Hunting Human - Amanda E. Alvarez [115]
“Are you sure I can’t just take you to the airport?”
Beth shook her head. “I think the drive will do me good. It’ll give me time to think about what I’m going to say when I get there.”
“If you’re sure?”
Beth nodded.
Chase pulled an envelope out of his back pocket. “This is for you,” he said, pressing the package into her hand. “There’s a guy in Boston named Lucas Stern. Call him when you get in—he’s going to keep an eye out for you.” Chase spoke over her when she opened her mouth to argue. “Call him. Or I tell Braden where you are. With Markko out of the picture, we expect Alek to go home, so we don’t expect him to bother you. But eventually word is going to get back to Markko’s father that he’s dead.”
The blood drained from her face. She hadn’t thought much beyond the fact that Markko was gone.
Chase squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t worry too much. They weren’t close, and in any case, his father will likely blame us. Still, I want someone checking on you. Lucas is very good. You won’t even know he’s there.”
Beth sighed and clenched her hand around the envelope. “Fine.” It was the least she could do.
“If anything bothers you, makes you nervous, call him. Or me. I’ll come straight out.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
He looked at her a strangely and shrugged. “I’d do the same for Lucy.” He said it so casually, but it touched her deeply.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissed him on the cheek and pulled him into a hug. She couldn’t help the watery laugh that bubbled out at the way he stiffened and awkwardly patted her on the back.
“Thank you,” she said as she stepped back and climbed into her Jeep. “Anything else?”
“Yeah, there’s another set of contact information in there. Veronica Lewis. She’s a psychologist. She knows about us. I thought you might want to talk to her.”
Moved by his thoughtfulness, Beth tucked the envelope into her purse.
“There’s also some cash and a prepaid cell phone in there.” Chase stepped back and shut the door for her. “When you’re ready, let me know. I can come and pick you up at the airport or something. But, Beth? Don’t take too long. Braden won’t be patient more than a few months.” He grimaced. “Hell, he’ll be downright unbearable in the meantime.”
Beth pulled her seat belt on and smiled. “I promise.”
Epilogue
Labor Day — Four Months Later
Beth took a deep breath as Chase angled the car off the highway and into the Edwardses’ gravel driveway. She’d called Chase a week before to ask him if he thought his family would mind if she came out to see them over the holiday weekend. He’d booked her a plane ticket and promised to pick her up himself. She’d spoken with Braden a few times over email and had sent Lucy a few text messages, but aside from that, she’d been almost completely out of touch for the entire summer. She was hoping she would still be welcome.
“Do they know I’m coming?” she asked, nervous fingers drumming against her leg.
“Nah.” Chase parked the car in the driveway and killed the engine. “Well, Anna probably does,” he amended. “But she always seems to know these things.”
Beth grabbed his arm before he could get out of the car. “You’re sure it’s okay that I’m here? I don’t want to intrude.”
“Trust me. It’s fine.” He came around the car and pulled the door open for her.
“Oh. My. God!” Lucy squealed and hurled herself out the front door, letting the screen door slam behind her. Chase met her halfway, picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.
“Later, squirt.” He set her down on the porch and stepped aside as Braden walked out.
He looked at Beth for a long time, arms crossed, expression set. She swallowed hard and shut the car door, trekking up the driveway to the porch. He met her at the bottom of the stairs.
“Hi.” She tried to smile through her nervousness and failed. He didn’t look at all happy to see her.
“You left.” His jaw tightened around the words, and he dropped his arms and bunched