Page 40 of Safe Haven

The curl of Maddox’s lips is slow and carries an odd combination of amusement and smugness. “No. He won’t.”

I open my mouth to argue with him, but then what he’s saying hits me. “Oh.”

I wait for a pang of some sort of unwanted emotion to hit. Maybe guilt. Or sadness. God, possibly sympathy.

None comes.

The only thing I feel is relief. Maybe gratitude.

A small smile that probably looks a lot like Maddox’s works onto my mouth. “I don’t remember murder being part of the agreement I made with Alaskan Security.”

Maddox pulls me closer to the edge of the bed and closer to him. “Then you didn’t read the fine print, because murder is always part of the agreement when you hire Alaskan Security.” He leans close, brushing his lips across mine. “Now get your ass over in that chair, eat your breakfast, and finish your phone calls so you can lay down and take a damn nap.”

THIRTEEN

MADDOX

“WHAT TIME IS it?” Audrey’s voice is sleepy behind me, and I turn to find her curled on one side, watching me as I work.

“Just after noon.” She hasn’t really been asleep that long, so I’m surprised she’s up. “Was I being too loud?”

“No.” Pushing back the covers, she works up to a sitting position and throws both feet over the edge of the king-size bed. “I’ve never been a great napper, no matter how tired I am.” Her lips purse, twisting to one side, then the other. “Even when I was little, I didn’t nap. My mom said it was awful because all her friends got to relax while their kids slept and she didn’t.” Her tone is flat. Emotionless.

Leaving behind my computer, I join her on the bed, pulling her close. “Do you need to let her know where you are?” I know Audrey didn’t have a great relationship with either of her parents, but I don’t want to assume that means she’s not still in regular contact with them. “If you need to reach out to her, or anyone else, you can use my phone.”

Audrey shakes her head, giving me a sad smile. “My mom died a couple years ago.” Her eyes drop to her lap. “I always assumed she would die from something related to her drinking, so when I found out she was crossing the street and got hit by a car blowing through a red light, it kind of rocked my world.”

“I can imagine.” Especially since it happened when she was still with her ex-husband and dealing with his bullshit on a daily basis. “Do you have any other family?”

Deep down I suspect I know the answer, I just want to be sure. I don’t know why, it’s only going to piss me off. Confirm my suspicions about why Trevor would single her out. Not that Audrey isn’t beautiful and smart and funny and kind. But those aren’t generally the characteristics shitheads like Trevor look for in women.

They want someone they can isolate. Someone who’ll rely only on them. Someone they can control and manipulate without outside influence or opinions raising questions and concerns.

Audrey shakes her head. “My mom was an only child and her parents are long gone. My dad walked out when I was little and I never saw or heard from him again.”

I pull in a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. “No friends who’ll get worried when they don’t hear from you?”

Again, I know what her answer’s going to be. And again, it’s going to bring me one step closer to hunting Trevor down and eliminating him completely. The world would be better for it. But he’s likely the key to finding other men doing bad things, and without him, making sure they pay for their crimes will be exponentially more difficult.

Audrey lifts one shoulder and lets it drop. “I didn’t want to risk dragging someone else into the mess I was in.” She takes a deep breath. “And any friends I had before, I met through Trevor, so I couldn’t have anything to do with them once I left.”

I scowl at the information. At the confirmation that she’s been completely and utterly alone, facing down a man capable of unspeakable acts. Never knowing when he might come for her. Never knowing who to trust.

“I mean, I have online friends.” She gives me a smile and reaches out to take one of my hands in hers. “It hasn’t been that bad. Really. I’m in a few Instagram chats with people I know through work.” She lifts her brows, leaning close to drop her voice. “And I’m in a local Facebook group that’s all women in business, but mostly everyone just complains about how hard it is to date in Memphis.”

She’s trying to make me feel better. It’s only making everything worse. Because now I know when I took her phone I cut off the only connection she had to her support system.

Lacking as it was.

“Here.” I hand over my cell. “Download any apps you want.”

Audrey eyes the device. “But won’t someone be able to tell where I am from that?”

I shake my head. “Not if you do it on this phone.” I point to the desk. “Or that computer. Both are untraceable.”

“But what about you?” Audrey’s lips press together as she continues staring at the offering. “I can’t just take over your phone.”

“Sure you can.” I swipe the screen and tap in the code to unlock it, making sure she can see what it is. “I don’t have anything on it. And we’re together for the foreseeable future, so it’s not like I won’t be able to get to it if I need it.”

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