Set Me Free (The Fugitive Series #2)

1

Lucy

The ride back to Danville had been quicker than I expected. The trucker who picked me up near Bakersfield made a detour on his way to San Francisco, just to drop me off.

Thanks for the ride, I mumbled, jumping from the cab.

His deep brown eyes shimmered with warmth. You take care of yourself, quiet one.

I grinned and flicked him a wave before slamming the heavy door and watching him drive off.

He was a good guy, a family man who I knew all about after our three-and-a-half-hour trip together. I had barely said two words the entire way, and he'd filled in the space nicely; it was a good distraction from my beehive of thoughts. My body was buzzing with so many emotions I could barely function.

Hiking my bag onto my shoulder, I oriented myself. Trucker Derek had dropped me off on the outskirts of town. I recognized the buildings and took a deep breath before heading for the brick house near the middle of town.

I never usually hitched; walking was more my style. Six weeks ago, I had walked out of Danville, scurried away from the love of my life because I was scared. I made it all the way to San Diego. I could practically smell Mexico, but I just could not make myself cross that line.

I was a grimy, stinking mess when I finally admitted this to myself. I crawled behind a smelly dumpster and sobbed until my belly ached. I couldn't do it. I couldn't leave Zach. At least, I couldn't do it without telling him how sorry I was.

The next morning, startled awake by yet another nightmare, I stood on shaking limbs and began my trek back north. It took me eleven days to reach Bakersfield, and when I bumped into Derek, I just could not refuse his offer of a ride. I knew it was foolhardy, but I had to get to Zach. The need within me had grown desperate.

I slowed to a stop outside his house, the white door so familiar. I had walked through it for several study sessions in the little time we had together. His parents were so cool. I loved the warmth of his house, the comfort it provided. Sure, it reminded me of the sweet childhood that was snatched away in an act of brutality that left a gnarly scar on my soul, and I had found that part unsettling, but it hadn't been enough to stop me from coming back. I entered Zach's world and fell in love with it.

I wanted those feelings back, even though I didn't deserve them.

Biting down hard on my bottom lip, I shuffled down the path. My finger was shaking as I pressed the doorbell. I thought I might throw up as I waited for someone to answer. What if it was his parents? I ran my dirty fingers through my greasy hair and cringed. How was I going to explain myself?

I nearly left. I nearly turned and fled on my weak legs, but the door clicked and swung open to reveal the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

Zach.

Man, I'd forgotten how gorgeous he was. Those gentle eyes of his, that square jawline holding his perfect features in place. I wanted to touch him so bad, but knew I had no right. I squeezed my fingers together, trying to control myself.

I had to say something; he was bugging out big-time.

Hi, Zach. The words barely made it out of my mouth.

He swallowed, gripping the door and just staring at me like I was an apparition.

I, um… My voice was stumbling and tripping all over the place. Why hadn't I rehearsed a speech or something? I was usually always so prepared, but for one of the most important conversations of my life, I'd thought of nothing? I was such an idiot! I licked my bottom lip, buying precious seconds. It's been… Well…

What are you doing here, Dani? His voice was just a little icy. Soft, but cold.

I winced.

He called me Dani.

Man, I had so much explaining to do.

I just had to get over myself and get on with it. I'm sure my heart stopped beating as my mouth opened, but the words finally began to flow. I know I don't have any right to be standing at your door. There's no apology big enough to make up for running away like that, and there's no apology big enough for coming back. I grimaced. I knew what coming back could mean for him. Would he let me stay if he truly understood how much danger I was putting him in? If I loved him, then I should turn and walk away, but I couldn't. Now that I was this close to him, I wanted to launch into his arms and never let go.

I don't know what I'm doing anymore. My chin trembled as I sucked in a breath. I'm scared, and running's always kept me safe in the past. But it doesn't seem to matter how far I go, I… You… I paused, my lips quirking to the side. You are impossible to run away from.

It was true. He'd consumed my every thought from the second I grabbed my stuff and took off. I hadn't been able to shake him, not even for one breath.

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, hating how grimy it felt. He must have thought I looked disgusting.

I repulsed myself!

But I couldn't think about that. I had to get through this. He could turn me away once I'd said my piece.

My insides hitched.

I guess I just couldn't live with… I blinked, looking down to the ground. How was I supposed to get this out? What would make him forgive me for ditching him without so much as a goodbye?

One thought flickered through my brain, and my immediate response was a resounding NO. Since my parents' murder, I hadn't whispered my name to a living soul. But this wasn't just any living soul…it was Zach, and if I was serious about being back, I needed to trust him…with all of me.

I huffed and went for it before I could change my mind. I never introduced myself to you properly. I jerked out my hand like a robot and summoned every ounce of courage I possessed. I'm Lucy Tate.

There. I'd said it.

I'd finally told someone my real name.

It was one of the scariest things I'd done in the last five years. My hand quivered in the air as I waited. I felt like a guilty criminal in court. Zach was the judge, and waiting for his response was pure torture.

I couldn't look at him.

My eyes jerked to the ground, and I was milliseconds away from dropping my hand and making a run for it when he stepped forward.

His fingers were warm as they wrapped around mine. Nice to meet you, Lucy.

A surprised smile spread across my face as he gently pulled me into his arms. My quaking insides instantly settled. I rested my chin on his shoulder, my lips quivering as they held back tears. My arms snaked around his body and I clung to him, squeezing him until it probably hurt. I never wanted him to let me go, ever. I wanted this moment to be a photograph—one we could be locked inside, safe and secure for all eternity.

But then Zach sniffed.

He squeezed me a little tighter and chuckled. You really stink.

My body rippled with laughing tears. I turned my head on his shoulder, lightly kissing his neck before whispering, I've been sleeping in a lot of dumpsters. It was humiliating to admit. I had turned myself into a street rat, refusing to pick one pocket or con anyone. I wanted to get rid of my old life and start anew, but that came with a price.

I'd been homeless, hungry and petrified for the last month and a half.

Zach pulled away from me, his brown eyes swimming with agony as he studied my face. His thumb gently caressed my cheek as he lightly kissed my lips and pulled me inside.

He didn't say a word, just took the grimy bag off my shoulder and placed it by the front door. I kept a tight hold of his hand as he walked me up the stairs. I glanced into the living room, listening for signs of his parents, but the house was quiet. We were alone; I could feel it.

We stopped at the bathroom door next to his room and he flicked on the lights. Letting go of my hand, he reached into the shower and turned on the water. The sound of the hot spray hitting the porcelain tub beneath was music to my ears.

Zach flicked the curtain across and came back to me. With a gentle smile, he touched my face and trailed his fingers down to the top of my jacket. I could barely breathe as he slowly unzipped it, then flicked it off my shoulders. He kept his eyes on my face as he reached for my shirt, lifting it over my head. The fabric dropped to the floor, leaving me standing in nothing but my ripped jeans and a tatty bra.

I should have been humiliated. I should have been covering my dirty, skinny body with my bony arms, but the look in Zach's eyes held me frozen. There was desire there, but it wasn't lust. The compassion radiating from him kept me safe.

Reaching behind me, he unclasped my bra and gently kissed my shoulder before sliding it off me. He didn't touch me, didn't study my naked form with hungry eyes. He just quietly undressed me…and I let him.

Once I was naked, he kissed my lips lightly before stepping back to the shower and checking the temperature.

It's good. He slid the curtain back.

I was still frozen.

Stepping toward me with a little grin, he placed his hand on my lower back and gently pushed me toward the bath. Get in. I'll go get you a fresh towel and leave it on the vanity.

With that, he stepped from the room. The door gently clicked shut, and with an astonished head shake, I stepped beneath the hot spray. Closing my eyes, I buried my head in the water, letting the droplets wash over me. As six weeks' worth of filth inched its way off my body, my insides began to tremble.

I shouldn't feel safe. If my past caught up to me, which it inevitably would, I was putting the guy I loved in unbelievable danger.

Guilt wrestled with relief as I reached for the soap.

I didn't deserve Zach Schultz. He was way too good for me.

But now that I was with him again, I didn't think I could just walk away.

In spite of the looming danger, I felt safe.

I just needed to figure out a way of keeping him that way too.

2

Zach

My hands shook as I placed the towel on the vanity and quietly closed the door behind me. Leaning my head against the wood, I drew in three deep breaths. I couldn't believe I'd just done that…stripped her naked…and she'd let me.

Even skinny and stinky, she was gorgeous. I could drown in those blue eyes of hers, and although her body needed some serious fattening up, I’d still felt a strong spike of arousal shoot through me. But that's not what my undressing routine had been about. I'd just wanted to care for her. She looked like a lost kid, and my protective instincts were on overdrive.

She'd come back…to me.

The thought was as exhilarating as it was scary. Would she leave me again without a moment's notice? Would I have to live through losing her again?

No. I couldn't do it.

Besides, she wasn't going to run.

I nodded, trying to reinforce the idea.

She'd told me her real name. That was huge. That said more than any apology she could ever utter.

Lucy.

Lucy Tate.

I thought of the three files Uncle Alex had handed me. Lucy Tate's was among them, though I'd flicked it to the bottom of the pile because it told me she was a parent killer, and that could not be true of the girl I'd spent the first half of the year falling for.

I could hear Dani’s—Lucy's—voice finally admitting her real name and my insides surged with emotion. Running a hand through my hair, I squeezed my dark locks and pushed off the door. I walked to my room and started hunting for some clothes that would fit her. For the first time in my life, I wished I had a sister. At least Dani was nearly the same height as me.

Dani. I just did it again. Lucy. Her name was Lucy. Was that what I was supposed to call her now?

Pulling out a pair of jeans, I held them up and instantly realized they'd slide right off her skinny frame. I yanked open my bottom drawer and searched for my dark gray sweat pants with the drawstring waist, then grabbed an orange Nike T-shirt.

Underwear, I mumbled.

She'd just have to go commando.

I rolled my eyes, knowing what that would do to me, but I wasn't about to go hunting through my mom's underwear drawer. She may be out of the country with Dad for the summer, and she probably wouldn't mind one bit, but the thought of the girl who could turn me on with one look wearing my mother's underwear was just a little too much to handle. I'd just have to take Dani—Lucy—shopping tomorrow.

Bundling up the clothes, I placed them just inside the bathroom door. Dani was still soaking in the shower. I thought I heard her crying, but couldn't be sure. With a heavy sigh, I silently closed the door and shuffled down the stairs. What I wanted to do was head back to my room and yank out those files, pull Lucy Tate's free and scour it for every piece of information I could absorb. When I’d been trying to figure out who Dani really was and what had happened to her, my Uncle Alex, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, had done some digging for me and brought me a few potential candidates. There was no way my girlfriend was a murderer, but now she was at my door, giving me a name I knew was true.

It couldn't be possible. There was no way she murdered her own parents. Yes, she was an expert liar…but not with me.

Not with me.

I had to believe that.

In spite of my need to pull it out, that tempting file on Lucy Tate would have to remain in my closet for now.

The girl in my shower needed food. She was scared and hungry. Right now, I didn't give a rat's ass who she really was or if she had killed someone. I just needed to take care of her; I could deal with the rest later.

Striding into the kitchen, I opened the refrigerator and stood for a few minutes, trying to decide what I was capable of making. I grabbed bacon and eggs, placing them on the counter before tugging out a cardboard slice of bread from the freezer. Mom had left everything well-stocked, plus given me a stash of food money so I could look after myself; I'd planned to spend most of it on takeout. I knew basically nothing about cooking, but I could scramble a couple of eggs, fry up some bacon, and no doubt burn a piece of toast.

I fluffed around the kitchen, pulling out everything I needed and feeling completely inept at the same time. I was just reaching for a mixing bowl when Dani entered the room and cleared her throat. I jerked, bumping my arm and nearly dropping the bowl as I pulled it out.

Placing it on the counter with a blush, I leaned against the island in the middle of the kitchen and smiled at her. She looked cute in my baggy clothes. Her straight, wet hair hung long over her shoulders, creating wet patches in the fabric.

Thanks for these. She swallowed, tugging at the bottom of my shirt before crossing her skinny arms over her chest.

You're welcome. Sorry about the underwear thing. I'll take you shopping later, if you want.

That's okay. She flicked her thumb over her shoulder. I just need to do some laundry.

Oh yeah, yeah sure. I’d forgotten about her bag at the door. Moving past her, I snatched it up, then walked back into the kitchen and led her to the adjoining laundry room.

Dumping the bag on top of the dryer, I unzipped it.

I can do it if you like. Dani gently nudged me out of the way.

Okay. I stepped back and quickly pointed out the different detergents. Laundry was one thing I did know how to do; it had been my household chore since I turned twelve.

She nodded at my instructions and I left her to it, slowly making my way back to the eggs. I'd cracked three into the bowl and was just measuring the milk when she returned. She slid onto one of the kitchen stools and watched me whisk the eggs, then dump in some salt and dried herbs. I hoped that was right; that's the way Dad always made them.

The silence became unnerving, though I sensed more for her than me. That lip biting could not be good for her wasted mouth. Clearing my throat, I leaned the whisk against the edge of the bowl and looked at her.

So, where've you been?

Yeah, it was an awkward question, but no more awkward than our silence. I figured we may as well get it out now, and then we could work out what was going to happen next.

Dani's hands began to shake as she ran her finger along the edge of the counter.

I headed south. Her lips puckered for a second. When you broke your promise, I had to go. I had to…

She trailed off and I closed my eyes, hating myself briefly. When I'd discovered how she'd been living the life of a con artist, collecting identities as if they were baseball cards, I'd been furious. She betrayed me, pretending to be someone she wasn’t. But then she'd told me the truth about why she did it, about how she'd had to lie and steal to survive.