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“What?” Her eyes snapped up to his, and for a second Joe lost his train of thought

“You can’t stay there, babe It’s at least an hour in crap traffic to get here frorandet to the prison fast if needed”

Her eyes moved back down to focus on her feet, and Joe felt bereft at the loss “I know, but…”

She pulled her botto a silent conversation with herself and had co and pulled out her iPad “I’ll see what’s near here” Her sliers flitted across the screen before they stilled “I forgot I need Wi-Fi access first”

“I know a hotel” Joe held her elbow as he led the the crowded street

“But, I-I…”

“It’s okay I know a perfect place Trust me” He wanted her to see that he knew her and what she needed to be comfortable in her environment He’d made a study of Julia these past few ive her what she needed

“Okay” She sounded so resigned that Joe had to remind himself trust came with time

He had to be patient At least now they were together For the past couple of weeks—since he’d kissed her—she’d taken great pains to hide from him

He slid his hand down her ar her tense, and led her across the busy road, where seven lanes of traffic randomly crowded into four official lanes Cars blasted their horns at theot to the other side of the wide street, he caught sight of so out of the corner of his eye that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand to attention

Two men

And they see them

“Maybe we should go get s first?” Julia said softly

He heard her, but his attention was focused on the men They were out of place and stood out like Trump at a feminist rally First, they were taller thanaround them They were also fitter, with the kind ofout would develop Both men were dressed in black, when most people around them were dressed in faded clothes that had seen better days But it was the way they moved that had Joe on alert They moved like uessed Neither option reassured him

As he hauled Julia around the corner of the concrete prison cos are shorter than yours”