Page 81 of Twisted Secrets
“Okay.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “If that’s all you need?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Doc.” He stood and walked her to the door. Hadley looked up as he came back, and lifted her arms in a clear demand for him to pick her up. Cillian didn’t hesitate, tucking her against his side and rubbing her back as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He came to sit down next to Olivia. “What a day.”
“You can say that again.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I never thought I could be so tired.”
He tensed, which didn’t make any sense. “I’m going to send most of the men home and get us a hotel. You two need to rest, and another three hours of driving isn’t going to accomplish that.”
There was something off in his voice, but when she looked at his face, he gave her nothing. Olivia frowned, but he had a point. She was exhausted. Theyall were. A full night’s sleep might be just what they needed, and then they could start fresh in the morning. “Okay.”
He passed over Hadley. “Give me a few to arrange everything.”
She held her daughter tightly, and watched him walk away, unable to shake the feeling that she was missing something vitally important.Get a grip. He just killed a man. That’s enough to shake up anyone.The explanation should have made her feel better, but it didn’t.
The feeling only got worse as he drove them to a hotel and got them checked in. All the while, he wouldn’t quite look at her.Maybe he blames me for getting him into this mess. Can’t hate him for that. But it hurt to think that he wouldn’t look at her like she was something special again.
That he might never love her like she loved him.
Hadley had fallen asleep again, no doubt exhausted from her trauma, so Olivia tucked her in. At some point she’d be able to walk out of the room without fearing that Hadley wouldn’t be there when she got back, but that day wasn’t today or any day in the near future. It was hard enough to use the bathroom, even knowing Cillian was sitting on the opposite bed, in plain view of her daughter.It’s over now. Hadley’s safe and you’re safe and he’s safe, and Sergei is gone for good. You couldn’t have a better result than that.
So why did she feel like the other boot was about to drop?
She came back into the room to find Cillian looking out the window. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on, or do I have to guess?”
He turned, a manila envelope in his hands. Without a word, he handed it to her. She tore it open and dumped the contents onto the bed. Passports, birthcertificates, social security cards—two of each—a driver’s license, and a truly impressive wad of cash. “What—?” But even as she asked, she knew. “I told you I didn’t want this.”
“That was before.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I can’t keep you safe, not completely. Fuck, Olivia, you have no idea how much I wish I could. But if the past few days are any indication…I can’t let something happen to you because I was too selfish to let you go.”
A week ago she might have taken the documents and run as fast and far as she could. But…so much had changed since then. She tried to focus on his words and not the fact that he seemed to be shoving her and Hadley out the door as fast as he could. A knee-jerk reaction wasn’t going to do either of them any favors. “Selfish.”
If anything, he got more agitated. Cillian laughed harshly. “Karma is a serious bitch, because that’s the only way to explain that the one woman I fall head over heels in love with is the one I have to let go in order to keep her safe. I couldn’t deal with it if something happened to either one of you because I tried to find a way to let you stay, and failed.” He paced from one end of the room to the other. “Fuck, what am I saying? You want to go. So that makes me even more of an ass for wanting you to stay.”
“Cillian, stop.” She crossed to him and put her hands on his shoulders. “That was a seriously impressive monologue, but how about you let me get a word in edgewise?”
“What else is there to say?”
“Oh, I don’t know. You can start by asking me what I want.”
He looked down at her, agony and love written all over his face. “What do you want, sweetheart? Tell me and I’ll do my damnedest tomake it happen.”
Her heart lurched in her chest. She’d run before. It hadn’t been far or fast enough, but those weren’t the deciding factors. The truth was that fleeing her problems wasn’t a good way to deal with them. She might hold them off for months, or even years, but in the end they’d find her. And she’d have to deal with them alone.
Or she could take a different path.
Cillian wasn’t Dmitri. Every step of the way, he’d done what he could to put her before his family. He’d fight tooth and nail to keep her and Hadley safe—to keep them out of the line of fire. What was more, Olivia couldn’t imagine her life without him in it. She didn’t want to.
“I love you.” She wanted to hug him, but she needed him to see the truth on her face. “I never planned on it, and I still can’t quite wrap my mind around it, but I love you so much it hurts.”
“That would be the injuries Sergei gave you.”
She smacked his shoulder. “I spent my entire life learning that I could only depend on myself, and then you’ve come along and shot that all to hell. You’ve been there when I needed you—whenweneeded you. I know I’m not exactly undamaged goods—”
“Olivia, stop.” There was something terrifyingly like hope on his face. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I choose you. I know Dmitri is still a potential threat, but I’ve dealt with him up to this point, and I’ll keep on doing it—if you’re willing to hook up with the half sister of a Romanov.”
“Sweetheart, if you stay, I’m going to make damn sure that bastard can never get to you.” His expression turned to one of concentration. “In fact…” He pulled out his phone and dialed. He was close enough to her that she heard a familiar Russian voice pick upthe other line.
