need to get her to a hospital.” Holt stepped closer.

      Blair held Gigi’s hair away from her face and soothed her, stroking her back. Holt’s chest squeezed. Her soft voice and words of comfort to her sister moved him, not to mention she was ridiculously pretty. Fairly tall, even compared to his six-foot-three frame. Curvy where she should be, but delicate. Surely this woman wasn’t neck-deep in drug trafficking.

      Gigi turned in his direction and moaned. “Naturally, the guy with the eyes would see me ralph.”

      Holt chuckled. “If it makes you feel any better, you did it gracefully.”

      “It doesn’t.”

      Blair smirked, then sobered. “I want to get out of here.” She looked at Holt. “Blair. Sullivan. And this is my sister—”

      “Gigi. Yeah I got that. Seems you might need a little medical attention.” He pointed to her head.

      She touched it and sighed. “It’s not that bad. Thank you for checking on us.”

      Not that Holt came to their aid to get close to Blair, but he did hope it might be an open door to gain her confidence. Whether she was involved with the cartel or not, Blair could be the key to helping him find Jeremy and Bryan. And time was not on his side.

      “What happened? Who were those crazies?” Gigi took the water bottle Blair gave her and swished some water in her mouth before spitting it out and climbing back inside the truck.

      “Yeah, who were those crazies?” Holt asked, frowning. Blair had no business driving after knocking her head like that.

      Blair shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m not sticking around in case they decide to come back and introduce themselves. Thanks again for your help.”

      “Yeah, thanks, Mr. Hollywood.” Gigi smiled and then winced.

      “It’s Holt, in case the head injury has you confused.” With all the acting he was about to do, Hollywood fit much better than Superman.

      Blair leaned out her driver’s-side window. She looked too petite to be driving this bulky thing. But clearly, the woman was strong. And brave. “Had you not shown up when you did, I don’t know what would have happened. You must have scared them off.”

      Holt studied her, searching her eyes for answers to what might have actually gone wrong. Nothing there but terror and confusion. “I guess I did.” It took squeezing off a few rounds himself. Relieved Blair didn’t realize he’d used his weapon, he relaxed his shoulders. “You sure you’re okay to drive? I can give you a lift to the hospital, and we can come back for your truck later.”

      Blair’s face blanched.

      Did she not plan on seeking medical attention? Not if she didn’t want questions raised.

      “I can manage,” Blair finally said. “Besides, my stuff’s in the back and I’m not leaving it.” She narrowed her eyes. “We’ll be fine.”

      Holt couldn’t blame Blair for being suspicious of him, but he’d have to remedy it. Quick. If saving her life didn’t get him in her good graces, he wasn’t sure what would. Charm? He could lay that on pretty thick when necessary, but something about the way she’d carried herself and avoided eye contact with him at the storage auction said charm wasn’t the way to go to win her trust.

      Honesty might be the ticket. But that was one thing he couldn’t give. Came with the territory. “You sure?”

      “Positive. Thanks again.” That was her polite Southern belle dismissal.

      “Okay.” He ambled toward his truck with no intention of letting them out of his sight. Blair cranked the engine and it sputtered to life. She pulled through the tall grass and back onto the road from the shallow ditch. Holt followed at a distance, hoping not to further scare them, but this was the only way into town, and he wanted to make sure they were safe.

      As he suspected, they went straight to their home. No medical attention. He clambered out of his truck.

      “Why are you following us?” Blair demanded.

      He held his hands up in surrender. “You took a whack to the head. Just wanted to make sure you got safely home.”

      “Well, we did.”

      Holt turned to Gigi, who was tottering out of the truck. He rushed to help her. “How do you feel?”

      “Like I got hit by a truck.”

      Holt winked. “Imagine that. Are you not going to the hospital? You really should.”

      Blair came around and slipped in between Holt and Gigi, creating a protective barrier. “I can take it from here.” She shifted her eyes toward Gigi and studied her sister’s face, as if she were in a battle about whether she should go or not.

      “I feel woozy, Blair.”

      Blair СКАЧАТЬ