“That’s up to you.” Liam’s deep voice held no signs of frustration or anger. “But, in situations such as yours, it’s sometimes easier for a client to go over things one-on-one first, rather than with the entire team. But again, it’s totally your call.”
Allison thought about this a moment and decided he was right. It probablywouldbe a whole lot easier to share her story with him first as opposed to facing an entire room full of men. And since the key Liam had already put into the door fit perfectly, she felt fairly secure in the fact that he was who he claimed.
She took a tentative step forward followed by another. A few short minutes later, she found herself in his private office.
“Make yourself comfortable.” He motioned toward one of two leather chairs facing his desk. “Would you like something to drink? We have water, coffee, tea, soda…”
“I’m good but thank you.”
The sound of leather creaking beneath his weight reached her as he took a seat and rolled himself—and the wheeled chair—closer to his desk. Peering at her from between two sets of dual-screen monitors, he said, “So tell me, Allison. Tell me why it is you think your husband wants you dead.”
CHAPTER 2
Liam studiedAllison Gallo closely as he waited for the intriguing woman to share the rest of her troubled story. She was different than other clients he’d dealt with in the past, though he couldn’t quite figure out why.
Sure, she was pretty, but it wasn’t just that. As part of R.I.S.C.’s Delta Team, he’d had his fair share of attractive clients.
Allison also wasn’t the first victim of domestic abuse he’d dealt with, nor would she be his last. The world was filled with all sorts of assholes. Monsters disguised as men, so the world didn’t see the evil living within their bones. According to the beautiful blonde with eyes the color of the ocean and a blouse and skirt combo that appeared to be just a smidge too big, her husband was one such monster.
“I don’t just think my husband wants me dead, Mr. Cutler.” Allison responded curtly. “Iknowhe does.”
Liam held her entrancing stare a beat longer before grabbing nearby spiral notebook and pen. Flipping it open, he used his thumb to click the pen’s spring-loaded tip before returning his focus back to her.
“Tell me about him,” he ordered gently. The more he could learn from her now the better.
Her shoulders bounced with a huff of a breath. “I don’t even know where to start.”
“The beginning’s usually as good a place as any.” He flashed her a teasing grin. When she didn’t so much as crack a smile, Liam cleared his throat and tried again. “You can tell me anything, Allison,” he told her sincerely. “You’re safe here.”
A look of skepticism flashed across her stunning gaze, letting him know it had been a long damn time since this woman truly felt safe. His chest grew tight, and a knot formed at the base of his stomach. And just like that, Liam became filled with a strong a shit urge to do whatever he could to change that.
“My husband’s name is Thomas Gallo,” Allison began. “But everyone calls him Tommy. He and I met when I was still working the front desk of a hotel in Seattle. At first, it had been like a fairytale. I was young with pretty much nothing to muy name. Tommy was a little older. Charming. Very good looking and…wealthy.” She quickly added, “But I didn’t marry him for his money. That’s not…” Her brows dipped inward with a frown. “I never cared about any of that.”
“Did you love him?”
“I thought I did. And I was stupid enough to think he loved me, too. But that’s not…I mean, you don’t really need to know all of that.” She glanced away, her dimpled cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I should have seen it sooner, but Tommy was very good at hiding his true self. By the time I realized what he really was, I was already pregnant with our daughter.”
“So you stayed.”
“I shouldn’t have.” She gave another shake of her head. “Not leaving him sooner will always be my biggest regret.”
“You said you were pregnant before you realized what he truly was.” Liam paused. “What is he?”
“A monster.” Allison lifted her gaze back up to his. “Tommy Gallo is a lying, cheating, abusive monster.”
He may have hesitated to ask the burning question, but she damn sure hadn’t hesitated in her answer. She was telling the truth. He’d bet his next paycheck on that fact.
A rush of anger on her behalf boiled up and Liam’s jaw tightened as a rush of anger on her behalf boiled up. They’d get to the details of the abuse later, but first?—
“Tell me about your daughter.”
For the first time since meeting her, Allison’s lips curved into a genuine smile. “Maddie’s six. She’s smart and sweet and…she’s my entire world.” Her smile faltered, her eyes shimmering with an onslaught of unshed tears. “I can’t…Iwon’tlet Tommy take her from me. I’d rather die first.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
“You don’t know Tommy.”
Fair point, he supposed. But wasn’t that kind of the point of all this? So that he could get to know more about the man she’s convinced wants her dead?
