Away From the Dark (The Light #2)(49)

It was too late. I couldn’t unsee.

I reached for Jacob’s arm, my knees no longer able to support me. “How? Why?”

“Sara, not now.” His words were harsh, coming from between clenched teeth.

From the distance the man on the balcony couldn’t hear us or maybe even recognize me, but I knew. I knew in the depth of my heart that the man standing and watching the plane land and the passengers disembark was the man I’d imagined while I was without sight. Perhaps if I hadn’t known every inch of him intimately, I wouldn’t have been able to identify him from so far away, but I did.

By the time Jacob got me into the first building, my cheeks were covered with tears, and words were difficult to form. It was all right. From Jacob’s expression I could tell he didn’t want me to speak. Instead he casually walked the perimeter of the room before disappearing behind a door and, moments later, returning. Taking my hand, he silently led me to another bathroom.

Closing the door, he grabbed a towel and rolled it before placing it near the bottom of the door. Then, once again speaking in a whisper, he said, “I saw two cameras out there. There’s nothing visual or audible in here.”

I nodded, hearing but not comprehending. My mind swirled with too many thoughts and memories.

Uncharacteristically, Jacob violently seized my shoulders. Instead of his normal calm, anger exuded from his touch. Through clenched jaws, he said, “Hold it together. Don’t you see? That’s it. That’s the f*cking test. You had to know, in your heart. Think about it. How did Brother Uriel know you were at that festival?”

My head moved from side to side.

No. There is some mistake. I didn’t. I never even suspected the blue-eyed man I’d trusted.

“I don’t know what Father Gabriel knows,” Jacob said, “or why he’d even suspect that you remembered your past, but what bigger test could he present than to make you face Dylan Richards?”





CHAPTER 18


Jacob


“Maybe not. Maybe he’s been kidnapped too?” Sara questioned, her blue eyes begging me to make this right, but I couldn’t.

I should’ve told her about Dylan Richards when we were at the motel; however, at the time, I was afraid she wouldn’t believe me. There was too much she was trying to comprehend. It wasn’t that she wasn’t intelligent enough to do it. It was me. I’d seen the distrust in her eyes at the marshals’ station. I was afraid that if I told her about Richards, she’d think I was lying, and I’d promised no more lies.

Taking a deep breath, I loosened my grip on her shoulders. “Sara.” My tone was low and hushed. “I need you to trust me. Look at me. Do you trust me?”

Her dampened cheeks, combined with the pain in her expression, made me hate that bastard more than I already did.

“Do you?” I asked again.

Her shoulders drooped. “I told you I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

“Then believe me, Richards knew your fate. I remember being shocked when Brother Uriel took me to Dearborn, and while we were watching the two of you, Brother Uriel let it slip that Richards was a cop. I didn’t know then what his connection was with The Light. Now, I’ve come to the possible conclusion that as a cop, he helps with acquiring women. I don’t know, but Sara, not only did he know your fate, he delivered you on a platter.”

“Why?” she cried more than spoke, as her chin fell to her chest.

Gently lifting her chin, I bent down until our noses touched. “So that I could meet the most intelligent, beautiful, amazing woman, and she could royally f*ck up my life.”

She didn’t speak as her eyes searched mine. Just before I released her chin, I gently kissed her lips, and she melted against my chest. I wrapped her in my arms as her body shuddered with silent sobs. Time stood still as I rubbed her back. Finally I looked at my watch. It was after three in the morning at the Northern Light, but that meant it was after seven here. We’d been here for nearly an hour and I’d done nothing to help Micah.

“I don’t know what’s going to be expected of us. Why don’t you lie down and rest while I help Micah?”

She nodded against my chest. “I’m sorry.”

“Why?” I asked, once again pulling her eyes up to mine.

“For messing up your life.”

“Don’t be. It wasn’t your doing.” I kissed her. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you or warn you. I didn’t think they’d be that cruel.”

“I wouldn’t have believed you.” Her red-blotched neck straightened as she took a deep breath. “I’ve been thinking about it as we stood here. I think there were clues, but I missed every one. So much for being a kick-ass investigative journalist.”

“Shhh. Don’t even talk about it. I’d suspect the exact opposite. Not only do I believe you were very good at your job, but I believe that’s the main reason you’re here.”

“It just doesn’t make sense.”

I wanted to fix it, to make everything make sense for her. After all, that had always been my role. She was to give her sadness to me and I was to take it. That was Father Gabriel’s teaching. But I couldn’t make this better. Stella needed to deal with it. I just wanted her to do it without bringing attention to her or us. Instead of telling her it was done, as The Light proclaimed, I changed the subject. “I’ll show you where the bed is, and I want you to rest.” When she looked as if she were about to argue, I stood straighter. “Sara?”