Free Devil in Disguise by Heather Huffman

conversation he needed to have with his sister. There wasn’t enough money in the world to entice Rachel to touch that one. Neena might be little, but she was fierce.
    “Other than needing to send someone by your apartment to get your cat, are we good?” Rick surmised.
    “Yes.” Rachel bit her lip, feeling sorry for her hungry kitty.
    “We won’t be able to take him straight to you. He’ll have to do some time in the cat slammer to be sure the traffickers don’t follow him to get to you. As soon as it’s safe, someone will bring him to you.”
    “Poor Darcy.” Rachel frowned. “I guess it’s better than starving alone in an apartment, though. Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.” Rick smiled brightly at her. “Why don’t I go start working on the details with Ron while you two fight about Louisiana?”
    “Sounds good,” Rachel agreed. “Could you fill my mom in, too?”
    Rick nodded and waved as he backed out of the room, a bemused expression on his face.
    Rachel looked back at Conrad, ready for a fight, but that pained question was back on his face. In a flash of inspiration, Rachel realized what it was that he so desperately needed to know.
    “Yes, I know you worked for them, and no, I don’t hate you for it. I’ll decide how angry I am after we’ve had a chance to talk,” she promised.
    The relief that washed over him confirmed her guess. His entire body visibly relaxed.
    “I am angry that you didn’t tell me what was going on.” She held her hand up when he started to tense in protest. “But I think I know why you didn’t. And I also know you were the one who busted down the door to save my little sister. She said she cried when she saw you because she knew that meant she was saved. If for no other reason, I owe you for that. Please, Conrad, let me repay you for that much. I don’t know what comes after Louisiana, but I know in my heart I’m supposed to take you there until you regain your strength.”
    She tried to keep the desperation out of her voice, but he wasn’t looking at her anymore, and that scared her. He looked so out of place here, in a hospital gown with IVs, monitors, and tubes all over the place. It killed her to see such a virile man like this. It killed her that he wouldn’t look her in the eye. It dawned on her for the first time since she cooked up this plan that she might lose this argument; he might not let her help. She might lose him again.
    Not wanting him to see the tears seeping from the corners of her eyes if he should finally look her way, she rested her head on the bedrail, this time careful to avoid the imprinted logo. Images from days gone by flitted through her mind, and she wished with everything she had that she could rewind the hands of time back to a place where Julia was still innocent and Rachel had yet to break Conrad’s heart.
    His tender touch pulled her back to the present. She tentatively peeked at him when he reached up to brush aside the hair that had fallen to cover her face. He offered her a small smile, which she hopefully returned.
    “Okay,” he whispered with a slight wince. “We’ll go to Louisiana and see what’s next after that.”
    Her smile turned brilliant, and she practically climbed in his lap to hug and kiss him. “Wonderful! I’ll ask Rick to help make the arrangements.”
    Conrad nodded again, smiling at her joy.
    “Oh, but one more little thing.” Rachel slid out of reach before continuing. “I promised your sister you’d visit, so we’ll be stopping there on our way down.”
    His scowl returned in full force, but Rachel ignored it.
    “Okay, great, it’s settled then. I’ll just peek my head into the hallway to see if Rick is out there.” Rachel kept her voice bright, turning so Conrad couldn’t see her triumphant grin. The pillow that hit her in the back of the head, tossed from across the room, told her she hadn’t turned quickly enough.
 

C HAPTER F IVE
    THEY’D MISSED BENJAMIN’S THIRD BIRTHDAY by a