Page 40 of Dangerous Secret

“No, I’m not, but you’re still fired.”

He tilted his face toward her and waited until she met his gaze. “Nope, gonna keep on having your six.”

Chapter 18

Harlow had to make him understand. Anthony was mean and as sneaky as a snake. He’d strike when least expected. She should know.

“Trust me, Harlow.” He softly said as he skimmed his fingers over her cheek.

“It’s not that I don’t. I do. It’s Anthony I don’t trust. He plays dirty.”

“Believe me, I can get down in the dirt with the best of them. As can Liam and Cooper.”

Maybe so, but he wasn’t getting just how ruthless and vengeful Anthony could be. It wasn’t a risk she was willing to take. She’d just need to figure out how to get her son and disappear without leaving a trail.

“What’s going through that mind of yours?”

She hoped she didn’t have a guilty look on her face because she feared that he could see into her mind. That he read her every thought and knew the drastic measure she was considering.

She shrugged and tried for an innocent face. His piercing gaze made her uneasy and she feared she wasn’t doing such a good job of shielding her thoughts. When she averted her gaze, he put his hand on her chin and gently turned her to meet his eyes.

“Talk to me.” He let go of her chin and tapped her forehead with a finger. “You’re planning something.”

How could he possibly know that?

“If you’re thinking your only choice is to go back to him out of some altruistic idea you need to protect me and my team, just forget it.”

“No! No, I could never go back to him.” Relief poured though her that he hadn’t guessed her plan. What would he think if he knew what she was considering? If anyone could help her disappear, it would be him. Did she dare test the water? The trick would be to make it sound like a stray thought, not her plan B.

“I don’t know. Maybe I should just disappear with Tyler. Go somewhere Anthony would never find us.” Uh-oh, he didn’t look happy.

He stood and braced his hands on the arms of her chair, boxing her in. “Listen to me right now. Get that idea out of your head.”

“It was just a thought.” She could see the warrior in him, in the determined and hard eyes, in the sharply spoken words that said she’d be a fool to challenge him.

“But not a good one.” His expression softened slightly. “A life on the run with your little boy isn’t the answer.” He stepped back and leaned against the railing. “Do you want to spend the rest of your life looking over your shoulder? And if you’re caught, which you probably will be, you’d be charged with parental kidnapping and most likely get a prison sentence. You’d lose any chance of getting custody of your son. Is that what you want?”

“No.” Because she didn’t plan on getting caught, but if she was…he was right, she’d lose Tyler forever. The thought of a life without her son was unbearable. She pressed her trembling lips together. Over her years with Anthony, she’dlearned to hide her tears because he liked making her cry. Fed off her misery.

He held out his arms. “Come here.”

The invitation to be held by gentle arms was too much to resist, and she walked into them. “I’m sorry,” she said when a sob escaped. “Men hate it when women cry.”

“Hush. It gives me no pleasure to see you cry because you’re hurting, but sometimes it’s good to just let it out. You’re safe with me. You don’t have to be strong right now.”

The understanding he gave her, his kindness, and trusting that she was safe with him, she let her tears fall. She buried her face against his chest, and as she cried, he stroked her hair, then down her back, the touch of his hands soft and gentle. “I just miss him so much.”

“I promise you, we’ll bring your boy home to you.” When she looked up at him, he smiled as he swiped his thumbs over her cheeks, wiping away her tears. “And, Harlow, I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“No more talk about firing me or taking off on your own, yeah?”

“I trust you, so I’m not going anywhere.” How had she gotten lucky enough to find this man to help her?

“Good. Now, why don’t we go inside, and let me take care of you.”

“Okay.” She hoped that “taking care of her” meant what she thought it did.

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