Page 45 of Moonlit Hideaway
Ruth stood and took out a ring of keys from her pocket. When Hank followed them, she turned to him and said, “You might want to sit this one out.”
Sierra didn’t have anything to hide from him, but she understood the sheriff’s point of view.
She brought her into a small and windowless room. The walls were covered with gray sound-dampening panels, and a large two-way mirror took up most of one wall.
Sierra took a seat on the bolted metal chair across a metal table from Sheriff Davis, who set her recording device between them.
“Here’s the thing,” Sierra said, looking straight into the other woman’s eyes. “I don’t know who Liam is loyal to. After my father died, the capo position would naturally go to his underboss, Marco Garrison, but Liam’s father was my dad’s fixer, Tony Walsh, and he could be making a play. My mom’s involved with the man I knew as Uncle Tony. I can contact Uncle Tony and ask how Liam got here and what he’s supposed to do. My mother thinks he’s here to protect me, but I’m not sure.”
“Contacting them, even your mother at this point, would be unwise,” Ruth warned. “Who is this Marco Garrison? Hank said his call got forwarded to Marco when he contacted Vinnie Romanski, one of Liam’s references.”
“Marco is more dangerous.” Even having his name on her lips was repulsive.
“I can see the man scares you. You haven’t told me why you’re on my island. Is it because of Marco?”
“I shouldn’t have come.” Sierra’s chest tightened with fear at the thought of Marco’s henchmen descending on the quiet island community. “I should leave before they arrive.”
“What does Marco want from you?” Sheriff Davis speared her with her direct question.
Sierra couldn’t meet her gaze. Shame flooded her at how she was nothing more than a bargaining chip in her father’s eyes. Her submission would ensure safety for her and her mother, possibly even her sisters, as Marco would gain ascendancy.
“He wants to marry me,” Sierra confessed, her voice breaking. “To consolidate power.”
Ruth’s expression turned grave. “You’re in serious danger. We need to involve higher authorities. The FBI can handle this.”
“I can’t,” Sierra whispered, a lone tear tracing a path down her cheek. “I’ll just put everyone in more danger. I’ve already said too much to you. I’ll just get out of your hair. If you can get Liam to return my things, we’ll both go.”
“Have you spoken to Hank about your plans?” Ruth asked, looking skeptical.
“I can’t let him know. I want to stay, but I can’t. I have to leave before Marco’s men find me here.” Sierra was getting more desperate by the minute. “Please, just lean on Liam and get my things.”
Ruth turned off her recording device. “Here’s what we’ll do. I’ll bring Liam in for questioning and find out how he tracked you here. We can hold him as an informant in exchange for a plea deal on the break-in.”
Sierra let out a shaky breath. “I can’t thank you enough. Don’t worry, I’ll be out of your hair, and no one from my family need know I’ve been here, and even if they found out, I’ll be long gone.”
Even as she professed her resolve, her heart was breaking into a million tiny pieces. Not only would she hurt Hank, but she would be throwing away the love of a man she could never replace. Hank, as different as he was from everyone she knew,was the one she’d never forget—yet she couldn’t forgive herself if he and his family were endangered.
Sierra walked out of the interrogation room in a daze, her vision blurring with unshed tears. Hank was immediately at her side, his concerned gaze searching hers.
“What happened? Are you all right?”
She shook her head, not trusting her voice. The thought of leaving wrenched her heart. Over the past week, she had found something on this island she never imagined existed—a place of warmth, community, and, for the first time, people who cared about her for herself. And in Hank, she had found so much more.
“Sheriff Davis will get my stuff back from Liam, and then I’m leaving. For your safety and everyone’s here.” Her throat closed in on her, choking back in sobs.
“I thought I told you I would keep you safe.”
“But who’s going to keep you safe?” She hiccupped. “You, Emma, your mother, this town, everyone you love.”
“You’re part of the everyone I love, and Emma sees you as family. We all do. Real family sticks together, no matter how hard things get. You have to trust us.”
“I still have to go,” she whispered. “Liam was able to track me here. I have to lead them away from you.”
Hank enfolded her in his strong embrace as she broke down, years of fear and heartbreak pouring out of her. His solid strength was the only thing holding her fractured pieces together.
“Wherever you go, I’m going with you.”
Sierra’s walls crumbled before the force of his words.
