“I don’t know yet, but I will.”Tell her.“Allison, Jagger and I are flying to Seattle tomorrow for a meeting with Knox.”
“You’re leaving town?” Her big eyes swung back to where her daughter lay sleeping before meeting his once more. “What about us? What if Tony’s guys find us here while you’re gone?”
“I’m going to put a call in to my team leader in a bit.” Liam did his best to put her worries at ease. “Either he or one of the other two guys on our team will stay with you and Maddie until I get back in town tomorrow night.”
At first, the tormented woman appeared to accept the situation for what it was. He watched as she turned and walked back over toward the couch. Toward the most important person in the loving mother’s world.
But then?—
“No.”
The word was spoken so softly, Liam thought for a moment he’d imagined its whispered existence. A beat later, when Allison turned a more determined gaze his way, he knew he was wrong.
“No?” he repeated quietly. “What do you mean, no?”
“I mean, we’re not staying behind while you go to Seattle.” She walked back over to where he stood.
“Allison—”
“I’m going with you, Liam.” She crossed her arms at her front like before, only this time with an obstinate jut of her adorable chin.
The innocent repositioning of her arms pushed her luscious breasts up higher beneath the fitted white t-shirt. Forcing himself to remain focused and on-task, Liam ignored the tempting sight and kept his eyes locked with hers.
“My teammates will keep you both safe until I get back.”
“I’m sure they would, but that’s not why I want to go with you.”
“Then why?”
“I’m from Seattle,” she explained with a touch of bite he hadn’t yet seen. “I know the city. The people. And most importantly, I don’t trust anyone connected to the SPD.”
Liam wasn’t sure where this newfound spunk of hers was coming from, but damn if he didn’t like it. Even so, he needed to remind her of what was at stake should she accompany him on the one-day trip.
“The whole point of you leaving Washington was to get as far away from your husband as possible,” he pointed out the obvious. “He found you in Nebraska, and you’ve recently spotted two of his men here, in Chicago. Now my guess is since you didn’t see Tommy, himself, he’s most likely running the show from back home…in Seattle.”
“I get that, but my car is still parked at the shelter, and we snuck out through the back and left in your team’s unmarked SUV.”
“So?”
“So, for all they know, Maddie and I are still holed up inside our apartment, which means they’re probably just sitting somewhere nearby while they wait for us to leave.”
Understanding finally began to sank in as Liam stood a few short feet from her. “You think they’ll tell your husband there’sbeen no movement, which will lead him to believe you’re still here, in Chicago.”
“There will be no reason for Tommy to suspect that I came back to Seattle.”
The woman had a point, and damn if it wasn’t a good one. But the protective side of him hated the thought of her being anywhere near an asshole like Gallo.
“There’s still a risk of him finding out.” Safety was never a guarantee. “I’ll protect you and Maddie with my life, but you need to know the risks going in.”
“I do.” Her delicate throat worked with a swallow. “I just don’t care.”
The unexpected sentiment had him taking broad step toward her. “Damn it, Allison, youshouldcare.”Epecially given what I know about your husband’s so-called friends.“Just…think about it for a minute. Think about how hard you’ve worked to get yourself and Maddie away from that place, and how much you’ve sacrificed to?—”
“Ihavethought about it, Liam.” She held her gaze steady with his. “And you’re right. I’ve done everything in my power to get my daughter and I away from the life we had there. But even after everything I’ve done…despite all the risks I’ve already taken...” Her blonde curls swayed back and forth with a shake of her head. “We’ve bounced from shelter to shelter and city to city. I changed my name…mydaughter’sname…and for what? Even that wasn’t enough. It’s never freakingenough!”
A single tear fell down over one of her flawless cheeks. He started to reach for her, to make erase the evidence of her pain, but Allison beat him to it with an angry swipe of her palm.
“Please, Liam.” She slowly inched closer. “I trust you and your team to keep me and Maddie safe. I really do. And maybe it won’t ever make sense to you, but Ineedto be there. I need to look this Detective Knox square in the eyes and know for surethat he’s not working for Tommy. Because for all we know, he’s just as deep in my husband’s pockets as the other guys in his department. And if that’s the case, he’ll just feed you a line of bullshit and try to turn this whole thing around on me.”
