Page 20 of Free to Run
There’s so much sadness behind her eyes. What the hell put it there? “Baby, what’s wrong?” I ask quietly, cupping her chin. Her head drops. “Huh-uh,” I admonish gently. “Look at me.” And that’s when I see it, resting on her lashes, trapped and held captive, but waiting for release.
A tear.
How much does this woman in front of me feel and hide inside?
How much is the real Alison?
She takes a deep breath and opens her mouth to speak, but I hold up a hand. Gently, I sweep my fingers under her eye to capture the tear before it can mar the perfection of her face.
Alison stands there like a statue. Her long lashes blink before she whispers, “I need to apologize.”
“Alison, listen to me. You don’t have to apologize.” I move my hand from her back to her arm—the one I grabbed her so roughly by the other night—and rub my thumb over the sensitive skin there, and she flinches. If I bruised her, she must have covered it with makeup. “But it appears I owe you one.”
She shakes her head.
I capture her jaw in my hand. “Now’s not the time, but we need to talk about this. You. Me. What happened. Not at dinner, but before.”
Over the last few days, I’ve realized I want more as long as we can have it. The million-dollar question is, does she?
There’s only one way to find out.
I go to open my mouth when I hear a deliberate cough close by—too close. My hand tightens on her face before she pulls away.
I step back, only to meet a protective stare narrowed in on me over her shoulder.
“Major,” I greet calmly, respectfully, even if I feel neither. What I want to do is rip off his arm that’s now extended to Alison and drag her someplace where we can talk, alone. Instead, I watch as he holds her wrap out for her to bundle under.
“Hello.” He regards me intently. “Ali, do you want this gentleman to stay and have a drink with all of us? Jared says the car’s ready.” He’s affable and protective around Alison. I still want to shove him into a wall.
Seriously, who the fuck is this guy? My temper, barely held beneath the surface on a good day, is about to let loose when Alison speaks.
“Colby, that’s sweet of you, but I’m sure he has other plans. This is Cassidy’s biological brother, Keene. He’s family.” She smiles up at him, giving him my smile. His dark head lowers toward her with the same genuine smile I saw across the ballroom.
They make an attractive couple.
I think I’d enjoy killing him.
“Then it’s time to go. Thank you for looking out for our girl, Mr.…?” Major Cockblock asks, holding out his hand.
“Marshall. Keene Marshall,” I growl, shaking his hand in return. “Thank you for your service.”
Major Hunt, who’s now close enough for me to read his nameplate, smiles as he turns Alison away. Before they move more than a few steps, she glances back at me, offering me the same vacant smile she did before.
I have no idea what was said between the Freeman siblings, but whatever it was just sent her spiraling away from me and into the arms of another man.
The only thing preventing me from causing a scene is knowing that Jared’s with her and will keep her safe. Meanwhile, I stalk toward the exit, already pulling out my phone to text Caleb to find out what the hell happened in Connecticut today.
10
Alison
In the middle of the night, New York City shimmers like scattered diamonds on velvet from Ryan and Jared’s rooftop deck.
It wasn’t long after Colby and I left, we got into the car to find Colby some real food. After my unexpected run-in with Keene, all I really wanted was to find a quiet place to think.
The three of us ended up at an all-night deli with sandwiches the size of my head. I only picked at mine, too distracted by my thoughts.
I tried to show Jared and Colby the Ali they expected, while mentally, I was replaying every moment of my conversation with Keene in my head.
