Page 48 of Seven

“How long?”

“Just missed them. They took off after the security guard questioned them.”

“Damn.” My jaw tightened. “What about Tallie and Ford?”

“They’re still upstairs.”

That was all I needed to hear. Without another word, I turned and headed for the elevator. When we reached the doorto her room, I knocked, sharp and firm. There was no answer, so I knocked again, louder this time.

Finally, the door creaked open, and Tallie appeared wearing a pair of gray pjs and her hair up in a messy bun. Her eyes were puffy with sleep, but the second she saw me and the boys, she woke right up. “Holt, what are you doing here?”

“They were here.”

“Who?”

“The men who’ve been following you. They were here.”

“Were?”

“They’ve gone.” I tried to keep my voice low and steady as I told her, “I don’t know where, but we both know they’ll come back. And I don’t want you here when they do.”

“How would you know all this?”

“I just know.” Growing impatient, I stepped into the room and said, “We need to get you and Ford out of here.Now.”

“I can’t just leave.” She shook her head. “Mom and Rooks…”

“Rooks can handle himself,” I snapped, leaving no room for argument. “I’ll find a place for him to take your mother, but for the time being, you and Ford are with me.”

“I don’t know. I…”

“This isn’t up for discussion, Tal. I’m not leaving you here. Not with those guys sniffing around.”

“You promise to make sure Mom and Rooks are safe?”

“You have my word.”

She hesitated for one more second, then nodded and started over to Ford. Once he was up, we started gathering their things. Skid and Goose went next door to get Tallie’s mother, and then, down the hall to get Rooks. They would take them to one of the club’s safe houses until we could figure out the best place for them.

We were almost set to go when Tallie looked over to me with worry in her eyes. She looked like she was on the verge of breaking when she muttered, “Who is doing this?”

I’d been asking myself the same thing. I knew her father was involved with some shady folks. Hell, you can’t get more dangerous than the Russian mafia, but I didn’t get why they were so intent on hunting down Tallie. It was enough to make my stomach turn, but I wasn’t going to let her know that.

Not wanting Ford to hear, I stepped over to her and whispered, “Don’t have to worry about that. The boys and I will handle them.”

“But how?”

“Let me worry about that.”

She nodded, then gathered the last of her things.

Minutes later, I had Tallie and Ford loaded in the SUV, and we were driving over to my place. Tallie sat in the back with her eyes fixed on the road ahead. She didn’t say a word, but she didn’t have to. I could tell that she was scared and confused. Ford was, too. But as long as they were on my watch, I planned on keeping them both out of harm’s way.

12

TALLIE

“What are we doing here?”

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