Page 112 of Heartless

Hawke dropped his head back onto his pillow. Did he even want to read what she’d written? Hadn’t they said everything that could be said? Given each other all they could give?

Unable to put off the inevitable another moment, Hawke got up and grabbed the note. It was short, simple, and so very Olivia.

Nic,

You will always be my one and only love. Thank you for these glorious days.

Yours, Livvy

He tried to work up anger that she’d leave him like this. Why couldn’t he be enough for her? Why couldn’t they go back to what they’d had when they’d first married?

He knew the answers to those questions, and there wasn’t an ounce of anger in him. The promises they’d made at the beginning of their relationship had been between two young, idealistic people who’d thought they had the world in the palms of their hands. But people change…needs changed.

Livvy needed something he couldn’t give her, not completely anyway. So she had gone to live her life, and he would live his. Happily-ever-after endings were a rarity.

His and Livvy’s wasn’t meant to be one of them.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Four months later

LCR Headquarters

Alexandria, Virginia

Olivia drove through the hidden entrance and parked in LCR’s underground parking. This was her last stop. Her SUV was loaded with only the items that meant something to her. Everything else she had donated to a nearby women’s shelter. She had never felt at home in that apartment. It had been a place she’d stayed, living in limbo until she could start living again. That time had finally come. She was now ready to move on to the next phase of her life.

The last few months had been a whirlwind of activity. She had visited both houses her grandmother had left her. The homes had given her insight into the woman who’d meant so much to her. The emotions had sometimes been overwhelming, but they’d been sweet, too. She’d gone into her grandmother’s closets, and there had been the slightest scent of amber, Gram’s signature fragrance. Memories of those three years Olivia had had with her had risen up as if her grandmother had been embracing her.

She still wasn’t sure what she would do with the houses. They were beautiful, and caretakers were doing an excellent job of upkeep. At some point, she’d decide, but for right now, she didn’t see a need to change anything.

Thanks to her grandmother’s generosity, she had been able to purchase a lovely beachfront home in Marco Island, Florida. Sun, sand, and crystal-clear blue water held a special place in her heart. Every day when she looked out the window, memories of that joy would sustain her, giving her the strength to carry on.

Noah McCall had been pleased that she wanted to continue working for Last Chance Rescue. It had felt good to make that decision. An LCR satellite office was in Tampa, about three hours away. Operatives Dylan Savage and Cole Mathison oversaw the operations. For the time being, her responsibilities included interviewing potential clients and gathering intel for various missions. At some point, she might resume fieldwork, but for right now, this was perfect for her.

To make things even better, Dylan and his wife, Jamie, and their two children lived only half an hour from her new home. Cole and his wife, Keeley, and their four children were just a few miles farther. She already had a built-in family close by.

It felt good to be able to think of them that way. For so long, she’d held herself apart from everyone. Even when she knew she’d be happier creating friendships and relationships, she hadn’t been able to do that. All of that was different now. She was different.

Olivia got out of her vehicle and headed into LCR headquarters. Noah and several team members were in Bolivia on a rescue mission, but Noah wasn’t the person she had come to see. She needed to talk to a wise and impartial person, someone who could identify with her issues, but would be able to give her a willing ear without judgment.

Samara McCall met her at the front door, a delighted smile on her face. Noah’s wife had a way about her, as if you could tell her anything, and nothing would shock her. Petite, with long dark hair and beautiful sapphire eyes, Samara was the epitome of what LCR stood for—compassion, determination, and everything good. Though she was likely incredibly busy being the mom of two children and a full-time LCR counselor, Samara gave no indication that she had anything else on her mind other than Olivia’s visit.

“Olivia, it’s so good to see you. How are you feeling?”

“Thank you.” Olivia smiled at the other woman. “I’m fully recovered.”

“I’m so glad. When Noah told us what happened, we were so worried for you.”

She led Olivia to her office, a uniquely individualized area filled with color and dozens of photos of the McCall family. “Come have a seat. Would you like something to drink? I was about to make myself some tea.”

“That would be lovely.”

While Olivia settled herself in a chair, Samara went to the kitchenette in the corner of the room and poured steaming water into a small teapot. She brought the tray over to a serving table and handed a cup to Olivia. “Fix it the way you like. I’m a three-teaspoons-of-sugar kind of girl.”

Olivia prepared her tea and took an appreciative sip, feeling herself relax even more. She had called Samara yesterday, desperate to talk. So few people knew about the real issues between her and Nic. There was a reason for that. She wanted no one to take sides. But she also wanted someone to hear her out. She wasn’t even sure she wanted opinions. She just needed someone to listen.

“Before we get started,” Samara said, “I want to assure you that whatever we talk about goes no further than this room. Not only would I never tell anyone, Noah would never expect me to tell him anything.”

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