Ramsey Security (Ramsey Security #1-3)(35)

Darla's eyes warm. "I do like fish. Sharks too. Most of all, I'd like to hold your hand."

"Life is weird, Darla. We can't control what happens from day to day, so we ought to enjoy anything good that comes along. This * today tried to steal you away from me. Instead, we find ourselves at a fun place where we can pretend to be two normal people."

"Pretend."

"Only until we can make it real."

Darla studies the mostly empty parking lot. "It's not very busy."

"No, so it should be quiet."

"I heard they have a Ferris wheel."

Grinning, I take her hand and help her from the SUV. Saskia is still at the trunk, looking through her bag.

"I have hats, wigs, sunglasses," Saskia says to me before looking at Darla. "I can give you a fake nose."

Darla says nothing while I grab a ball cap and pull it over my hair. She takes a similar cap and shoves her hair into the back hole to make a ponytail. Saskia looks at us and sighs.

"Not much of a disguise."

"Feel free to use the fake nose," I tell her.

Saskia glares at me, but I know she's considering whether to disguise herself. This job is tame compared to her normal gigs, and I suspect she's bored.

For the first time since retiring into this security job, I'm excited to be in Houston. Darla holds my hand as we explore the small aquarium. Her eyes light up during the Ferris wheel, and we take in the view of the highway and parts of downtown.

"I moved to Houston to be with Shelley," Darla says as we walk past the parrots' attraction.

"I moved here because Minka wanted to. She was my partner, and I was too lazy to work alone. I'll be honest that I hoped she'd get bored, and we'd leave, but now I'm ready to send her a gift basket for going soft."

My fingers tracing her face, Darla smiles at me. She's not truly relaxed, though. I catch her eyes darting at any noise. Her body tenses whenever anyone approaches. Darla isn't afraid of an attack as much as she fears being out in the open.

Keeping her close, I pretend we're on a date. Saskia keeps her distance, never forgetting we're working. I trust her to keep an eye out for threats while I enjoy my first date with Darla.

Despite enjoying our time together, I understand deep in my gut about Darla's anxiety. My promises give her little solace when she's being hunted. Unlike her, I embrace the easy promises because Darla proves to be a light that won't let me look away.





26


~~~

Darla

Simply Surviving

Hiding under a ball cap, I don't feel very disguised. In fact, the woman at the stingray feeding station definitely recognizes me. I look to Troy for reassurance, but he isn't concerned with the aquarium employees. He's on the lookout for possible threats.

I'm so tense about being in the open that nothing we look at interests me. I think to buy my niece and nephew something from the gift shop but spending their father's money feels weird. In the apartment, I don't worry about bills or the money. Here in the light of day, I realize I can't support myself. If Vern cut me off tomorrow, how long before Locke reclaimed me.

Troy doesn't relax until we're at the aquarium restaurant. Saskia sits at another table, closer to the huge fish tank. My focus is on the front door and the passing employees when Troy kisses my neck.

"Stealth kiss," he whispers, nuzzling my throat.

His earlier tension still infects me. "I like it here, but maybe we can go back to the apartment after lunch."

Troy loses his smile. "You're in that apartment 24/7. Why not enjoy being away from it for a few hours?"

"I feel safe there."

"Do you feel safe? Or has Locke just put you in another cage?"

Frowning, I move away from him. "I don't know what kind of cage you were in those weeks, but my cage wasn't anything like the apartment."

"I know, but..."

"Shut up," I grunt, scooting out of the booth. "You're pissing me off."

Troy grabs my wrist and keeps me from leaving.

"Running away isn't the answer."

"Stop telling me what to f*cking do," I mutter, glaring at his hand on my wrist. "Let me go."

His expression hard, Troy doesn't release my wrist. I yank twice before his hand finally loosens enough for me to break free.

"You're stronger than this scared child routine," he grumbles.

"Yeah, I'm strong enough to tell you to f*ck off."

I storm away from the table and make a shaky beeline to the bathroom. Crying before I get into the stall, I'm both pissed and hurt. Troy is too pushy while I'm too weak. He disappoints me as much as I disappoint myself.

My tears continue until I hear the door open and footsteps approach.

Knocking on the door, Saskia asks, "Are you decent?"

"I want to be left alone," I mumble, wiping my face with the toilet paper.

"Yes, I'm sure you do, but we're in a public place. There is no privacy here."

I open the door and frown at her. Saskia's expression is unreadable.

"Did Troy send you?"

"He is not my employer, Darla. No one is. Not even you."

Frowning, I walk past her and wash my face. "He's not my employer either."