Chapter 27

CHAPTER

TWENTY-SEVEN

Stephen couldn't believe those words had left Heidi's mouth. Yet, on the other hand, he could believe them.

She was trying to do the right thing. But he had to make her realize she wasn't equipped for this.

Although she was capable, she wasn't trained in how to handle these things.

There were other ways. They just needed to figure out what those ways were.

Stephen turned to Heidi, his gaze hard. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Surprise flooded her gaze. "Okay."

"Alone."

"Of course."

He stood and took her arm, leading her away from Larchmont and Cynthia.

As soon as they were in the hallway away from the living room, he turned to her. "Heidi, I know you want to do the right thing, but you've got to see where this isn't going to end well."

"I can do it. I can find out the information you guys need to know. I'm a decent actress. I fooled Beau when he came to the house, didn't I? I can do this also."

"It's not a matter of if you can do it. I know you're competent. But Rafferty is a snake. If he finds out what you're doing, he won't hesitate to kill you."

Stephen didn't miss the shudder that rippled through her.

Good. She needed to understand the stakes in this situation. She should be scared.

The next instant, Heidi raised her chin, a defiant look in her gaze. "It's a chance I have to take. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm in the best position to find out information."

His throat burned with emotion. "So many things could go wrong."

"I know. That's why I'll need to be careful."

"But Heidi . . ." Stephen swallowed hard as he stared at her.

She still looked like a wreck—they both did. Yet she had a glow about her, a gentle beauty that was rare.

He had to find the right words, even though he knew her mind was made up. He still wanted to believe there was a chance he could change it.

"Why do you care so much, Stephen?" Her soft voice cut through his thoughts.

He swallowed hard as he considered how to respond. "Because you're . . . you're my friend."

She stared at him, questions swirling in her gaze.

He swallowed hard again. He often prided himself on being fearless, yet when it came to talking about his emotions, he felt . . . anxious.

He hardly knew what to do with the feeling.

But he also knew better than to give up.

He decided to finish his thought. "Because you're my friend, but I'd like you to be even more one day."

She stared at him, her expression unreadable.

Not exactly what he wanted. He'd hoped to see her face light up with agreement.

He'd hoped to realize the risk he'd taken was worth it.

Instead of smiling, she raised her chin. "Part of me wanted to hear that more than anything. But . . ."

"But what?" He hardly wanted to ask the question.

"I need to be with someone who lets me be my own person."

"You don't think I'd be that way?" He had no idea what she was getting at.

"I need to be with someone who will be with me through the thick and the thin. Who will respect my choices, even when they don't agree."

Stephen heard the emotion in her voice. Heard the hurt from her past relationship with Bryant. When she hadn't acted the way he wanted, he'd left.

Stephen knew how this looked. Knew it appeared as if he was trying to control her or give her ultimatums. Be who I want you to be or else.

But it wasn't like that. He only wanted what was best for her. She didn't have enough experience to see just how dire this was.

Before he could explain himself, Heidi took a step back. "I need to get some water."

"Heidi—" he started again.

But she kept walking, making no effort to hear him out.

Heidi closed the door to the bathroom and locked it, needing a moment alone.

She wasn't sure why she felt so angry. It wasn't because Stephen cared about her.

In fact, hearing his confession sent a small thrill through her. If she were honest, she was beginning to care about him too. When she'd drifted to sleep last night, she'd even been thinking about what it would be like if she and Stephen were more than colleagues.

Their conversation reminded her too much of the talks she and Bryant used to have.

He'd always tried to convince her to see things his way. His ideas were the only ones that mattered. If she didn't go along, he'd become angry. Resentful. Sometimes even vindictive.

When the going had gotten tough, Bryant had left. Settled for an easy relationship without the complications brought on by Heidi's mother's accident and subsequent medical issues.

Heidi needed the freedom to be her own person and make her own decisions.

Right now, above all else, she had to do the right thing—even if it cost her everything.

How could she live with herself knowing she had the potential of stopping something horrible from happening to this country, but that she hadn't done everything in her power to do so?

She couldn't.

Even if she was terrified.

Heidi stared at the mirror, noting how rundown she looked right now. Her hair hadn't been washed in days, and now frizzy curls sprang out from her face. The wind from the helicopter had only made it look crazier.

Circles hung under her eyes, and a smudge of dirt stretched across her cheek. The dark blue of her sweatshirt concealed any blood from the emergency surgery on her shoulder. She knew that beneath her clothing there would be dried blood.

She cupped her hands and splashed water on her face. Took another sip of water.

Then she wiped her hands dry. Patted her face with a towel. Ran her fingers through her tangled hair.

This wasn't exactly the way she liked to present herself.

None of that mattered anymore. There were much larger issues she needed to deal with.

She drew in a deep breath before opening the door.

Now she needed to go talk to Larchmont about the first step of the plan.

She couldn't let Stephen stop her, even if his concern came from a good place.

She had to do the right thing, no matter what.