Page 37 of Safe Haven

I knew Audrey was in danger. Of course I did. That’s why I’m here.

Having to whisk her away in the middle of the night because the man I’m protecting her from decided to make his move has really driven the reality of it home. It has me pulling her in. Holding her tight. Desperate to get her close enough no one else will know she exists.

It’s not until Luca clears his throat that the full scope of our current situation comes back into focus.

“Where to now, boss?” He puts the ball in my court since this is my assignment. Or maybe because he recognizes how all-in I already am.

I pull my mouth from Audrey’s, but keep her tight to me. “Find us a decent hotel where we can figure out what the fuck is going on.”

TWELVE

AUDREY

“AUDREY, SWEETHEART. IT’S time to wake up.” Maddox’s voice is low and soft. Way different than the last time he said those same words.

I still jolt awake, sucking in a breath as reality comes crashing back down on me. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Not long. Maybe an hour or two.” He reaches out to smooth back my hair. “You can go back to sleep as soon as you call work and let them know you won’t be in.”

I freaking hate this. Hate that once again my life is being upended. That I’m losing everything because of an awful man and my own stupid choices.

At least I get to do it in a really nice hotel room this time.

I push up to a sitting position in the luxurious king-size bed Maddox tucked me into once we arrived. I was expecting to be in a motel or maybe a lower-priced hotel, so when Maddox directed Luca to this place, I was shocked.

And grateful. Not knowing what’s coming at you next is slightly easier to deal with on comfortable pillows and high thread count sheets.

“Okay.” I look around, fairly confident I left my purse on the table beside me. “Do you know where my phone is?”

Maddox’s expression fills with regret. “Your phone has been disassembled for now.” He hands over his cell. “For the time being, you’ll have to use mine.”

I get it—genuinely, I do. There’s just one small problem with this plan. “I don’t know anybody’s phone numbers.”

Everything is in my contacts on my cell. Outside of my own, I don’t know a single number or email address off the top of my head.

Maddox gives me a wide grin. “Then I guess it’s good I downloaded everything onto my laptop.” He stands from where he’s been seated at the edge of the bed. “I also didn’t want to risk losing your photos or anything else important, so we transferred the full contents onto a hard drive.” Holding out a hand, he tugs me up and off the bed before leading me to the built-in table where a computer is set up and waiting.

Again, I’m struck by how caring and considerate and thoughtful Maddox is. Yet another surprise from a man I initially expected to be cold, hard, and calculating. And I would have been okay with that as long as he kept me safe.

But sweet, gentle Murder Maddox is much better.

Once I’m seated and gathering the numbers I need to call, Maddox goes to the door. As I place the first of my phone calls, I hear him speaking quietly to whoever’s outside. I can’thear what they're saying because I’m too busy lying through my teeth to Ginny, telling her I’ve had a medical emergency and need to take an immediate and undetermined leave of absence. She’s the associate I’ve decided to leave in charge of the store, and I’m relatively confident she can handle it, but I also let her know I can be reached at Maddox’s number. Apparently Alaskan Security is in possession of some supersecret magic that makes a cell phone impossible to track, so it’s safe for me to use as a point of contact.

I’m just hanging up when Maddox returns, carrying a cardboard tray with two gigantic iced coffees in one hand and a white paper bag in the other. He lifts them up. “Breakfast is here.”

I shake my head, stomach turning at the thought of putting anything into it. “I’d love a coffee, but I’m not sure I can manage to eat anything right now.”

“I understand.” Maddox pulls the first of the drinks free and hands it over. Then he digs into the bag. “But can you try? For me?” He lays down a napkin then sets a savory looking pastry on top of it. “It took me a while to find something I thought you might like, and Luca bitched about how far he had to drive to get it. If you could just take one bite so I can tell him it was worth all the effort, that would be fantastic.”

My eyes drop to the cheesy smelling item in front of me. Layers of pastry goodness seem to be flecked with bits of what I think is ham and browned cheese. It looks delicious and smells even better.

I guess I could manage a bite considering Maddox went to all the trouble to find something he thought I would like and then forced his teammate to go get it. It’s still slightly warm when I pick it up, and as I bite down, the complementary flavors ofsweetly smoked ham and sharp aged cheese nearly make my eyes roll back in my head as I accidentally let out a little moan.

“Holy crap, this is good.”

When I look Maddox’s way, I expect him to have that adorable grin he sports so often. Instead, I’m met with a very different version of the man who seems to have as many layers as the breakfast he bought me.

Maddox’s blue eyes are locked on my mouth, his focus laser sharp as his nostrils flare. His whole body is still, muscles strung tight and hands clenched into fists at his side.

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