Page 12 of Corrupted Lies

“We don’t know for certain that the fire was set because of you, because of us and our investigation,” Jax reminded him as he took a seat on the other couch and picked up the laptop sitting on the coffee table.

“You don’t think it was odd that I’ve been keeping my distance from Alannah for three months, then I cave and go to spend a couple of hours with her at her gym, and we’re locked in a basement and almost burned alive?”

“Of course I do. It’s one hell of a coincidence. But until we know more, that’s all it is. I’m not saying it isn’t because of the people after us, in fact, I think chances are it was, but it would be stupid to cut out any other possibility until we know for sure.”

“Who would be after Alannah?” The thought was so preposterous that he actually barked out a laugh at it. Alannah reminded him a lot of the women his brothers had fallen for. She was sweet, kind, and loving, but she also had shields up around her heart that she struggled to lower to let people in, which was why she kept dating the worst guys who were only after her for her looks and her money.

Was it possible …

No.

It couldn’t be one of her exes. Could it?

Honestly, they didn't talk about their love lives much with one another. They were best friends, but they were also family, and he didn't really want to hear about Alannah sleeping with other men. He’d always assumed she felt the same way since she never pushed him about his relationships. Not that therewere a lot of them. He was a loner, and he didn't really see that changing.

But Alannah wanted to find love, wanted a partner, a family, someone who would love her unconditionally and see her for her.

Had a relationship spun out of control? Maybe she was just ashamed to tell him. Normally, they only discussed her boyfriends when they became exes and only because she wound up hurt and needed him to cheer her up. Which was ironic since he was the grumpy and she was the sunshine in their friendship.

“You're right,” he agreed, shooting Jax a grateful smile. Knowing how close he’d come to losing his best friend had messed with his head and he wasn't thinking clearly, wasn't capable of working through every possibility on his own right now.

“Gang’s here,” a voice called out as he heard his front door open.

The thunder of footsteps told him his entire family had shown up to have his back, and he couldn’t be more grateful for all of them. He’d lost both his parents, but he had a brother, four stepbrothers, a stepsister, four one-day stepsisters-in-law, and an adorable step-niece. His life was full of people who loved and supported him.

“Hi, Uncle Jake,” Essie said as she ran into the room like the little tornado of energy that she was.

“Hey, Messy Essie,” he returned, making the five-year-old curl up her lip in annoyance at the nickname.

“I'm not messy, Uncle Jake. Ialwaysputs my toys away when I finish playing with them,” she told him, all sassy and indignant. Then her face brightened into a smile. “My mom and dad are having a baby,” she announced.

“Essie,” Gabriella rebuked gently even as she smiled. Gabriella was no longer Essie’s nanny, the little girl had startedcalling her mom, and he knew she loved hearing the name fall from the lips of the child she loved and had protected at great personal cost when they’d both been abducted last month.

“We’re only a few weeks in, and Gabriella has a history of miscarriage,” Cade explained, wrapping an arm around his fiancée and pulling her close, placing a hand on her stomach.

“I’m further along than I’ve ever been before,” Gabriella said softly, pain in her pretty green eyes. “We probably shouldn’t have told Essie so early, considering there’s a good chance the baby won't make it, but we wanted her to be part of this journey if it does.”

“The baby is going to come,” Essie said firmly, running over to kiss Gabriella’s flat stomach. “Cos I'm going to be the best big sister ever.”

“You sure are, cuddle bug,” Gabriella said as she leaned down to hug the little girl.

Jake’s phone rang, and he reached over to snatch it up. When he saw Alannah’s name on the screen, something inside him tightened. He was safe, surrounded by family, but Alannah didn't have a family who loved her or cared about her, and even though he’d dropped her off with a friend of hers, and made sure someone was watching the house, he couldn’t help but feel a small sliver of fear as he accepted the call.

October 14th

3:34 P.M.

Every time Alannah closed her eyes it felt like she was back in the basement at her gym, smoke thick in the air, terrified that she was going to be burned alive.

While she hadn't had a great home life as a child, and she’d struggled to make genuine connections with people even as she grew older because she was so desperate to be loved and belong that sometimes she didn't see people for who they truly were, she’d never been in physical danger like that.

Never wondered if she was going to survive.

Never come close enough to death that she could feel its soft touch as it reached out for her.

To say she was shaken by the ordeal was a massive understatement. It was all she could think about, and the snatched pockets of sleep she’d managed only because she was completely exhausted by the time she crashed had been filled with dreams, reliving the trauma.

Even though she’d been in a house with one of her best friends, the woman’s husband, and their four kids, Alannah had never felt so alone.

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