Page 51 of Twisted Secrets
“I’m a big boy, Olivia. I can take care of myself—and you and Hadley in the mix.” He put his hand on the door, and she could almost feel his touch if she concentrated. “But if it makes you feel better, you can tell me everything. If I think it’s too much after that, I’ll turn around and bring you guysback to Boston.”
Strange as it was, thatdidmake her feel better, even if she suspected he was just telling her what she wanted to hear. But that was a rational response—he’d hear her out and then he’d decide. She took a deep breath and unlocked the door. It was only when she opened it that she realized she still had the phone pressed against her ear. “Sorry. I’m just…rattled.”
“It’s okay.” He waited for her to step back before he walked into the apartment. He glanced around, but then focused solely on her. “Where’s your bag?”
“Here. And we should hook up Hadley’s car seat before I pick her up. She’ll probably sleep through the whole thing, but it will minimize the chance of a tantrum.” Her daughter reacted to being woken up about as well as Olivia did.
He picked up the car seat and the suitcase. “Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”
She started to volunteer to help—hooking up the damn car seat sometimes felt like it required a degree in rocket science—but stopped. She couldn’t leave Hadley alone. Sure, she’d be right there and have a direct line of sight to the apartment entrance…but she couldn’t make herself do it. Dmitri’s almost-threat was too close to the forefront of her mind. Her fear might be irrational in this situation, but itwasn’tirrational in general. So she nodded. “Okay.”
Then she stood and watched him from the window as he put her suitcase into the trunk and went to work on the car seat. It took him a few attempts to get it figured out, but he hooked it in faster than she had the first time she’d tried. Once she was sure he’d gotten it, she picked up Hadley and tucked the blankie around her. It was quick work to lock her door behind her, and she paused, part of her wondering if she’d ever see the shitholeapartment again.
“Olivia?”
She turned to find Mrs. Richards peeking into the hall.Mrs. Richards. Shit, she’d forgotten to contact the woman.Oh lord, I forgot to call Benji, too.The latter would have to be dealt with on the way out of town, but she could take care of this now, at least. “We’ve run into some trouble.”
The old woman frowned. “Trouble in the shape of that ex of yours, if I don’t miss my guess.”
“Yeah.” She shifted Hadley into a more comfortable position. “I’m going to go out of town for a while until things calm down.”Ifthey ever did calm down. Dmitri could be dogged when it suited him, and she didn’t see him letting go anytime soon. If ever. “If anyone comes looking—”
“Don’t you worry about a thing, dear. I don’t need to know where you’re going—just keep that beautiful baby girl of yours safe.” She walked out of her apartment and pressed a quick kiss to the top of Hadley’s head. “Try to call and let me know you’re safe once in a while.”
“I will.” Her eyes burned, but she blinked past it. This wasn’t forever. She had a life here and, while it might not be particularly glamorous, it washers. She’d fight tooth and nail to keep it. She just wasn’t dumb enough to ignore the threat dangling right in front of her face. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Good. Now don’t let me keep you. Go.”
She went. Cillian met her at the bottom of the stairs. He did a double take at the sight of Hadley in her arms, but then he was next to her, his hand resting on the small of her back as they crossed the parking lot. She watched him out of the corner of her eye. He was too busy watching everything else to notice, surveying the area for a threat.
He really came. He didn’t demand an explanation. I called, andhe showed up.
It was a whole hell of a lot to wrap her mind around. She’d hoped—of course she’d hoped—but she hadn’t really believed he’d come through for her, no questions asked, until he’d done just that.Trust issues much, Olivia?
Only totally.
With her track record, who could blame her? From Andrei right down the line to Sergei, not a single person had ever once dropped everything and come to her when she was in need. There were always conditions and power plays—if they even came at all.
She hooked Hadley into her seat, and then they were in the car and driving away from her place. She glanced back, but they’d already turned the corner, and the building was no longer in sight. Olivia sat back in her seat with a sigh.It’s not forever.
It sure as hellfeltlike forever.
She shot another look at Cillian, but he was relaxed in the driver’s seat…as long as she didn’t pay attention to the way he watched the review mirror. “You think we’re being followed?”
“No, but I’ve recently graduated into the ‘better safe than sorry’ mind-set. Going the roundabout way isn’t going to hurt us any, and if wearebeing followed, it should throw them off.”
“Oh.” She pulled her knees to her chest, feeling seriously out of her element. She’d been so damn naive to think she’d left this life behind her. “I’m sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.” But he said it gently. “If I didn’t want to help you, I wouldn’t help. The offer to disappear still stands, by the way.”
God, he was seriously too good to be true. She’d heard his conviction on the phone, but seeingit in person only drove that fact home. He wouldn’t hesitate to give her a stack of cash and a set of papers and send her on her way.So eager to see the back of me?She shut the thought down. It was petty and downright wrong.
He was here…taking care of her. Shouldering part of the burden so she didn’t have to go it alone. Her heart beat too hard at the realization. It wasniceto have someone she could lean on—actually lean on—who would show up when she needed them, and was so damn capable while doing it. Because he wanted to be here. If he didn’t—or didn’t want to deal with her special brand of bullshit—all he would have had to do was tell her to fuck off.
As if reading her mind, he said, “I’m here because I want to be. No one held a gun to my head.”
Because Sergei wasn’t here to see us make our getaway.
She was just a little ray of sunshine today, wasn’t she? Olivia checked on Hadley—still sleeping—and settled into her seat. “Let’s get this Q and A out of the way so you know what you’re getting into.”
