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“I don’t see what they could say, but I really don’t care. I know the truth. I’m more worried about the cops. Of what—”
At my head shaking, she pressed her lips together.
“Nothing happened. I saw you on the news. Given my past, your story affected me. When you were rescued, I contacted the hospital, got you set up in VIP, and I sent you flowers.”
“That was you? You’re the reason I was in VIP? I was told—of course they wouldn’t tell me the truth.” She frowned. “You sent me flowers?”
“A lot of people did. I was one of them. If you recall, I even called you. Given your situation, I asked if you’d meet me so we could talk about security, and you said yes. We set that up. While you were at your therapist’s, I got an alert someone broke in. You’ve been here ever since.”
“Wow.” Her mouth closed, the hesitation for me building. “Did you plan all of that? This?”
“Not really. Maybe a little. Not like how you think.”
Kody picked up her fork, pursing her lips as she cut into her food. “That’s quite the answer.”
“It’s complicated. I always try to cover all bases. I didn’t expect any of this to happen. I thought David dying was the end. I meant to look out for you. Keep you safe. I was doing that until—” I took another bite. “It works. That’s what matters. It’ll be believable enough to eliminate me.”
“And if it doesn’t? What if they see through the story?”
My eyes met Kody’s as I took in her questions.
“Authorities aren’t going to grill a victim. They wouldn’t traumatize you more by putting you through that. So long as your story stays the same as mine, your word is law. My life will literally be in your hands. What you decide to do with it is on you. I’m okay with whatever you choose.”
Chapter 20
Kody
Did I say no? Did I put my foot down and make the situation complicated? I’d never been one to dress lavishly. Hell, I couldn’t even get myself to pay over thirty dollars for a pair of slacks if I knew I could find them somewhere cheaper. As I stared at the jeans and sweater I’d tried on, I couldn’t figure out how an outfit could cost more than my monthly rent? It made no sense. Was it stitched together by golden thread? What was I missing? Jeans: form fitting. Not too tight. No stylish holes. Just dark denim. And it was paired with an off-white sweater with an array of colors streaked across like a rainbow. It had a wide enough collar that it dropped to the side showing one shoulder. It was cute, but was it rent-cute?
“You don’t like it.”
My stare shot to Jase’s reflection.
“It’s not that.”
“Is it the bruises? You can’t even really see them with the makeup.”
I turned, closing the distance and lowering my voice.
“It’s not that either. Is there anywhere else we can go? Somewhere…cheaper?”
“Kody, this is cheaper. This is the third store we’ve been to. I was fine with the first. I liked the style of the first.”
“If you’re looking to spend that kind of cash, you could feed a poverty-stricken country. I’ll even help you find one. I need clothes. Regular ones. Not this fancy stuff.”
Jase let out a breath, trying not to smile as he sat in the nearby chair and shrugged.
“We can’t shop outside of this part of town. It’s too risky. This store will have to do. Pick at least three outfits. I’ll let you buy the rest online.”
“Three?”
“Three. You have to have clothes to wear as you wait for the others to be delivered. I won’t budge.”
“One.” I swallowed hard at Jase’s look. “I’ll take what I’m wearing, and one of the t-shirts in the front. I have the dress you bought me, and I can wash the outfit I came over in. That’ll be fine until the others come in.”
“Kody.” His finger bent, calling me closer. He didn’t start talking until my legs were nearly in-between his knees. “Three outfits or I buy everything in this store that’s your size. You have ten minutes.”
“That’s not fair.”
