“What about the cameras?”
“I did my research, and I’m wearing a hat. My face won’t be seen.”
It was exactly what he’d hoped to hear.
“Change of plans.” Tommy’s mouth turned upward into a slow, conniving grin. “Iwanther to know you were there.”
“You…do?”
“Yes. I want the bitch to know the second she steps foot through that door that I’ve found her.”
He was met with a stretch of silence and then, “You’re hoping to force her out of hiding.”
Hell yes, that’s what I want.
“Just make sure she gets the message,” he ordered. “She’ll know exactly who sent it, and then she’ll take off. When she does?—”
“Sal and I will be waiting.”
“I’m counting on it, Joey.” Tommy needed the other man to know. “I’m counting onyou. So make it happen this time, yeah?”
“We’ll get it done, boss. Don’t worry.”
“See to it that you do.”
CHAPTER 10
Allison yawnedas she pressed the plastic keycard against the electronic pad attached to her hotel door. It had been a long, confusing, frustrating day. And though she’d done so for nearly the entire flight back to Chicago, all she wanted to do was sleep.
The light turned green with a low-sounding beep. With the strap of her purse inching its way closer to the edge of her shoulder, she pushed the heavy door open and stepped inside.
“Thanks,” Liam muttered low as he carried Maddie’s limp form.
When they’d landed, Jagger had shared the little girl had been awake for the flight’s duration. But then they’d settled into the team’s SUV, and within the first five miles, Maddie had fallen into a deep sleep.
“I’ll get the lights,” Allison whispered back, blindly sliding a hand against the wall behind her.
Her fingers met with the switch plate’s cool, smooth plastic. She flipped on the room’s dim light and immediately gasped.
Oh, my god!
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Dresser drawers were opened. Clothing was strewn about. The bedding had been haphazardly stripped away and tosseddown onto the floor. In a word, the room was a complete and total wreck.
A deep, growling curse reached Allison’s ears half-a-second before she heard Liam’s hushed voice.
“Here.” He turned to her, his expression so hard it could have been made of stone. “Take her and don’t move.”
She didn’t have the chance to respond before Liam carefully transferred the little girl from his arms to hers. Allison’s heart pounded hard inside her chest, but she did as she was told and didn’t move.
The breath in her lungs froze in place as she stood still with Maddie held tightly against her chest. Liam pulled a pistol from a holster she hadn’t even seen and began making his way further into the room.
He moved with surprising grace while checking each and every nook and cranny for a possible intruder. His strong, masculine form carried him with efficiency and ease.
The gun was held steady in his outstretched hand, and when he’d confirmed her room was safe, he pointed to the door that led to his suite and mouthed, “Stay here.”
Allison’s mind raced with fear as he vanished from her sight. What if whoever had done this to her room was waiting inside his?
