until the teams have finished searching your home and office. You could be there days or weeks, it’s anyone’s guess, but I do know you’ll be getting a visit from Doctor Renfro within twenty-four hours. He’s got this nifty injectable serum that makes people want to talk. If I were you, I’d come clean before that visit. I hear it’s not a pleasant treatment.”
The scrape of his chair across the concrete floor was like nails across a chalkboard and sent shivers down her spine. She’d lived on fear for five years, looking over her shoulder for Kane to make good on his threats, but it was nothing compared to the fear she felt now.
Agent Brennan gathered the papers—the papers that proved her guilt—and put them back in the file folder.
“I didn’t see any next of kin in your file,” Gabe said as he walked to the door. “And your name has already been splashed across the media. One of your co-workers enjoyed his fifteen minutes of fame a little too much. Do you have anyone you want us to contact? Someone to attend to any personal matters while you’re visiting us?”
“Declan MacKenzie.”
Sophia had no idea why it was his name that came to mind first, or why she thought he could or would help her now. Kane had delighted in telling her how many women Dec had had over the years and how many they’d shared together. But she’d learned to recognize Kane’s lies the longer he spouted them. Declan was a bastard for sure, but deep down he had an honor and character that Kane would never possess. And she believed if she called on him for help now he’d come just because his sense of right and wrong and his honor would let him do no less.
Agent Brennan stared at her with an unreadable look on his face, but she could have sworn she saw a glimmer of surprise in his eyes.
“Call Declan MacKenzie,” she said again, her voice stronger this time. “He used to be military. Special Forces. I don’t know if he still is, but he is—was—my friend. He’s the only person I have left to call.”
She had to believe that everything would be okay. The truth would come out and everyone would see that she was innocent. That Kane Huxley had been a monster to the core. Dec would believe her. He knew her too well to think she could ever become a traitor.
“That can be arranged, Mrs. Huxley.” Agent Brennan stepped out of the room and closed the door quietly behind him, and for the first time since her wedding night she had hope that everything would be all right.
She waited several minutes for someone to come get her and take her to her cell, but the minutes dragged on and the lethargy in her muscles had her dozing. The door didn’t make a sound when it opened again, but the hairs stood up on her arms and a feeling she hadn’t felt in a long time settled low in her gut. She knew he’d be standing there before she lifted her head.
The sight of Declan MacKenzie sent emotions rioting through her body—relief, longing, embarrassment and sorrow. Her marriage to Kane had destroyed part of her, though she’d been scraping and fighting to repair it since she’d separated from him. Kane had taken every opportunity to play psychological games, until she’d started believing the things he’d said.
Dec looked the same at first glance. He was still an intimidating figure—it was just something about the way he carried himself. He moved like a big jungle cat and had the grace of a dancer. His dark hair was shorter than when she’d last seen him—buzzed close to the scalp—and his beard was the same length, though she could still see the jagged scar that followed the line of his jaw. The occasional strand of silver in his hair was new.
“Dec,” she said, the chair tipping over as she got up hastily. Her legs shook and she felt the tears well in her eyes. She’d never seen anything that looked as good as him standing there, and she rushed toward him, throwing her arms around him.
“God, Dec. I’m so sorry.” The