Hidden Betrayal by Diane Benefiel

Author:Diane Benefiel
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-951055-09-7
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Published: 2019-08-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Five minutes later Mikayla leaned against the counter in the restroom, a heated internal debate spinning through her head. Should she do it? She could be down those stairs and out of the building in seconds. The temptation to make a break for it, to simply disappear, was almost overwhelming. Linc would be after her in a split second, but it might be worth a try. God knew if she walked into that conference room her life would no longer be her own.

She tapped her fist against her forehead. She couldn’t do that to Linc. He’d asked her to trust him. And beyond Linc was Brady, who would track her down himself, then lock her in a safe house. Then there was Peter. She’d been engaged to the man and she owed it to him to do her part to bring his killer to justice. Disappearing to evade the prison bars of witness protection was like a shiny mirage, oh so seductive, but in the end a fantasy.

The bathroom door swung open and Ellie walked in. She put her hands on her hips, and Mikayla felt herself being thoroughly studied before the woman moved to lean against the counter next to Mikayla. “Have you decided whether to make a run for it?”

“Did Linc send you in here to get me?”

“He hasn’t taken his eyes off the door since you came in. He’s getting impatient and is ready to come in himself. I convinced him to let me.”

“Is he always this intense?”

The corner of her mouth lifted, the first hint of warmth. “He’s a born rescuer. Make that a woman in distress and he’s a goner. He’ll pull out all the stops to keep her safe.”

Mikayla studied Linc’s sister. She likely wasn’t aware she was sounding a warning not to take Linc’s attention personally. But her description of Linc in the role of champion hit a note of truth. The little bubble of hope that there really was something beyond the initial attraction, that the kiss had meant something besides a release of frustration, deflated like a day-old balloon.

Mikayla straightened to pace the length of the room. “I can take care of myself. Linc’s been great, but he doesn’t need to look after me.”

“He won’t see it that way.” Ellie paused. “Have you decided?”

Mikayla stopped pacing. “I wasn’t going to run out on him,” she mumbled.

“I think he’s in the trust but verify stage of your relationship.”

Heat crept into her cheeks. “We’re not in a relationship.”

Ellie offered a full smile. “Seeing as how I merely meant your marshal/witness relationship and you assumed I meant a personal relationship, I get the idea that there is a personal relationship.”

“A minute ago you suggested I shouldn’t read anything into Linc’s attention. That he’d have helped any woman in my situation.”

“Absolutely. But that doesn’t mean there’s not something more when it comes to you.”

“Right. Regardless, this conversation is pointless. There isn’t anything between Linc and me.”

“Hmm, I could argue that I know chemistry when I see it, but we don’t have time to debate.

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