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She shrugged one shoulder. “Tired,” she said after a long moment. “Drained.” They’d separated her and Cody, and she had no idea what he’d gone through. “I told my story to four or five people. They all asked the same questions. And all of them acted like they didn’t believe me.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, setting his hand on hers. Leaving it there. “If it’s any consolation, they did the same thing to me.” His mouth curled into a smile. “I called Mel after we got to the police station, and she asked the FBI to question Trotter. Find out who his contact was in the Evanston PD. I overheard a couple cops talking when they thought I couldn’t hear them. Bingo. It was Saunders.”
“I’m guessing he came after me because he was worried that Trotter would talk.” Sierra took a deep breath. Closed her eyes for a moment. “Or that I’d recognize him. Evanston is a relatively small town. Good chance I would have seen him eventually, and realized he was the guy who’d stopped me that night. His cover would be blown.” She frowned, then looked over at Cody. “So why try to kidnap me? Why not just shoot me and take care of the problem?”
“Too public,” Cody said immediately. “Even with the rain, someone might have seen an Evanston cop gunning down an unarmed woman. And with Trotter’s information, they’d know who it was. No, he had to get you someplace private. Where no one would see him.”
Sierra curled her shoulders in. Shuddered. “Thank God you were there,” she whispered. Cody still hadn’t let go of her hand.
As if he’d read her mind, his fingers tightened on hers. “If I hadn’t been here, you would have had your bag and your gun. You’d have had a chance.”
Sierra exhaled a shaky breath. “Not a very big one.”
“Where there’s life, there’s always a chance.” His hand tightened on hers. “I’d never bet against you.”
She wanted to turn her hand over and twine her fingers with his. Draw some comfort from his touch. But his lack of response three nights ago still stung.
The rough pads of his fingertips pressed into the backs of her fingers. Scraped against her skin. The sensation was bittersweet. Too much to bear. She drew a shaky breath and slid her hand away from his. Shoved it beneath her leg.
She wanted to be home. By herself. She wanted Cody gone, so she could begin to get over him. Even though she knew the memories of everything they’d shared would linger for a very long time.
Neither of them spoke for the rest of the drive home.
When they reached her house, Cody searched it, as he’d done every night. Beckoned her inside after he’d finished. “The house is clear,” he said as she brushed past him into the living room.
She shut the door and turned the lock. Tossed her bag onto the couch and headed for her room. But Cody stepped in front of her.
“Sierra,” he said, staring down at her. He drew a shaky breath. Closed his eyes, then swept her into his arms. “God, I was so scared,” he said into her neck.
She stood stiffly in his embrace, staring over his shoulder at the bookcase against the wall. “I’m glad you were there,” she said quietly. “You probably saved my life.”
She felt his smile against her neck. “Doubt it, bae. You had that gun in your bag, and you know how to maneuver when your hands are bound. You’d have taken Saunders out by yourself.”
What the hell was going on? She stepped back, forcing Cody’s arms to fall away. “What are you doing, Cody?”
He drew in a shuddery breath, but he held her gaze. Cupped his hands around her face. His thumbs swept over her cheeks, making her shiver. “I was already at your car when Saunders pulled that gun on you. Knew you could die before I could get to you, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.” He swallowed hard. “It put a lot of things in perspective for me.” He stared at her for a long moment, his eyes bright blue in the low light. “Made a lot of stuff seem stupid. Petty. I’ve been holding onto the past, and I realized I needed to let it go.”
He pulled her close again and wrapped his arms around her. Held her tightly. “You’re alive. Uninjured. Safe. And I got a second chance to make things right.”
After a long moment, she eased away. “What’s going on, Cody? Why are you doing this?”Please don’t give me hope, then let me down again.
He stared at her for a moment, then took her hand. “Can we sit down? I have some things I need to say to you.”
Tears prickled Sierra’s eyes, and she looked away from him. “You’ve already said it all, Cody. I don’t need to hear it again.”
“I was an asshole, okay?” he said, turning her face so she was looking again. “Will you give me a second chance?”
She remembered Jack saying that everyone deserved a second chance, so she shrugged. “Fine. Say what you need to say.” She doubted anything would change.
But Cody took her hand and led her to the couch. When they sat down, he didn’t let go of her hand. And he scooted close enough that their thighs and arms were touching.
“The other night? When you put yourself out there? I was terrified. I’ve never been in a real relationship. Never wanted to be.”
Sierra studied him, frowning. “Why not?”
Cody sighed. Shoved his free hand through his short hair. “All that stuff about my job? That was part of it. I’m gone a lot. And it’s a dangerous job. But it wasn’t the main reason I was running scared.
“It was just an excuse. I grew up in a really crappy home. My parents fought all the time, and it wasn’t only yelling and shouting. They used their fists, too. They used me and my brother as pawns in their games, pitting us against each other and against the other parent. I couldn’t wait to get out of that house. Swore I’d never live like that again.”
