Page 50 of Stolen Rebel

His eyes narrow.

“She flinched when I asked if Liam hurt her. Like the idea offended her.”

He tips his head as if it isn’t enough. Ironically, in the depths of my soul, I know that if I believe her, it’s enough for him to give her a chance. He just wants every detail I have.

“When she said his name, she said it like it hurt her to breathe.”

Patrick’s gaze drops back to the phone. “If she’s being threatened, we need to know who’s behind it.”

I know what that tone means. Someone’s about to get a fist full of Mahoney they didn’t order.

“And we need to know fast. Because Liam’s going to push and push and push until she cracks. And when she does, she might not be the one who breaks.”

“Exactly.” He pauses. “You said she’s more afraid of something else than she is of Liam.” Patrick’s voice goes low. It’s part of his process, to keep going over and over things because lies are harder to keep straight than the truth.

“She is,” I repeat. “It’s not just a grudge, Patrick.”

I watch him as he watches the burner on the table. Pieces of a plan clicking into place as his brain works overtime. “How long has she had it?” he asks.

“Long enough that she was panicking about not making contact. She kept asking for it back.”

Patrick’s head lifts slowly. “A check-in schedule.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“That means whoever’s on the other end expects compliance.”

“And if they don’t get it, they act.” I take a long drink of my tea and encourage Patrick to do the same, but he’s already halfway down the path to figuring this out. His tea is the last thing on his mind.

My husband, the workaholic.

He stands and walks to the window, staring out into the night like he can already see danger coming up the drive. “Where is Liam taking her?”

“The Doyle Arms.”

Patrick’s shoulders tighten.

“What?” My skin tingles. One thing I’ve inherited since joining this family is a healthy, okay, maybe unhealthy sense of paranoia. It’s exhausting.

He turns, and the look in his eyes makes my stomach drop. “If someone is watching her. If someone is tracking her. If someone is waiting for her to slip…”

My stomach plummets. I already know what he’s thinking.

“…then Liam just walked her straight into public.”

Called it. “You think it’s someone local?”

“I think.” My husband’s voice is like steel. “That if she’s been controlled for years, it won’t be by amateurs.”

The silence that follows is thick. As Patrick starts moving with intent, the front door opens and Titan darts into the hallway. From her excitement, I’m guessing her new bestie is home. A delighted squeak from Rowan as the dog greets her confirms they’re back and they’re safe. A familiar pang of relief spreads through my chest.

Before anyone comes into the room, Patrick shoves the burner phone into my pocket.

“Give it back to her. Let her keep her check-in.” The look he gives me is so calm, it’s terrifying. “Don’t tell her you told me. Let her think you kept her trust. After tomorrow when she’s made contact, we’ll find where she’s hiding it and have our tech people see if they can get any info from it.”

This is the difference between Patrick and Liam. Liam, driven by instinct, runs in before he knows the building is on fire, Patrick figures out his foe before he strikes.

My throat tightens. “I can do that.”