Chapter 24

Trevor and Sadiewalked to the shore to stare out at the water.

That earpiece she’d found?

It was totally something an operative would use and definitely not something for recreational use.

Trevor didn’t want to tell her that, however.

Had it been Sadie’s? Or had someone else been lingering close during the accident and dropped it?

Trevor didn’t know, but he didn’t like the possibilities floating in his mind.

He wanted desperately for Sadie to remember.

Except he didn’t.

Because he still had no idea how he would explain why he wasn’t telling her about their relationship.

It bugged him, which didn’t make sense. He lived a life of subterfuge. He’d taken on the roles of many different people. He’d pretended to be a politician once. A scientist another time. Once he’d even posed as a lion tamer.

Usually when he took on those roles, it wasn’t at the expense of anyone he cared about. In fact, he’d been carefully trained not to care about anyone and to focus only on the mission.

It was what made operatives good at their jobs. That was what Larchmont always said.

For so long, Trevor had believed him. His whole life had revolved around his work.

But lately, he’d been questioning things. Wanting more. Feeling as if his thoughts and actions had been programmed.

Then there were the tremors he’d been experiencing lately. They came and went at random times.

Larchmont claimed it was a result of some of the battles he’d fought and how hard they’d been on the body.

Trevor wasn’t sure he agreed.

He and his colleagues had practically been lab rats as they were made into super soldiers for the government. He was nearly certain that he wasn’t aware of most of the experiments he’d been put through.

One day, he would get to the bottom of it.

He and Sadie stayed on the shore, the breeze blowing on their faces. She stared out at the lake as if it might have the answers she needed.

The best thing Trevor could give her was silence. Filling up quiet with meaningless conversation would only delay her healing process. He knew that firsthand.

He’d suffered some significant injuries on two of his jobs. He’d thought he might even lose a leg once. Thankfully, everything had healed. But those days had been rough.

He scanned the area again.

Whoever had done this was most likely still trailing them. But Trevor had been careful on the way here. He hadn’t seen anyone following his truck. He’d even looked for trackers and hadn’t found any.

How had that guy found them at the restaurant?

He was missing something.

He needed to investigate this situation further. Until then, he would remain on guard.

Sadie’s life depended on it.

* * *

Sadie was thankful for the quiet. Thankful Trevor seemed to know what she needed right now.

She settled on the empty beach and pulled her knees to her chest as she stared at the water. The day was warm—probably in the low eighties—and the sun covered her shoulders and face. Being here felt therapeutic.

She tried to imagine herself in this very spot earlier. Tried to imagine herself enjoying being on the shore.

Did she usually go in the water? Sunbathe? Have picnics? Bonfires?

She had no idea, nor was she sure how much longer she could live like this. What if she never regained her memories?

The thought caused a cry to rise up in her.

She quickly cleared her throat before Trevor sensed her despair. He tended to be able to do that. Sometimes it seemed as if he could even predict what she would say or do next.

Why was that? Was he this intuitive with everyone?

She found it both comforting and unnerving.

She needed to be strong. Not because Trevor had told her that. But because there would be time to fall apart later—after she had answers.

She stole a glance at him. Saw the sunlight glinting on his hair. Saw the intense look in his eyes as he stared at the water.

At once, an image hit her. A memory?

She didn’t know.

Her mind jerked back in time at a dizzying speed.

Felt as if she’d had this moment before.

Like she and Trevor had sat on this shore and shared this exact instant.

Then she blinked, and whatever it was—a memory or her imagination—disappeared.

Was it déjà vu?

“Sadie?” Trevor stared at her.

She ran a hand over her eyes, her head suddenly beginning to pound.

That moment couldn’t have been right. She’d just been imagining things. Having a daydream.

She and Trevor had never been here together before . . . right?

“Sadie? Are you okay?” Trevor scrutinized her even more deeply.

What should she say? Did she pretend like she hadn’t had that memory? That blip in her thoughts?

Or should she be forthcoming?

She licked her lips, unsure what was the best play to make.

Finally, she asked, “Are you sure you and I have never met before this incident? Even briefly, maybe?”

He stared at her, and for just a split second a shadow filled his gaze. As quickly as the emotion appeared, it was gone, leaving her to wonder if she’d imagined it.

“No, ma’am,” he finally said. “Like I said, I’m only here for a few days on vacation.”

She let out a feeble, self-deprecating laugh and nodded. “Right.”

“Why do you ask?” His voice sounded even—unoffended and absent of curiosity. All logic and reasoning.

Sadie shrugged. “It’s . . . nothing. It was just this feeling I got.”

The shadow crossed his gaze again.

Was he lying? Hiding something? Could Sadie even trust this man?

What if his presence in her life wasn’t something that was ordained at all?

What if they’d been thrown together because he had something to do with what was going on?

Sadie’s gut twisted at the thought. She didn’t want the idea to be true.

But she also couldn’t rule out any possibility, not when her life was on the line.

So exactly who could she trust?

She knew the answer: no one.