So much. “We’ll talk when you get here.”
I could run. The past has taught me how, and it’s definitely taught me what’s necessary. But, for once. it’s time to face things head-on.
I hang up and make my way to the kitchen I vaguely remember seeing last night. The man inside the kitchen I donotremember seeing.
I freeze, ducking behind the doorway, but it’s ridiculous. The man has got to be nearing seventy and is almost as round as he is tall. He’s not a threat. He turns to me with a guileless grin and an impressive handlebar mustache.
“Good morning.” He offers me a small bow.
“Uh, hi?” I straighten, stepping through the threshold, barely restraining myself from grabbing a handful of the pastries he’s baking and shoving them in my mouth. I’m starved.
“I’m Terry. Liam left me to take care of you while he is away. He shall return soon.”
I raise a brow. “He said that?”
“Yes, he pays me very well to take care of everything he values.”
I catch my breath on that last part.Everything he values.
“And, uh, how do you know Liam?” I ask.
“Oh, old friend.”
“I was an old friend of his once, too.” How well does this guy really know Liam?
“You don’t say.” Terry’s eyes widen. “Did he save you from drowning, too?”
He sees the shock on my face and laughs. “Liam told me all about you. I know why you’re wary, but he’s a good man.”
“I’m starting to see that.”
Terry pulls out a pan of muffins. Is he expecting someone besides me? “After he saved me, Liam learned that my wife recently died, and I had lost my home. He bought it back for me.” He motions to the little home. “He’s one of the good ones.”
Something uncomfortable digs into my heart. I was a fool to judge him so harshly for his crimes. Yes, he’s done some bad things, but he’s been trying to redeem himself ever since, and I never allowed him to. I swallow the lump in my throat and steer the conversation back to safer topics. “So now he pays you to take care of this safe house?”
“Yes, which includes you. So sit, eat. You had a long night. I told Liam not to go out on the road with those men hunting the two of you. Especially not after he’d been shot. I practically had to tie him to a chair. After he passed out, I went to look for you so he could rest.”
So many thoughts to process, but only one pressing. “He was shot?” He lied to me last night. Granted, I could barely remember my own name at that point; I was so cold and tired. But he helped me, never once complaining.
“Yeah, gnarly gash it was,” Terry says. “But don’t worry. He’ll be fine. And those men after you didn’t suspect a thing of an old man driving around at night.”
I move to the table, ready to devour a muffin when what he says registers. “You saw them?”
He nods. “I did. But don’t worry. I drove around for the rest of the night to make sure they weren’t following me back to you.”
“Why?”
He looks at me strangely. “Why what?”
“You don’t even know me. Why would you protect me like that?” No stranger has ever been so kind.
Terry shrugs. “Because that’s what I do.” He turns to the fridge and grabs a jar of milk like it’s truly that simple.
“Thank you,” I whisper. And I mean it.
Chapter 29
Serena
