“Look, I…I know it’s none of my business, and you are certainly within your rights to tell me to kick rocks, but…”
“But?” Evie prompted, taking advantage of his momentary hesitation.
“You and your dad. Are there problems there?”
Her flawless skin seemed to pale before his very eyes. She glanced away, just for a moment, and when her gorgeous hazelgaze returned to his, he could’ve sworn they showed evidence of a touch of unshed tears.
“My father is a very busy man. I mean, he runs a multi-billion-dollar corporation, so there’s always some sort of important meeting or?—”
“Not askin’ about his job, darlin’. I was askin’ about how things were between the two of you.”
Evie’s full, ruby lips parted as if she were about to speak. But then she closed her mouth and looked down at her hands, which had become balled together on the table before her.
Way to go, dipshit. Now look what you’ve done.
“I’m sorry,” Beckett apologized. “Your relationship with your father is none of my business, and I never should have?—”
“I’m the one who owes you an apology,” Evie whispered, focusing on her fidgeting hands.
“You?” He frowned. “What the hell do you have to apologize for?”
“I um…” She brought her saddened eyes back up to his. “I lied.”
She’d what?
“Lied to who, sweetheart? Me?”
“You. Your team.” A quick lick of her lips. “Homeland Security.”
Okay, nowthatdefinitely got his attention.
“What did you lie about?” When she remained silent, he reached across the small table and covered her hands with one of his. “It’s okay, Evie. Whatever it is, you can tell me.” Then, because he needed to be absolutely sure she knew it, Beckett added a soft, “You cantrustme.”
So many thoughts raced through his mind as he sat there, waiting for her to reveal whatever had her feeling so obviously ashamed. Endless scenarios involving the men who’d taken hercaptive began to play like a bunch of sick, twisted movie clips in his mind.
Them beating on her.
Interrogating her.
Doing things to her no man ever had the right to do.
Ah, hell.
Was that it? Had she been sexually assaulted and was too afraid or ashamed to let anyone know?
You were talking about her dad, nimrod. Not the men who took her. Whatever this is, it has to do with him.
“My dad isn’t out of the country on business.” She finally came clean. “At least, I don’t think he is.”
“Okay…” Beckett studied her closely. “Why did you feel you had to say that he was?”
“Because it’s easier than admitting the truth.”
“Which is?”
“Those men who took me and my students…” Evie kept her voice soft and low, presumably so only he could hear. “They did put out a ransom demand.”
Beckett’s muscles tensed with the unexpected revelation, but he did his best not to react in a way that was noticeable. “How can you be so sure?”