Page 94 of Unfinished

Her eyes widened at my tone and volume, but I saw the acceptance there even if she wasn’t thrilled about it. “Fine!”

She stomped over to her closet, grabbing work clothes and tossing them into one of the suitcases. Then she went to her dresser where she scooped out her underwear, tank tops, leggings, jeans, and more cotton shorts. She continued shoving them all into a bag, not even folding them properly. The entire time she was mumbling curse words and insults towards Derek, and even a couple towards me, and I couldn’t help but to smirk.

Hannah dropped to her knees next to her bed and reached under it sliding out a shoe box. She opened it and I spotted a handgun and a couple of magazines for the gun. She reached up and opened her nightstand drawer where she pulled a few knives out and dropped them into the box next to the gun. Covering the box again, she slid it into her suitcase before going to her closet again. Why did she have a gun and knives like that? What the hell was going on here?

“Why do you have that?”

“Personal protection, obviously.” Hannah shrugged, grabbing shoes off the bottom of the closet and tossing them into another duffel bag.

“Why do you feel you need personal protection?”

“Because I won’t be attacked again.” She was being flippant as she tossed the now zipped duffel bag of shoes to me. Hannah breezed past me but my hand snapped out as I grabbed her upper arm.

“Who the fuck did it?”

“They’re already dead.” She yanked her arm from me and walked to the bathroom with a toiletry bag.

I should never have let her go. What was I thinking? What the hell has she been through over the last six years?

“Leo called, it’s finished. We need to move before Salvatore finds out. Is she almost ready?” Bas asked me, standing in the doorway.

“I’ll be ready in two minutes!” Hannah tossed her toiletries into the duffel bag that held her casual clothes and underwear. She grabbed a few personal items and a couple of books and tossed them in too, before zipping up the bag and tossing it to me. I grabbed her suitcase while she stuffed jewelry and chargers in her laptop bag and purse. She draped them over her shoulder, sliding her socked feet into shoes and tying them.

“Let’s go. You had better have a guest room, Liam, or I swear to god I’ll strangle you in your sleep.” Bas barked a laugh at that threat and I glowered at him. He was enjoying the hell Hannah was putting me through.

Chapter 42

Hannah

How the hell did I end up here? How the hell did I end up in a car with Liam Teresi? How the hell was I stuck moving in with him for my own protection? Did I trust him enough to protect me? Of course I did. Did I trust him with my heart?

Why couldn’t I answer that question? He said he was always protecting me, but it had been six years since he shattered me. Since everything went to shit. I should be over him but I wasn't.

The way he kissed me in my apartment, I felt it all. Every single emotion I’d always held for him. To make matters worse, I was wearing the same t-shirt he gave me six years ago. Why I kept it and his hoodie all these years I never fully understood. They became comfort objects for me despite the pain I felt every time I even looked at them.

This wasn’t what I had planned for my evening. Now I was moving into Liam’s place for who knew how long, and I didn’t even have time to deal with the news that my now ex-boyfriend was likely dead. I shouldn't have broken up with him the night we were at the club. I shouldn't have even gone to that damn charity event.

Liam and I used to sit in such comfortable silence but this trip across town to wherever Liam was taking me was not comfortable, there was so much tension in the car. I needed to summon all of my strength to deal with him because I would never be left in the dark again. He lied to me and kept secrets from me. I didn’t think I was capable of trusting him again after everything.

Pulling into an underground garage, the driver parked the car before we all got out. I went to grab my bags, but the driver grabbed them all, leaving me to carry my purse. We walked over to an elevator and Liam scanned his hand in a bio-metric lock. The doors opened and we all walked in.

I felt Liam’s eyes on me but I stared straight ahead as the elevator climbed. When the doors finally opened, the driver took my bags and walked into the apartment. My mouth dropped open at the sight of the city lit up outside. The penthouse had a large open floor plan with modern furnishings throughout.

Well, at least living here, I’d have a constant reminder of part of the reason things would never work with Liam. He was too damn rich for the girl from the poor side of town. Walking over to the window, I crossed my arms under my breasts and stared out at the city.

“Are you hungry?” Liam asked after the driver and bodyguard had both left the penthouse. I shook my head but I felt the heat of him as he stepped up behind me. “I’m sorry I didn’t do a better job of protecting you.”

I looked up at him, “I'm not yours to protect, so why are you sorry?”

“Let’s get one thing straight. I may have walked away when you told me to leave six years ago, but I would always want to protect you. I failed you because I thought you would finally be safe. I should have known better.”

“Why am I not safe?”

“Derek should never have gotten close to you. I should have killed him when he showed up in Pittsburgh.” I couldn’t help but flinch.

“Derek is not your fault Liam,” I whispered, “Nothing that’s happened to me is your fault.”

“What happened?” Liam reached for me but shook my head in warning. He clenched his fist and dropped it at his side.

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