Page 113 of Relentless

Liam shook his head. “I’m fine. Thanks for offering. Mr. Romano?”

“A bed, I’m afraid. I need to lie down for a few minutes, Maggie. Matteo said it would be all right for me to go upstairs for a bit.”

“Of course, sir. Do you need assistance?”

“Piper and her young man will accompany me.”

Maggie prepared Piper’s tea and pressed the mug into her hands. “Can I get you anything else, dear?”

She shook her head. “This is perfect. Thanks, Maggie.” Piper and Liam escorted Gino upstairs. On the second-floor landing, Liam held up his fist and slipped into the hall.

A moment later, he returned. “Two cameras in the hallway. You’ll have to make it look as though you need help to walk, Mr. Romano.”

The older man grimaced. “Unfortunately, I could use the assist. I didn’t lie to Matteo or Maggie. I could use a few minutes to rest.”

Piper and Liam exchanged glances. Maybe they shouldn’t have asked Gino to help with their ruse. “Gavin has a sitting room attached to his bedroom. You’ll be able to rest for a few minutes.”

Liam opened the door to the hallway. Once Gino and Piper had cleared the threshold, he gripped one of Gino’s arms while Piper supported her uncle on the opposite site.

When they’d nearly reached Gavin’s suite, Gino stumbled and would have fallen if not for Liam’s grip on her uncle’s arm. “The door to your left,” Piper whispered to Liam.

Liam shifted his hold on Gino so it appeared he was practically carrying her uncle toward the sitting room.

Piper hurried ahead and opened the door, holding it open for Liam and her uncle to pass. Once they were inside, she shut the door. Liam assisted her uncle to the couch and slid a pillow under his head when the older man stretched out.

“This is perfect.” Gino patted Piper’s hand when she knelt beside the couch. “I’ll be fine in a few minutes, my dear. You’ll see.”

As they’d planned on the drive to the restaurant the night before, Piper got to her feet and walked into Liam’s outstretched arms as though needing comfort in the face of Gino’s failing health.

He nudged her to a chair and crouched in front of her, gathering her close again. “The signal detector is in my right inner jacket pocket,” he whispered.

Concealed from view by his body, Piper retrieved the gadget and turned it on as he’d showed her. After watching the lights flicker for a moment, the light turned green.

“We’re clear,” he murmured. Liam turned to Gino who watched them. “Stay there in case someone checks on us. We won’t be long.”

He waved them on. “If we have company, I’ll delay them as long as possible.”

“Don’t put yourself in danger, Mr. Romano.”

“Go. I’ll be fine.”

Piper and Liam headed for Gavin’s bedroom.

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