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“We hardly know each other, Bennett. How can I trust you?”
He could see the doubt in her eyes. It didn’t make any sense to him either, but it was factual. “You’re right. Yet here we are. So tell me, what did your father do?”
Zoey turned from him. “I can’t tell you that. It’s... something I try not to think about.”
“But you do. You’re thinking about it right now.”
“Bennett, I think you should go.”
“Why?”
She got up and walked away from the couch. “Because I can’t talk about that anymore tonight. I don’t want to think of anything right now. You say I can trust you?”
He nodded.
“Then I trust you will honor my request and leave me alone tonight.”
She didn’t turn away from him as she spoke. He knew if he didn’t leave, she’d never open up to him again. It was far from everything, but it was a start. At least he understood that whatever was eating her up inside had nothing to do with him.
He got up off the couch, walked over to her, and planted a kiss on her forehead. “You have my number. Call anytime.”
Without another word, he walked out of the house. He hated leaving her to face her demons all alone. He wasn’t sure it was the right thing to do. Once inside his car, he pulled out his cell phone. It was almost one in the morning. He quickly sent a text to his courier with the instructions as to where to pick up the package.
Now all he could do was wait for Jon to get back to him with the findings. Jon had said it shouldn’t take long, but right now Bennett wanted to bring her closure. If he could, maybe it’d help her heal even slightly from the past.
He still felt compelled to help her. Before he could, he needed to know what her issue was. He was good at pushing for answers, but that was not the tactic he needed this time. He needed backup.
Pulling out his cell again, he called the one person he knew he could count on.
“What can I do for you, Stone?”
“Atwood, I need a favor.” Doug was the one man Bennett knew he could turn to, and without question, he’d help. It was a combination of his time served as a Marine and also his skill in counseling his comrades.
“You’ve got it. Where do you want to meet?”
“Boston, Massachusetts.”
“It’s cold up there in February. Wouldn’t you rather come see me in San Antonio?”
“It’s not me who needs you this time. It’s a... friend. She just doesn’t know she needs you yet. Will you come?” Bennett wouldn’t dare tell him who Zoey was. If he knew, he’d surely say no. He stayed out of the public eye, and what Bennett was asking could put him right in the center of attention.
“Send me the information, and I’ll be there.”
Bennett disconnected the call. He was going to need to get Doug on board helping him on this job without letting Zoey know what his role was. Hell, I’m not even sure how I’m going to talk Doug into lying. But I will. Zoey needs Doug. The pain and sadness I saw in her eyes tonight wasn’t manufactured. It was raw. I can tell she’s had years of practice holding in that pain. I will do whatever it takes to make her pain fade. Even if it means lying to her.
