Page 91 of Relentless

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Piper huddled against the couch in the sitting room attached to her bedroom, wrapped in the blanket Liam had grabbed from the foot of her bed. Liam’s arm tugged her closer to his side as the EMT approached Piper.

“Let me look at your throat,” the woman said.

“I’m fine,” Piper insisted.

“All the same, I’d rather check.” Her gaze flicked to Liam. “I’m sure your boyfriend wants to know if you need a trip to the hospital. It’s better to be safe, ma’am.”

Liam squeezed Piper’s shoulder. “Do it for my peace of mind.”

She preferred to have Matt check her, but that wasn’t possible unless the members of Bravo made their presence known. They couldn’t do that without giving away their advantage. “All right.”

The EMT smiled. “Great. This won’t take long.” After answering a series of questions and allowing the woman to prod her throat, the medical technician pronounced her good to go. “Your throat will be sore for a few days and you’ll have bruises. Other than that, you’ll be good as new in a week or so. If you have problems with your throat, go to the hospital to be checked out by a doctor, ma’am.”

“I will. Thank you.”

The EMT gathered her equipment and followed her partner from the room, leaving the police behind with Liam and Piper.

One of the men dressed in a suit sat across from them in a straight-backed chair. His partner leaned against the wall by the door, notebook and pen in hand.

“I’m Detective Tate Haynes.” He inclined his head to the man at the door. “That’s my partner, Detective Wallace. What happened here tonight?” he asked Liam.

Piper relaxed at the knowledge Liam would be questioned first. His version of events would guide her in relaying her own version.

“I heard someone walk past my door at 2:15. When I checked, the hall was empty but Piper’s door was open. When I looked inside her room, I saw the gate guard leaning over Piper with his hands wrapped around her throat. I tackled him, restrained him, and called you guys.”

Nice. Nothing about the persuasive techniques Liam used to question Rusty. Something told Piper the gate guard wouldn’t have a mark on him to prove his version of events.

“You carry zip ties around?”

Liam smiled. “I’m in private security. We’re prepared for anything.”

“What outfit are you with?”

“Fortress Security.”

The detective’s eyebrows soared. “Tough group to get into. How long have you worked for them?”

“Five years.”

“What did you do before that?”

“Marines.”

“Thank you for your service.” Haynes took Liam through his side of events a few more times, asking more detailed questions. When he was satisfied, he turned to Piper. “Tell me what happened, ma’am.”

“I was asleep. Something woke me and I realized someone was in the room. I thought Liam might be checking on me at first.”

“Is there a reason he’d come into your room in the middle of the night?”

She frowned. The detective sounded as though he was accusing Liam of something. Did he think Liam attacked her and she covered it up?

“My uncle told me some upsetting news before dinner. Liam is protective. I wouldn’t be surprised if he peeked into the room to be sure I was okay.”

“I see. Go on.”

His words were neutral. His voice, however, said he didn’t believe her explanation for Liam’s possible presence in her room in the middle of the night. “I knew before Rusty put his hands around my throat it wasn’t Liam.”

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