Page 4 of Maliea's Hero

Maliea shook her head. “I don’t know. The only thing I own of value is the diamond necklace my mother left me. The intruder didn’t take it. As far as I can tell, he didn’t take anything.”

Tish’s brow furrowed. “Then why destroy your apartment?”

Maliea pinched the bridge of her nose. “I don’t know. What I do know is that I can’t go back to my apartment with Nani. If she saw it the way it is, she’d be upset. And I don’t trust that whoever ransacked it won’t come back.” She grimaced. “I know it’s a lot to ask after you kept Nani entertained all evening, but would you mind if we stayed the night? Nani can sleep on the couch. I don’t mind sleeping on the floor.”

Tish frowned. “Mal, you know you’re welcome here. Solange and I love our little Nani to pieces.”

Maliea smiled, tears welling in her eyes. “I don’t know what I’d do without you and Solange. You’re my only family.”

Tish wrapped her arms around Maliea and held her tight. “Damn right. And don’t you forget that we’re family.”

Maliea leaned into her friend...the sister she’d always wished she had. “Thank you.”

Tish snorted. “For what? Doing the right thing?”

Maliea leaned back and brushed the moisture from her cheeks. “For being you.” Another thought had her frowning again. “If the intruder is after me, do you think he’ll look for me here?” Her frown deepened. “The last thing I want is to bring trouble to you and Solange. Maybe we should find a hotel for the night.”

“No way,” Tish said. “You’re staying here. We can push a dresser in front of the door if it makes you feel better. You’re not taking my Nani to a hotel where you have no one to protect both of you.”

“But—”

“No buts,” Tish said. “Now, since Nani is already asleep in my bed, she can stay there. You can sleep with her. I’ll sleep on the couch. I’d offer Solange’s room, but she’ll be back around midnight. She’s on an escort gig.”

Maliea lifted her chin. “I can be just as stubborn as you. I won’t take your bed or Solange’s. Nani’s comfortable with you and has slept with you before. You two take the bed; I’ll sleep on the couch. Tomorrow, we’ll figure out something else.”

“Okay, you don’t have to twist my arm,” Tish said with a grin. “Nani and I will be on the bed. I’ll get a blanket and pillow for you.” She disappeared into the bedroom.

Maliea followed.

While Tish pulled a blanket out of the closet, Maliea bent over her sleeping daughter and brushed a kiss across her forehead. Her heart swelled in her chest. Her marriage might not have been great, but she wouldn’t have traded it for anything. Nani was the result of their union. She was everything to Maliea.

Her gut clenched at the thought of an intruder breaking into her apartment while they were there. Maliea hadn’t taken the self-defense classes like Tish, and she didn’t have a weapon she could use to defend them.

Maliea prayed the police would find the intruder and put him in jail. The odds of them catching a random intruder were probably low. In the meantime, she couldn’t impose on Tish and Solange for long.

Maliea tucked the blanket around her daughter and straightened.

Tish tipped her head toward the living room, her arms full of a blanket and a pillow.

Maliea followed her out of the bedroom and pulled the door almost all the way closed behind them.

Tish spread the blanket on the couch and laid the pillow on one end. “Is there anything else you need for the night?”

Maliea’s lips twisted. “Peace of mind?”

Tish hugged her. “That will take time. I’d stay up with you a little longer, but I have an early morning shoot. I need my beauty sleep.”

“Of course,” Maliea said, a stab of guilt hitting her square in the chest. As a model, Tish had to be fresh and ready to go. “Don’t let me keep you up.”

Tish tilted her head, her brow creased. “What are your plans for tomorrow?”

“I’m off for the next two days. I’d planned to go by Taylor’s office at the university to gather his personal belongings. If I’m up to it, I’ll stop by my father’s office next. I’ve put it off long enough.”

Tish sighed. “I can only imagine how hard it’s been. To lose your father and your husband at the same time is horrible.”

Maliea sighed. “It’s not like Taylor and I had the best relationship. We never saw each other.”

“Yeah. I know you two were struggling with opposing shifts.” Tish folded her arms over her chest. “I remember there were nights you had off, but he worked late. He could’ve tried harder.”

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