Page 43 of Montana Silence

“Phoenix Police.”

We opened the door, and the two police officers took in the bandage on my face and the state of my clothes. “You’re Liam Anderson?”

“I am. Please, come in.”

The next hour was a whirlwind of telling the police what had happened, showing them where it had happened, and relaying why we were in Phoenix. Through it all, Mara stayed by my side, and there wasn’t a moment we weren’t touching, whether that was holding hands or my arm around her waist.

Now we were once more in the hotel room, finishing things. We needed to head to the airport soon.

“I wish I could say this was uncommon, Mr. Anderson, but it happens. It’s more likely it was a random act of violence and nothing to do with your court case.”

I looked between the officers. “Are you familiar with The Family?”

“We are,” the other one said. “Or at least, we’re aware of them. But there haven’t been any problems with their members in years, and when their leader is about to get out? It doesn’t make sense for them to endanger that.”

The first officer winced. “And we don’t have any proof it was them.”

“I understand.” I wasn’t convinced, but I understood.

“We have your information, and we’ll check cameras and anything else we can find and let you know, okay?”

I nodded and stood, shaking hands with the man. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

We both waited until they closed the door behind them before I wrapped her up again. “Ready to go home?”

Mara blew out a shaky breath. “Yes, please.”

And we did. We didn’t exchange many words as we went to the airport and flew back to Montana. Nor were there many on the drive back to the ranch, but there didn’t need to be. The closer we got to home, the better I felt and the better Mara looked.

Yet I couldn’t imagine just leaving her at her house and driving away. Not after everything.

We pulled up to her cabin as the sun met the horizon. “Mara,” I said, looking over at her.

She looked at me, and I was soothed by the hope in her eyes.

“Would it be too much if I told you I wasn’t ready to let you go?”

“I didn’t want to ask,” she whispered.

“You canalwaysask,” I told her. “Anything. If you have to whisper it, write it down, shout it from the fucking rooftops. You never have to hide anything from me.”

Mara smiled. It was the first one I’d seen all day. “Yeah. Going to take some practice.”

I pulled her across the seat and kissed her temple. “So, I can take you home with me?”

“Yes. I need to get some new clothes.”

“And I need to talk to the guys about what happened. Just outside, if that’s okay.”

She nodded, and I grabbed her suitcase out of the back of the truck, carrying it to the house for her. We took pains to make sure the property was safe, but I still looked around the open space before I stepped back outside. “Take as long as you need.”

She left the door open, taking the suitcase all the way inside.

Daniel answered my call on the first ring. “We’re home,” I told him. “We need to talk. Whoever’s around, can you drive down to Mara’s? I don’t want to leave her.”

“We’ll be right there.”

A few minutes later, dust flew up behind Daniel’s truck as it came rushing to a stop in front of Mara’s house. Lucas and Daniel climbed out of the front seats while Jude and Noah jumped out of the back.

---