Page 25

THIRTEEN

MADDOX

“WHAT TIME IS it?” Audrey’s voice is sleepy behind me, and I turn to find her curled on one side, watching me as I work.

“Just after noon.” She hasn’t really been asleep that long, so I’m surprised she’s up. “Was I being too loud?”

“No.” Pushing back the covers, she works up to a sitting position and throws both feet over the edge of the king-size bed.

“I’ve never been a great napper, no matter how tired I am.

” Her lips purse, twisting to one side, then the other.

“Even when I was little, I didn’t nap. My mom said it was awful because all her friends got to relax while their kids slept and she didn’t. ” Her tone is flat. Emotionless.

Leaving behind my computer, I join her on the bed, pulling her close.

“Do you need to let her know where you are?” I know Audrey didn’t have a great relationship with either of her parents, but I don’t want to assume that means she’s not still in regular contact with them.

“If you need to reach out to her, or anyone else, you can use my phone.”

Audrey shakes her head, giving me a sad smile.

“My mom died a couple years ago.” Her eyes drop to her lap.

“I always assumed she would die from something related to her drinking, so when I found out she was crossing the street and got hit by a car blowing through a red light, it kind of rocked my world.”

“I can imagine.” Especially since it happened when she was still with her ex-husband and dealing with his bullshit on a daily basis. “Do you have any other family?”

Deep down I suspect I know the answer, I just want to be sure.

I don’t know why, it’s only going to piss me off.

Confirm my suspicions about why Trevor would single her out.

Not that Audrey isn’t beautiful and smart and funny and kind.

But those aren’t generally the characteristics shitheads like Trevor look for in women.

They want someone they can isolate. Someone who’ll rely only on them. Someone they can control and manipulate without outside influence or opinions raising questions and concerns.

Audrey shakes her head. “My mom was an only child and her parents are long gone. My dad walked out when I was little and I never saw or heard from him again.”

I pull in a deep breath, forcing myself to remain calm. “No friends who’ll get worried when they don’t hear from you?”

Again, I know what her answer’s going to be.

And again, it’s going to bring me one step closer to hunting Trevor down and eliminating him completely.

The world would be better for it. But he’s likely the key to finding other men doing bad things, and without him, making sure they pay for their crimes will be exponentially more difficult.

Audrey lifts one shoulder and lets it drop. “I didn’t want to risk dragging someone else into the mess I was in.” She takes a deep breath. “And any friends I had before, I met through Trevor, so I couldn’t have anything to do with them once I left.”

I scowl at the information. At the confirmation that she’s been completely and utterly alone, facing down a man capable of unspeakable acts. Never knowing when he might come for her. Never knowing who to trust.

“I mean, I have online friends.” She gives me a smile and reaches out to take one of my hands in hers.

“It hasn’t been that bad. Really. I’m in a few Instagram chats with people I know through work.

” She lifts her brows, leaning close to drop her voice.

“And I’m in a local Facebook group that’s all women in business, but mostly everyone just complains about how hard it is to date in Memphis. ”

She’s trying to make me feel better. It’s only making everything worse. Because now I know when I took her phone I cut off the only connection she had to her support system.

Lacking as it was.

“Here.” I hand over my cell. “Download any apps you want.”

Audrey eyes the device. “But won’t someone be able to tell where I am from that?”

I shake my head. “Not if you do it on this phone.” I point to the desk. “Or that computer. Both are untraceable.”

“But what about you?” Audrey’s lips press together as she continues staring at the offering. “I can’t just take over your phone.”

“Sure you can.” I swipe the screen and tap in the code to unlock it, making sure she can see what it is. “I don’t have anything on it. And we’re together for the foreseeable future, so it’s not like I won’t be able to get to it if I need it.”

Audrey takes the phone, still looking uncertain. “What do I do if it starts to ring?”

I shrug, because it doesn’t really matter what she does. “Answer it if you want, or give it to me so I can answer it.”

Her brows pinch together. “Won’t that confuse whoever’s on the other end?”

“Maybe for a second, but they’ll figure it out.” I kinda look forward to the first time Isaac checks to make sure he dialed the right number. “Just don’t post anything that could help someone figure out where you are.”

Audrey’s eyes lift to my face. “I was going to do a slideshow of the hotel that included our room number. Are you saying that would be a bad idea?”

“It’s a good thing I know you’re giving me shit or I’d be revoking your privileges so fast it would make your head spin.” I stretch out on the bed next to her as Audrey fiddles with the cell. “What did Ginny say when you called her?”

“She seemed pretty confident she could handle the store while I’m gone.” Audrey doesn’t sound convinced.

I shift closer, wanting to be right next to her. “You don’t think she can?”

“Ginny can absolutely run the store, I’m just worried the rest of the team might give her shit.” She sighs, dropping the phone to her lap. “She’s just so young and I’m worried they’ll try to steamroll her.”

“It’s too bad that guy they brought in to train for the assistant manager position couldn’t take over.” I’d have had a fucking great time giving Dane all the shit work. “Because I think he would have been great at it.”

Audrey angles a brow at me. “I think he would have eliminated folding and tables would be piled with wadded up clothes.”

I groan. “I never want to fold another shirt in my life.”

Audrey laughs. “That’s going to make it difficult to pack for your next assignment.” Her smile slips. “Do you know where you’ll have to go next?”

For the first time in my career I’m not excited about what might be coming. “Don’t know yet. I guess it’ll depend on what’s available when I’m done here.”

And if Zeke decides I’m recovered enough to be back on the roster.

Her lips curve. “Hopefully it’s something more exciting than sitting in a hotel room watching me scroll Instagram.”

I almost tell her this is way more exciting than the last nine months have been for me, but I hold back.

Audrey’s finally feeling safe—even after having to flee her apartment in the middle of the night—and finding out I was flat on my back for a good chunk of the past year might make her doubt my ability to protect her.

Might make her doubt me .

“Don’t sell yourself short.” I scoot in even closer, lining my body against hers so I can see what she’s doing. “I’m going to watch you go through Facebook too.”

“DO YOU THINK she could get us a list of names we can start looking into?” Pierce asks, his face dominating the screen of my laptop.

“I’m sure she’ll do her best. I don’t know how much she knows outside of what she found on Trevor’s laptop, but I’m fairly confident Audrey will tell us everything she knows.

” At least, I’m confident she’ll tell me.

“But you better be fucking positive we can keep her safe when the shit hits the fan.”

Pierce studies me. His eyes barely narrowing. “I’d say that’s in your hands more than it is mine.” His lips twist into a smirk. “And from what I’ve heard, I doubt you’ll let anyone near her.”

Fucking Luca. “If you have something to say, just say it.” If Pierce wants to have a problem with how I’m handling this case, then I’d rather get it all out there. Right now. While Audrey’s in the shower and can’t hear what either of us say.

Instead of looking bothered by my outburst, Pierce laughs. “Based on that reaction, I’m going to assume the information I received was correct, and you and Ms. Hawthorne have already developed an attachment.”

Is that what’s between me and Audrey? An attachment?

Up until now, I thought of it as a connection.

An understanding each of us possesses regarding the other.

It wasn’t learned or developed, but innate.

Natural. Questioning if that connection could become something more significant—an attachment—hadn’t yet crossed my mind.

To be fair, I’ve been a little busy smuggling Audrey out of her apartment, making sure she eats and hydrates, and folding fucking beige T-shirts.

“Does it matter?” Pierce has no room to judge me or give me shit. Considering he basically married one of his employees, the man shouldn’t be throwing fucking stones.

“It only matters if it negatively affects your ability to do your job.” Pierce leans forward, expression serious. “Do your feelings for Ms. Hawthorne negatively affect your ability to keep her safe?”

Negatively ? I shake my head. “Abso-fucking-lutely not.” I will do whatever it takes to keep Audrey safe. Honestly, that’s what I would have done to start with. So with complete honesty, I say, “My feelings—whatever they are or aren’t—won’t change my focus on her safety.”

They will, however, make me more inclined to worry about her happiness. Whether or not she’s eaten properly. Whether or not she’s comfortable.

And where in the hell that dog whose picture is all over her Instagram has gone.