I Know Lucy (A Fugitive #1)(57)

Con artists never worked alone. That’s what Uncle Alex had said. Dani had admitted she never wanted to steal. Someone must be threatening her. It made me want to break them. Anger shot through me.

“Who’s doing this to you?”

“No one. Calm down.” She stepped away from me and crossed her arms. “I’m my own boss, okay, no one is controlling me.”

And there was the guilt again.

“I just need you, of all people, to be careful…and stop asking questions. If anyone ever found out what you know about me or if they figured out you were looking for me…it could mean trouble. That’s why I’m kind of freaking out here.”

“Why trouble? What are you not telling me?”

“I can’t— Look my parents were killed by a crooked cop and he’s still out there. If he finds me…” She shook her head, expelling a heavy sigh. “What if he found you? What if he hurt you? I can’t live with that, Zach. You have no idea how bad I want to run, how my instinct is telling me to split.” She closed her eyes, chewing her bottom lip so hard I thought it might bleed.

“Do you think that cop is still looking for you?”

“I don’t know.” Her eyes were wide and jittery. “I just don’t know…but if he ever does find me, I’m dead, okay? I’m dead.”

An image of her lifeless body bleeding before me made me move towards her. Wrapping my shaking arms around her shoulders, I held her to me. She wound her arms around my back, gripping tightly, her fingers digging into my shoulders.

My insides were surging from darkness to light. Light that she was safe now and in my arms, darkness because I wanted to kill that cop that had caused her so much pain. She was living in constant fear of him finding her. I wanted to know why. I needed to unpack the story, but I knew Dani couldn’t take anymore today. We’d both been on an emotional roller coaster and I was feeling the effects of it myself.

I felt her wet tears on my shirt and rubbed my hand down her back, kissing her shoulder and reminding her that everything would be okay.

But would it?

How would they ever be okay until she got the justice she deserved? That cop needed to be brought down and nothing would give me greater pleasure than doing it.





Chapter 27





ZACH


May 2014





We spent the rest of the day together, fluctuating between making out and quietly chatting. Dani told me more details of her heists and I told her some more of what people had said about her. She got pretty nervous so I made it light and left Uncle Alex out altogether. I couldn’t figure out why at the time. I guess it was instinct keeping me quiet…an instinct that was right.

I tried to ease her fears of the past catching up with her, saying over and over how the high school kids didn’t seem that interested. She made it sound as if she was always working alone, but I knew that was a lie. Not the outright kind, but the left out kind. She just avoided certain details. I didn’t have the courage to question her about her “brother.” It was so good listening to the truth, I didn’t want to push for more and end up silencing her. I soaked in her words, my sympathies for her increasing with each story. It was easy to forgive her crimes when I knew she was ripping off such greedy people. She cried when she told me about Tori and I wiped away her tears.

“It’s over now,” I whispered. “You don’t have to live that way anymore.”

She didn’t respond to my confident statement, just went really quiet, maybe trying to believe me. Well, she could. I wouldn’t let her do this to herself. I’d look after her. It was an easy promise to make.

I forced Dani out for a decent meal before leaving her. She insisted on drive-through and we found a secluded patch of forest to eat in. Sitting on the hood of my car, we munched on our burgers and fries, not saying much. My mind was consumed with ending this for her.

I needed one more nugget of truth though and I was worried she wouldn’t give it to me.

After we’d loudly slurped our chocolate shakes and laughed at each other, I drove her home, nervous as hell.

“See you at the pool tomorrow?”

“You bet.” I tugged on her shirt, pulling her in for a kiss.

Her cheeks were flaming as she reached for the door handle.

“Dani, wait.”

She spun back to face me, her expression open. I hated that I was about to close it. Somehow I knew the answer to this question already. It was going to piss me off, but I had to try.

“What’s your name? Your real name.”

Her expression closed down and she shook her head. “I can’t tell you that.”

“You know you can trust me with anything.”

The way she looked away told me she couldn’t. I wanted to grab her face and convince her she was wrong.

“I don’t trust anyone with my name, Zach. Not even you.”

It hurt. I knew it would.

I didn’t say anything as she leaned across and gave me a brief kiss before sliding from the car and walking down the street. She eventually crossed the road, heading towards her little alleyway and that dung hole of an apartment she called home. Driving away from her was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I couldn’t shake the fear that she’d freak out in the night and that kiss was the last one I’d ever get.