Page 31 of Twisted Secrets (The O’Malleys #3)

O livia checked her bag for the twentieth time.

It had everything she could possibly need—which meant it had the majority of her and Hadley’s possessions in it.

Without her daughter’s favorite toys scattered around the living room, the apartment looked dull and lifeless.

It was almost enough for her to call the whole thing off.

Maybe she was overreacting. Hell, she’d handled things herself before. She could do it again.

Except her version of handling it had bought her less than a year. Sure, she hadn’t been trying to disappear completely, but there was no reason to think that if she ran again she’d be any more successful. If it had been just her, she wouldn’t have hesitated.

But it was a whole lot easier to gamble with her life than it was to gamble with her daughter’s.

She moved to the window and checked the parking lot again.

The hour Cillian had given her was almost up, so he should be showing up at any time.

He wasn’t who she was watching for, though.

The fear that brought her back to the window again and again over the last hour was that Sergei would appear.

It wouldn’t be Dmitri—she knew that much.

He wasn’t above getting his hands dirty, but he was a big fan of using the best weapon for the job.

For this job, that weapon would be her ex.

She’d given up regretting her relationship with Sergei right around the time her daughter made her appearance in the world, but that didn’t mean she was willing to forgive and forget.

He’d already proven that he would choose the Romanovs over her.

When she needed him the most—when she thought she had a chance to finally slip her leash—he’d let her believe he was leaving town with her…

and then turned around and hauled her back to the Romanov residence, which resulted in her being under lockdown for the last four months of her pregnancy and the first two months of Hadley’s life. Until Andrei died.

Her heart thudded at the memory. She’d barely waited for his death to be announced to leave, and that time she hadn’t given Sergei a heads-up.

She hadn’t told anyone , though she’d seen her mother on her way out.

The woman hadn’t even glanced at Hadley, too wrapped up in playing the grieving mistress in her impeccable black couture dress.

I wonder if Dmitri showed her the door as soon as our father’s body was in the ground .

She shook her head, letting go of the small shred of satisfaction that thought brought. There were bigger things to worry about right now—like Sergei showing up at the same time Cillian did…

Oh God . She’d brought Cillian into this.

She’d never forgive herself if something happened to him because of her.

She hadn’t even considered that as a possibility when she called him.

All she’d been thinking was that she needed help and he was the one man who had the means to give it to her—and who might not hold it over her head for the rest of her life.

She checked on Hadley, but her daughter was sleeping soundly on the couch where she’d lain down with her favorite blankie while Olivia hurried around and packed their suitcase. Thank God for small favors . She grabbed her phone and dialed Cillian again.

He picked up almost immediately. “Did something else happen?”

“No. I just…” She braced herself. He was helping her because he was a better man than she could have dreamed. It wasn’t fair to drag him into her mess. “Cillian—”

“Hold that thought.”

A knock on her door had her spinning around. She approached the faded wood like it was a poisonous snake and leaned in to peer through the peephole. A gorgeous tattooed man in a three-piece suit stared back at her. “You’re here.”

“Open the door, sweetheart, and let’s blow this joint.”

“This was probably a mistake.” She realized how stupid it was to be having this conversation on the phone when he was on the other side of her door, but she couldn’t quite make herself unlock it. Not yet. “I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me.”

“I’m a big boy, Olivia. I can take care of myself—and you and Hadley in the mix.

” He put his hand on the door, and she could almost feel his touch if she concentrated.

“But if it makes you feel better, you can tell me everything. If I think it’s too much after that, I’ll turn around and bring you guys back to Boston. ”

Strange as it was, that did make her feel better, even if she suspected he was just telling her what she wanted to hear.

But that was a rational response—he’d hear her out and then he’d decide.

She took a deep breath and unlocked the door.

It was only when she opened it that she realized she still had the phone pressed against her ear. “Sorry. I’m just…rattled.”

“It’s okay.” He waited for her to step back before he walked into the apartment. He glanced around, but then focused solely on her. “Where’s your bag?”

“Here. And we should hook up Hadley’s car seat before I pick her up. She’ll probably sleep through the whole thing, but it will minimize the chance of a tantrum.” Her daughter reacted to being woken up about as well as Olivia did.

He picked up the car seat and the suitcase. “Sit tight. I’ll be right back.”

She started to volunteer to help—hooking up the damn car seat sometimes felt like it required a degree in rocket science—but stopped.

She couldn’t leave Hadley alone. Sure, she’d be right there and have a direct line of sight to the apartment entrance…

but she couldn’t make herself do it. Dmitri’s almost-threat was too close to the forefront of her mind.

Her fear might be irrational in this situation, but it wasn’t irrational in general. So she nodded. “Okay.”

Then she stood and watched him from the window as he put her suitcase into the trunk and went to work on the car seat.

It took him a few attempts to get it figured out, but he hooked it in faster than she had the first time she’d tried.

Once she was sure he’d gotten it, she picked up Hadley and tucked the blankie around her.

It was quick work to lock her door behind her, and she paused, part of her wondering if she’d ever see the shithole apartment again.

“Olivia?”

She turned to find Mrs. Richards peeking into the hall. Mrs. Richards . Shit, she’d forgotten to contact the woman. Oh lord, I forgot to call Benji, too. The latter would have to be dealt with on the way out of town, but she could take care of this now, at least. “We’ve run into some trouble.”

The old woman frowned. “Trouble in the shape of that ex of yours, if I don’t miss my guess.”

“Yeah.” She shifted Hadley into a more comfortable position. “I’m going to go out of town for a while until things calm down.” If they ever did calm down. Dmitri could be dogged when it suited him, and she didn’t see him letting go anytime soon. If ever. “If anyone comes looking—”

“Don’t you worry about a thing, dear. I don’t need to know where you’re going—just keep that beautiful baby girl of yours safe.” She walked out of her apartment and pressed a quick kiss to the top of Hadley’s head. “Try to call and let me know you’re safe once in a while.”

“I will.” Her eyes burned, but she blinked past it.

This wasn’t forever. She had a life here and, while it might not be particularly glamorous, it was hers .

She’d fight tooth and nail to keep it. She just wasn’t dumb enough to ignore the threat dangling right in front of her face. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Good. Now don’t let me keep you. Go.”

She went. Cillian met her at the bottom of the stairs.

He did a double take at the sight of Hadley in her arms, but then he was next to her, his hand resting on the small of her back as they crossed the parking lot.

She watched him out of the corner of her eye.

He was too busy watching everything else to notice, surveying the area for a threat.

He really came. He didn’t demand an explanation. I called, and he showed up.

It was a whole hell of a lot to wrap her mind around. She’d hoped—of course she’d hoped—but she hadn’t really believed he’d come through for her, no questions asked, until he’d done just that. Trust issues much, Olivia ?

Only totally .

With her track record, who could blame her? From Andrei right down the line to Sergei, not a single person had ever once dropped everything and come to her when she was in need. There were always conditions and power plays—if they even came at all.

She hooked Hadley into her seat, and then they were in the car and driving away from her place. She glanced back, but they’d already turned the corner, and the building was no longer in sight. Olivia sat back in her seat with a sigh. It’s not forever .

It sure as hell felt like forever.

She shot another look at Cillian, but he was relaxed in the driver’s seat…as long as she didn’t pay attention to the way he watched the review mirror. “You think we’re being followed?”

“No, but I’ve recently graduated into the ‘better safe than sorry’ mind-set. Going the roundabout way isn’t going to hurt us any, and if we are being followed, it should throw them off.”

“Oh.” She pulled her knees to her chest, feeling seriously out of her element. She’d been so damn naive to think she’d left this life behind her. “I’m sorry.”

“Stop apologizing.” But he said it gently. “If I didn’t want to help you, I wouldn’t help. The offer to disappear still stands, by the way.”

God, he was seriously too good to be true.

She’d heard his conviction on the phone, but seeing it in person only drove that fact home.

He wouldn’t hesitate to give her a stack of cash and a set of papers and send her on her way.

So eager to see the back of me? She shut the thought down. It was petty and downright wrong.