Page 85 of Safe Haven

“YOU’RE FROWNING AGAIN.” Maddox angles a brow at me as he slides his laptop into its sleeve. “You can’t stay in Memphis, sweetheart.”

“I know.” I sigh as I pack the last of my clothes into the suitcase Maddox bought to hold the clothes I’ve accumulated while we were in the hotel. “I just feel bad leaving Becca behind.”

“You told her she could come with us.” Maddox comes to stand in front of me, smoothing his hands down my arms. “She wants to stay here until they find her sister.”

The frown I’ve been sporting since Becca refused to come to Nashville with me deepens. “But you still haven’t figured out who came to her house that night. If it wasn’t Trevor trying to get to her, then it was someone above him.” I swallow hard, worry for my friend clogging my throat. “What if they figure out where she is?”

I understand there’s a bunch more people here now to keep her safe. A ton of guys from Alaskan Security—including Zeke—showed up not long after Maddox, Luca, Owen, and Butch savedme and Becca from Trevor and the trio of idiots who took us. It would have been great if they arrived just a little earlier, but at least they were around to help clean up the mess.

And there was one heck of a mess.

“They won’t,” Maddox tries to reassure me. “But if they do, they’ll end up where Trevor is.”

That isn’t super helpful. “I don’t know where Trevor is.”

Maddox flashes me a smile. “No one does. That’s the point I’m trying to make.”

Coco scratches at my foot, wanting to be picked up. I crouch down and scoop her into my arms. “When is Pierce coming in?”

I know the owner of Alaskan Security is planning to come to Memphis so he can help sort out the mess happening here. I didn’t initially understand why Pierce cared so much about the police department, but then Maddox explained how inconvenient it is for them to operate when the local cops are uncooperative. Everything runs much smoother when there’s an understanding that they’re both on the same side.

They just go about things a little differently.

At least they’resupposedto be on the same side. Right now the Memphis PD is a crapshoot. Some of the cops are like Butch. They want to do good and work hard to make Memphis a safer place.

But many of them are bad. Really freaking bad. In bed with men like Trevor and only interested in money and power.

“Tomorrow.” Maddox zips up the bag holding all his belongings. “He wants to talk to Butch before making any decisions on our next plan of action.”

Understandable, but I hate the delay. Not as much as Becca does, I’m sure. Which circles me back to my friend. “Can you make sure Becca gets a phone so I can call her and check in?”

My own phone has been replaced with an Alaskan Security issued device. It was evident Trevor hadn’t told anyone—outside of the three thugs he hired—about the flash drive. Since they’re all dead, I’m no longer in danger.

Mostly.

Apparently being connected to Maddox—and by extension Alaskan Security—means I’ll always have to be on guard since I can be used against him. Against them. So I get the same untraceable devices as everyone else. I also get to have a long talk with Heidi and Harlow about internet safety.

I don’t mind. I want to do everything I can to stay safe. The haunted look is just starting to leave Maddox’s eyes and I don’t want him to ever have to fear for my life again.

“I believe Pierce is bringing her a phone and a computer so she can continue to work at some capacity.”

That stalls my hands. “I don’t even know what Becca does for a living.” Now I feel even worse about leaving her here. “Maybe we could?—”

“No.” Maddox comes over to flip the lid of my suitcase closed. “You’re going to Nashville to keep Savannah company while Zeke’s here.” He zips the bag closed and hauls it off the bed. “Doyou want to stop by your apartment to pick anything up before we head out?”

“I can’t think of anything I’ll need in the next few days.” A team is there now packing everything up so it can be shipped to my new home.

Maddox’s home.

But while I don’t feel the need to say goodbye to my apartment, there is someone I’d like to see before I go. “Can we go to Ivy and Birch?”

I’m still struggling to come to terms with Dane’s betrayal. I knew there were people who wanted to hurt me, but I never would have suspected he was one of them. Sure, I knew he was interested in running a store one day, but to be willing to hand me over for his own gain? Especially to a man he knew had hurt me in the past?

I didn’t see it coming. And that made it hit even harder.

“We can go anywhere you want.” Maddox wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close while being careful not to squish Coco between us. “As long as you’re sleeping in my bed tonight.”

I hate leaving Becca. Hate that she’ll be here on her own.

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