Page 7 of Liam (R.I.S.C. Delta Team #5)

“Finish your breakfast, baby girl.” Allison’s attention remained divided between the little girl sitting next to her and the small, round clock on the wall. “Mommy’s friend will be here soon to pick us up.”

Liam had called two hours before letting her know he was moving them to a downtown hotel for safe keeping.

Allison wasn’t fully convinced it was the right decision, but she was the one who went to his security firm for help.

And since he was the expert on keeping her alive, she’d ultimately agreed with the plan.

“Does the hotel have a pool?”

“I’m not sure.” She shrugged. “Maybe.”

As children often did, Maddie took “maybe” to actually mean “yes”, which caused her sweet little face to light up with excitement.

“Can we go swimming today? Please? ” She began talking a mile a minute. “But we’ll have to buy me a new swimsuit. Do you have one? If not, we can buy one for you, too. I want a pink one. What color do you want, Mommy?”

“Yes, Mommy.” A woman’s teasing voice sounded from nearby. “What color do you want?”

Allison turned to see Naomi—the shelter’s owner—lowering herself into the empty chair to her right. The spunky eyed the two suitcases and overstuffed backpack situated on the floor next to the table. redhead flashed a toothy grin her way.

“Looks like you two are all packed up and ready to go.”

“We are.” She tapped the edge of Maddie’s plate as a reminder to finish her meal. “And thanks again, Naomi. For everything.”

“No thanks needed, hun.” The other woman reached out and covered one of Allison’s hands with hers. “It’s why I’m here. And why this place exists. I just hope the Delta guys can put an end to all this madness with your ex.”

“Soon-to-be-ex,” she corrected. “But yeah. I hope so, too. For both our sakes.”

Naomi’s stunning green eyes softened as she slid her focus to Maddie. The little munchkin had just shoved the last bite of pancake into her mouth, leaving a string of thick syrup dripping from her rosy lips down onto her plate.

“Wow, Maddie.” The other woman exclaimed. That was a big bite for such a little girl.”

Maddie’s next words were distorted by the unchewed food still filling her rounded cheeks. “I have to hurry. Mommy’s friend is coming to take us swimming.”

“I said maybe ,” she reminded her overzealous daughter.

“Which may as well be a solid ‘yes’ at that age,” Naomi shared Allison’s same thought.

“Right?” Allison chuckled. To Maddie, she said, “Good job, baby girl. Now go take your plate and fork over to Jenni so she can wash them.”

Jenni was a super sweet criminal justice major who volunteered at the shelter a few days a week. Maddie had taken to her almost immediately, which made the hug she’d just given the college senior all the more special.

Out of nowhere, an unexpected well of tears rushed to the surface. Allison pulled in a sharp breath and blinked the guilt and regret from her face.

She couldn’t let Maddie see her upset. If her daughter spotted even a single tear, it would be like a six-year-old’s version of the Spanish Inquisition.

“I can’t keep doing this to her.” Her disheartened voice was barely over a whisper.

With a shake of her head, Naomi immediately countered that with, “From what I’ve seen, the only thing you’ve done is love her. And kids are resilient, Allison. So much stronger than anyone ever gives them credit for.”

“I know she’s strong.” Her focus slid to Maddie, who was laughing at something Jenni had just said. “But even the strongest doesn’t deserve what that man has put us through.”

“Agreed. Which is why I was so happy to hear you decided to trust Liam and his team.”

The first thing Allison did after Liam’s call was to find Naomi and fill her in on the sexy security operative’s plan.

“My only choice is to trust them.” Which wasn’t really much of a choice at all.

“I know for a fact those were Tommy’s guys I saw at the park yesterday, which means it’s only a matter of time before they show up here.

You’ve all been so amazing these last few weeks, and I can’t…

” Allison paused. “I won’t risk anyone here getting hurt because of me. ”

“Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve dealt with dumbasses who think it’s okay to beat on women.” The other woman’s expression hardened. “But yeah.” Her striking features softened once more. “I know what you mean.”

“Okay, Mommy.” An especially energetic Maddie rejoined them. “I’m ready to go swimming now.”

“Like a dog with a bone, this one,” Naomi teased as she tousled the golden blonde hair atop Maddie’s head.

“I’m going to miss seeing you around here, Miss Maddie.

I hope you’ll come back to visit me someday.

” Her brilliant green eyes shifted to Allison’s as she added, “You know, once things have finally settled down.”

Allison dipped her chin, signaling she understood the true meaning behind the invitation to return to the shelter. Naomi was looking forward to the day when they were finally—and truly—safe.

You and me both, sister.

The redhead’s phone dinged with a notification of an incoming text. Picking up the device from where she’d placed it on the table minutes earlier, Naomi silently read the message to herself before looking Allison’s way.

“Your ride’s here.” Her ruby red lips curved into a smile as she pushed herself to her feet. “Come on.” Naomi reached down and picked up the booster seat with ease. “I told Liam to pull on around to the back so you and Miss Maddie could leave through the service entrance.”

“Okay,” she responded automatically. But then, “Wait…you talked to Liam?” She stood and helped Maddie get a secured hold on her tiny suitcase handle before grabbing her own, along with the backpack. “When?”

“About two minutes after you came and told me he was moving you and Maddie to a hotel. He called to make sure I was aware of the plan. You know…professional courtesy and all that.”

Makes sense.

“Careful, honey,” Allison called out to Maddie who was practically sprinting toward the building’s main floor elevators.

She released a heavy sigh and glanced Naomi’s way. “There’d had better be a freaking pool,” she muttered low so Maddie wouldn’t hear.

Naomi’s entire face lit up with a laugh as she added, “For all your sakes.”

Once they’d reached the basement, she and Maddie followed Naomi down a long, dimly lit corridor. A gradual incline in the concrete floor led to a gray, industrial-looking door at the very end of the hall.

Naomi wasted no time pulling it open, engulfing the three of them in a sea of muted sunlight. Allison squinted against the sudden intrusion, but not so much it caused her to miss the view.

And what a view it was.

“’Mornin’, Ladies.” Liam stood a few feet away, leaning casually against the front passenger door of a black SUV.

Like yesterday, the private security operative was dressed in a pair of slightly faded jeans that hugged his lower body in all the right places. Somehow, the plain black t-shirt he’d gone with this morning looked even better than the Henley he’d had on when they’d first met.

Not that it mattered how attractive he was. Because it didn’t. It couldn’t. Not now.

Maybe not ever.

“Hey, Liam.” Naomi handed him the booster seat. “I told Jerome to let you on through once you got here. Looks like he complied.”

“Yep.” He took the seat from her hand before opening the back passenger door and positioning it onto the leather seat. “He remembered me from the last time I was here, so that helped.”

Jerome was one of the shelter’s guards that stood guard at the gated parking lot attached to the west and northern sides of the building.

“Nope.” The sexy operative stood by the front passenger door of a blacked-out SUV. “It helped that Jerome remembered me from the last time I was here.”

“I swear, that guy has the memory of an elephant,” Naomi joked.

Liam chuckled softly before bringing his dark gaze Allison’s way. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

He held her stare a moment longer before eyeing the suitcase still clutched in her hand. “You got everything you need?”

Not even close. “Yes,” she blurted a little too enthusiastically—thanks to her critically underserved libido. Breaking eye contact, she refocused on the question that had been asked, begrudgingly admitting, “This is all we have.”

Two suitcases half-filled with clothes they’d thrifted along the way and a backpack with toiletries and other essential. That was the grand extent of her worldly possessions.

Don’t forget about the beat-up Chevy that’s probably on its last leg.

Right. The Chevy.

“Once we’re settled in at the hotel, you can make a list of anything you need and one my guys can go grab it.”

Liam’s offer cut through her depressing thoughts. “I don’t know that we need anything but thank you.”

“Yes, we do, Mommy.” Maddie tugged on the pant leg of Allison’s jeans. “I need a new swimsuit, remember? So if the hotel has a pool, I can swim.”

“A new swimsuit, huh?” Liam walked over to where they stood. Squatting down, he held out a hand and said, “You must be Maddie. I’m Liam.”

“Hi, Liam.” Her tiny hand became swallowed by his. “Are you my mommy’s friend? She said her friend was coming to take us to a hotel. Do you know if it has a pool?”

Liam’s deep chuckle left those broad shoulders of his shaking. “I am her friend,” he answered Maddie’s question. “Hopefully I can be yours, too. As for the hotel, it doesn’t have a pool…it has two!”

Maddie gasped. “Two?”

“Uh, huh.” He nodded. “There’s one inside and one outside.”

A high-pitched squeal filled the air around them as her daughter jumped up and down with joy. “Mommy, did you hear that? The hotel has two pools! ”

“I heard.” Allison smiled down at her daughter. As an afterthought, she hurriedly added, “But we’ll probably just use the one that’s inside.”

Liam’s almost indiscernible nod brought with it the relief that the bodyguard-for-hire was on the same page. She hated the idea of having to keep Maddie under lock and key, especially when summer was just about over. But the less exposed they were to the outside world, the safer they’d be.

“Well, I should probably get back inside.” Naomi bent down to give Maddie a hug. “See you later, Miss Maddie. You take good care of your momma, okay?”

“I will.” Maddie hugged her back with gusto.

“And you…” The sweet woman rose up and pulled Allison in for a friendly embrace. “You stick with this guy, and you’re going to be just fine.”

“I hope you’re right.” Allison’s hold tightened just a smidge.

Pulling back, Naomi arched a playful brow as one corner of her ruby lips curved into a smirk. “Girl, don’t you know? I’m always right.”

The two shared a final laugh before Naomi vanished through the gray door. It was only then that she realized Liam had already loaded the rest of their meager belongings into the back of the SUV.

“You ready?”

She nodded, but inside she couldn’t help but second-guess…well…everything she was doing. Praying she was making the right choice, she moved to help Maddie into her booster seat but stopped herself short when she saw Liam dipping his body into a dramatic bow.

“Your chariot awaits, m’lady.” He stretched a hand toward the opened back door.

Maddie giggled, not hesitating a bit in letting Liam pick her up and buckled into her seat.

With her daughter secured, Allison climbed into the front passenger seat and shut the door.

The smell of expensive leather permeated all around her as the man she’d hired to protect them got behind the wheel.

He fired up the ignition, pausing a moment to glance her way. “I’ll keep you safe, Allison,” he promised. His gaze slipped to the little girl in the back seat before he added a low, “I’ll keep both of you safe.”

Her lips tightened into a nervous smile that was more than a little forced. Not because she doubted the man’s convictions, but because she knew the kind of monster they were up against.

Feeling as though she needed to say something back, Allison told him truthfully, “I have no doubt that you’ll try.”

“Oh, I’ll do more than that, darlin’.” A quick wink. “Trust me. I won’t let anything happen to either of you.”

It was obvious that Liam wholeheartedly believed the promise he’d just made. She prayed he was right, and that Tommy and his goons would finally be stopped. But after everything she and Maddie had been through, it was becoming harder and harder to see any light at the end of the tunnel.

“I found them.”

A rush of adrenaline spiked its way through Tommy Gallo’s veins as his most trusted confidant’s words sank in. “Where?”

“Chicago.”

“Chicago?” The grip on his cell phone grew tighter as he immediately stopped pacing the length of his den. “What the fuck is she doing in Chicago?”

“Same thing she’s been doing since she left Seattle,” Joseph Cali mused. “Running scared.”

She’d better be fucking scared. “And you’re sure it’s her?” He had to be certain. “You’re sure it’s Allison?”

“I’m positive. Sal and I spotted her and the kid as they were leaving the shelter.”

“The shelter.” Tommy snorted. “What a fucking joke.”

When they’d first met, Allison was nothing more than a struggling waitress. She would have continued on that same, worthless path if he hadn’t rescued her from that life when he did.

Since then, he’d given the ungrateful bitch everything she could ask for.

A house that made his neighbors green with envy.

A new, luxury car straight off the showroom floor.

Access to more money than she ever would have dreamed of.

He’d all but saved her from years of skimping and struggling to make ends meet, and how does she repay him?

By embarrassing the fuck out of me, that’s how.

“Boss? You still there?”

“I’m here.”

“What do you want us to do? Should we keep following them, or what?”

Tommy pulled a deep breath in through his nose before releasing in a slow, controlled stream. With his back teeth clenched tightly together, he said, “Bring them to me. Oh, and Joey?”

“Yeah?”

He glanced out at the view from the den’s floor-to-ceiling windows. “I need this taken care of as soon as possible, you understand?”

“I understand,” the other man confirmed. “Don’t worry, boss. We’ve got your back on this.”

“You’d better.” Tommy ended the call without saying goodbye.

Shoving the phone into his front pocket, he blew out a breath as he stared out over his expansive, perfectly manicured lawn. It was clear that Allison wanted was doing her best to disappear forever, so the next time he saw her…

I’m going to make her fucking wish come true.