A Little Harmless Secret by Melissa Schroeder Read Free Book Online

the way to get the 9mm she had stored inside the hallway linen closet in the safe. She had to give up a minute or two for their escape time, but she didn’t want to go unarmed. The cold metal felt familiar as she wrapped her hand around the weapon.
    She crouched down as she ran toward the front door. Then, she stopped, fear lancing her heart leaving her almost breathless. A large, dark figure loomed in the hall doorway.
    “Ali, let’s go. Someone’s coming through your backyard.” She knew that voice, would never be able to forget it.
    Relief filled her. “Devon?”
    “Yes. Come on.”
    He came to her and took Bridget from her arms. “Come on.”
    “No.”
    “I don’t have time to fuck around. There are at least five in the back. We can argue later.”
    “I have a bag to take.”
    “Get Charles!” Bridget yelled.
    “Right.”
    She stopped in Bridget’s room, picked up her favorite bear and the go bag she had packed for Bridget. Then, she grabbed her own and was following Devon out of the front door. They ran to his SUV, which was parked in front of her driveway. He put Bridget in the backseat.
    “Strap yourself in, Bridget,” Devon said. He popped the trunk and Alicia threw the bags in. Then she slipped in beside him.
    “Go.”
    He didn’t argue. Instead, he hit the gas and they went raring off into the night. Alicia’s heart was pounding hard against her chest and she couldn’t catch her breath. She made sure the safety was on her gun before setting it down on the floorboard, then strapped herself in.
    “You were right, Mummy. He did come back.”
    She smiled and looked at Devon, then at her daughter.
    “He did, poppet. He really did.”
    And thank God he did. She could have gotten them out of trouble, but it was definitely easier with Devon there.
    “Where are we going?”
    “Back to the apartment I rented for us here.”
    For a moment she was confused, but then she realized he was talking about his sister and her husband.
    “I don’t know if I want to do that.”
    “You really don’t have a fu—”
    “Watch it,” she said. He glanced at her, and she motioned with her head toward Bridget.
    He sighed.
    “And, what I meant was I didn’t want to put your family in any more danger.”
    “What makes you think they’ll link you and me?”
    She realized that on this one point, he was correct. He continued driving, making sure to double back a few times.
    “I really appreciate this,” she said. “We’ll find a new place soon.”
    He didn’t say anything for a few minutes as he continued to drive. Then, he glanced up in the rearview mirror to check on Bridget. She also looked and found her daughter asleep.
    “Let’s get one thing straight. You and Bridget will not be out of my sight until I know that both of you are safe. There is no discussion. I will take care of both of you, but if you refuse, you go alone. You will not walk off with my daughter.”
     
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SIX
     
    The rain started to fall about five minutes from the apartment. Devon turned on the windshield wipers as he tried to come to terms with what just happened.
    He had been sitting out on the street, keeping an eye on the house, and he’d seen a movement. It had taken a moment or two for him to figure out exactly what he was seeing. They’d been dressed from head to toe in black, appearing almost out of nowhere.
    When he’d finally realized what he was seeing, he’d slipped out of his SUV and headed to the front door. The fact that she was already getting out of the house told him she had been prepared for it.
    Of course she was prepared for it. She was the daughter of a master spy and former MI-6.
    “You seethe very well in silence,” she said, enough condemnation to make him grind his teeth.
    He stopped at a light and looked in the mirror to check on Bridget. She was fast asleep. Fury still poured through him as he tried to calm himself down. How many times had his daughter been in