Silencing the Witness by Laura Conaway

Author:Laura Conaway
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-11-01T20:50:40+00:00

* * *

He’d seen the redness in her eyes when she’d walked out of the bathroom. Something wasn’t right. Except now, a few customers walked by to grab drinks from the refrigerated section and gave them a look.

Unsure how to comfort her, he stood there for a moment as his hand hovered in midair. He half expected her to swat at his arm, like someone getting rid of a pesky fly. What could have happened in the matter of minutes she’d been out of his sight?

“Did something happen?” Fear gnawed at him. What if these men changed trajectory and targeted someone close to her?

A hiccup escaped as she shook her head. She pulled in a steadying breath.

Seth took the pad of his thumb and wiped a tear that rolled down her cheek. He would give anything to carry her burdens for her. His heart ached with the desire to take away this pain and make her forget everything that was happening. Except he couldn’t do that.

Not now, not ever.

He’d always be a walking reminder of what she lost.

Seth took a step back and laced his hands behind his neck. Now was not the time to add more emotion to an already intense moment.

“Sorry. I don’t know what overtook me.” She blinked several times.

“No need to apologize. You have a lot going on, and it’s okay not to have it together all the time.”

“I suppose so.”

Her eyes scanned the store. This woman stayed in defense mode constantly. Prepared to take whatever came her way. But that pressure had to be a weight on her shoulders.

“What’s the card for?” He pointed to the piece of paper she held in a white-knuckled grip.

“I wanted to write to my parents. But it was a silly notion.” Avery set the card on top of the candy rack.

Considering the number of tears and the distressed look on her face, he begged to differ.

“That’s not silly. It shows you care,” Seth said, then took in his surroundings. He would not be caught off guard again if someone attempted an attack.

“They don’t want to hear from me anyways,” she scoffed.

“Why do you say that?”

“My interference with Chelsea got us in this mess and destroyed my parents’ lives a second time,” Avery said as her shoulders drooped.

“Hey.” Seth turned back to focus on her. “I wouldn’t call it interference. You were helping a friend. There was no way you would have known what was going to happen that night.”

“I just want to make them proud,” she whispered. A sheen of moisture filled her eyes again. “To show them I am capable of accomplishing things. Doing tasks with grit, just like Logan. They were always so happy with him.”

“Sometimes those closest to us don’t express how proud they are in the best way. But I know they see how amazing their daughter is.”

“They could do a better job of showing it.” She let out a laugh.

The bell overhead rang and alerted them to a new customer. Seth stepped off to

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.