Page 22 of Be Very Quiet

Ted Rader was back.

#

“Liliana, breathe.”

She blinked her eyes open to see Luca hovering over her. She felt the soft cushions of the couch beneath her. “What happened?”

“You fainted.”

She hated being the wimpy coward Luca knew her as before. Liliana bolted upright, causing Luca to jump back so they didn’t smack heads.

“Stay there and rest,” Luca instructed.

She ignored him and stood, disregarding the wobble in her legs too. “I’m fine. How are we going to find Rader to stop him?”

Luca crossed his arms. “Wearen’t doing anything but staying safe. The authorities will take care of Rader.”

She shook her head slowly. “You don’t believe that, do you? They couldn’t stop him before.”

#

Liliana’s words stung because Luca had been part of the group that should’ve put Rader behind bars. They couldn’t even find him after he’d fled Liliana’s home all those years ago. What should’ve been an easy capture of a critically injured man had turned up with zilch.

What had Rader been doing over the last decade? Had he still been killing? Torres was probably on it already, but Luca would ask Tyler to search for similar cases around the country. Luca had never been able to find any but if someone could, it would be Tyler. Maybe Rader hadn’t stayed in one place long enough for detectives to notice a pattern.

Luca had misled Liliana earlier when he’d said they wouldn’t do anything to find Rader. He and his coworkers would turn over every rock and follow every lead to find the murderer and put him behind bars for good. Though he had faith that Torres and his department, probably the FBI too, would find him, Luca’s coworkers were the best of the best. He’d put his money on them every single time.

Luca studied Liliana. She was still pale, and worry lines etched the smooth skin of her forehead. She’d almost given him a heart attack when she’d fainted earlier. He’d lunged forward and caught her before she’d hit the floor.

His gaze drifted over her plump lips, ones he’d been dying to taste again for ten years. Kissing her was nothing like he’d remembered. It was a thousand times better. Mind-blowing. Addicting. He wanted to do it again, so much so it was a physical ache.

Maybe he should feel guilty about kissing her, but he didn’t. Not even a little bit. And as much as he wanted to again, he wouldn’t. Otherwise, he’d be taking advantage of an emotionally wounded woman. She was tougher now. That much was obvious. But after what she had endured with her roommate, knowing the perp was back and killing again would rattle even the most seasoned warrior.

Now all he had to do was convince her to let him protect her. Oh, he would, one way or another. But it would be much easier with her cooperation.

She surprised him by asking, “How is this going to work?”

He let out a relieved sigh. Her capitulation eased his worries. “I’ll move in here and stay on the sofa. One or two of my coworkers will arrive tomorrow to assist.”

“You’ll drive with me to work and pick me up?”

“Yes, but I will also go in with you until Rader is caught.”

“No one knows about my past. I’d rather they didn’t find out about my connection to The Mortician. I’ll tell them we knew each other years ago and have connected again.”

“It’s better to stick close to the truth,” he agreed. “You can say that I’ll only be in town for a few weeks, so we are spending as much time together as possible.”

A thought struck, and he wondered ifAudria Giroux was available. She was a recent hire, having assisted with a case involving Melanie Delgado and Owen Durant. Audria was former FBI and had been working as a personal trainer before being hired at COBRA Securities, so she could teach classes if necessary. Having her expertise on the case would be beneficial. He fired off a text requesting her.

Liliana glanced at her watch. “It’s getting late, and I need to go in early tomorrow. Where is your luggage?”

“Across the hall.”

“You’re buying Bertie Wells’s condo?”

“Renting,” he corrected. “My coworkers can stay there. Be right back.”

Luca crossed to the other suite and packed his belongings. It didn’t take long since he hadn’t unpacked. He’d left the bag containing supplies and the vest he’d picked up for Liliana in the SUV, so after he dropped off his things in her apartment, he headed down to get it.

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