Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100086 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 500(@200wpm)___ 400(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Olivia winced as Doc Jones tightened the bandage wrapped around her chest. The bullet had taken out a chunk of flesh, but it hadn’t so much as chipped a bone. And her throat was horribly bruised, but nothing seemed to be broken there, either. She had a few stitches and would have to be careful lifting Hadley for a little while, but it could have been so much worse.
She held her breath while the doctor looked over Hadley, her gruff demeanor changing into something much softer. It felt like forever, but it was only a few minutes later that she looked up. “She’s still shaken and scared out of her mind, but aside from a few bruises, she’s physically fine. The best thing for her is going to be getting back into some kind of routine. Expect nightmares. They’ll pass, though.” Her blue eyes hardened. “The bastard that did this is dead?”
Cillian nodded. “Yeah.”
“Good. I can’t abide monsters who hurt kids.” She pushed to her feet, and pinned Olivia with a look. “Those stitches will have to be taken out, so make sure you either call me or go to your normal doctor. If you don’t, it’s going to be a mess, and there’s no damn reason for it.”
“Okay.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “If that’s all you need?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Doc.” He stood and walked her to the door. Hadley looked up as he came back, and lifted her arms in a clear demand for him to pick her up. Cillian didn’t hesitate, tucking her against his side and rubbing her back as if it was the most natural thing in the world. He came to sit down next to Olivia. “What a day.”
“You can say that again.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I never thought I could be so tired.”
He tensed, which didn’t make any sense. “I’m going to send most of the men home and get us a hotel. You two need to rest, and another three hours of driving isn’t going to accomplish that.”
There was something off in his voice, but when she looked at his face, he gave her nothing. Olivia frowned, but he had a point. She was exhausted. They all were. A full night’s sleep might be just what they needed, and then they could start fresh in the morning. “Okay.”
He passed over Hadley. “Give me a few to arrange everything.”
She held her daughter tightly, and watched him walk away, unable to shake the feeling that she was missing something vitally important. Get a grip. He just killed a man. That’s enough to shake up anyone. The explanation should have made her feel better, but it didn’t.
The feeling only got worse as he drove them to a hotel and got them checked in. All the while, he wouldn’t quite look at her. Maybe he blames me for getting him into this mess. Can’t hate him for that. But it hurt to think that he wouldn’t look at her like she was something special again.
That he might never love her like she loved him.
Hadley had fallen asleep again, no doubt exhausted from her trauma, so Olivia tucked her in. At some point she’d be able to walk out of the room without fearing that Hadley wouldn’t be there when she got back, but that day wasn’t today or any day in the near future. It was hard enough to use the bathroom, even knowing Cillian was sitting on the opposite bed, in plain view of her daughter. It’s over now. Hadley’s safe and you’re safe and he’s safe, and Sergei is gone for good. You couldn’t have a better result than that.
So why did she feel like the other boot was about to drop?
She came back into the room to find Cillian looking out the window. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on, or do I have to guess?”
He turned, a manila envelope in his hands. Without a word, he handed it to her. She tore it open and dumped the contents onto the bed. Passports, birth certificates, social security cards—two of each—a driver’s license, and a truly impressive wad of cash. “What—?” But even as she asked, she knew. “I told you I didn’t want this.”
“That was before.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I can’t keep you safe, not completely. Fuck, Olivia, you have no idea how much I wish I could. But if the past few days are any indication…I can’t let something happen to you because I was too selfish to let you go.”
A week ago she might have taken the documents and run as fast and far as she could. But…so much had changed since then. She tried to focus on his words and not the fact that he seemed to be shoving her and Hadley out the door as fast as he could. A knee-jerk reaction wasn’t going to do either of them any favors. “Selfish.”