Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,46

as the words seemed to drift farther away. They thought she might have abducted Selena? That she was somehow a part of this? Why? Hadn’t Eoghan explained everything to Federico?

Oh my God.

She fought for air.

Selena kneeled on the floor in front of her. “Hey, you okay?”

Eoghan was supposed to have briefed everyone at the office. Had he? Had they not believed him? Had the insider he believed was involved somehow gotten to Federico and convinced him that Leslie was the problem? Or was Federico really involved and trying to frame her?

The news concluded with a tip helpline for anyone to call in if they knew anything or saw the two of them and Leslie felt like vomiting. Not only was she in hot water with her employer, but now there was a wanted sign on her forehead and her boss was the one who put it there, for whatever reason—either way, it wasn’t good.

And all for trying to do her job.

The room spun and a knock on the door made her heart nearly explode. “Don’t answer,” she said. Had hotel staff seen the news report? Had they already notified authorities? Of course she could explain all of this and Selena could vouch for her, but then they’d have to return to LA immediately and now more than ever, Leslie wasn’t sure that was a great idea.

“Open up, it’s Levi,” came his voice on the other side.

She wasn’t sure if it made her feel better or worse, but Selena went to the door and opened it.

Levi entered, a concerned, disbelieving look on his face. “I heard the news as soon as I turned on the radio in the parking lot...”

Leslie nodded, unable to find enough air to respond.

“Why don’t you lie back? Take a breath? You look really pale,” Selena was saying.

She tried to gently guide her back but Leslie stood. She couldn’t take a breath or a moment to rest. Shit just went sideways—even more sideways—and she needed to react.

“We have to go.” People in Wild River, the few who knew Selena was there, were fairly capable of understanding the urgency of keeping the sighting to themselves, but now that Leslie was deemed a potential criminal, who knew how far small-town loyalty went?

“Where?” Selena asked. “The most secluded place on earth burned down, remember?”

She shot her a look. Think. Think of something. Eoghan said the stalker was moving closer, so going back to LA wasn’t an option. The cabin was gone. The resort ski town was no longer safe.

“I have a place,” Levi said.

Leslie jumped. She’d forgotten he was even in the room. She turned to look at him. He was going to help? Obviously he didn’t think she was an abductor. Having someone on her side made her feel a little better, but only slightly. “The station?” she asked, shaking off the fog of panic and forcing a clear head.

He nodded. “Pack your stuff quickly and meet me outside the lobby doors in ten minutes.”

Leslie could do better than that. “We only need five.”

* * *

LEVI WOULDN’T QUESTION his actions. This was the right thing to do. Leslie needed help and surprisingly, she finally realized it too.

Unfortunately, his co-worker had questions. “So, we are harboring fugitives now?” Chad said, popping his head around the corner of the office door thirty seconds after Levi had ushered the women into one of the bunk rooms across the hall.

He scoffed and waved a hand. Made light of the situation. Tried not to panic over the apparent truth of Chad’s words. “I think we both know Leslie hasn’t abducted anyone. It’s a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding that’s all over the news and one that the Levi I know wouldn’t get tangled up in, so what’s really going on?” Chad asked, entering and shutting the door.

“She’s one of my closest friends.” Understatement. The only woman he’d ever loved. “I need to help her. They had nowhere else to go,” he said, removing his jacket and hanging it over the back of his chair. The four-hour drive from Wild River had been quiet and tense. Leslie had been lost in thought in the back seat of his truck and Selena had fallen asleep in the passenger seat, head propped against his shoulder. He’d need answers from Leslie—she needed to level with him about what was going on—but for now, he’d give her time and space.

Smokester woke from his nap on the couch in the office, one he knew he wasn’t supposed to sleep on, saw that Levi