A Little Harmless Secret by Melissa Schroeder Read Free Book Online Page A

danger?
    He tightened his hands on the steering wheel until his knuckles were white. It was that or lose complete control. When he felt he was calm enough, he decided to start asking questions.
    “How often have you had to do that?”
    She didn’t answer right away. He hadn’t been able to hide all the anger that now boiled in his gut. He knew Ali was calculating just how much to tell him.
    “You mean run?” she asked.
    He nodded.
    “This makes the third time. It is the first time for Bridget though. I had to run from England after my father’s funeral. Then, to America after her birth, so she doesn’t really remember that of course. I don’t understand it at all.”
    “We’ll figure it out when we get back to the apartment.”
    “I can’t go there.”
    He ignored her as the light turned green and he pressed the gas. No way was he going to accept that. If he put her in a hotel, she could disappear forever and he would never find her. With her background, there was a very good chance she had multiple identities in who knew how many countries. She would dissolve into the population and Devon would lose his daughter.
    “You will come with me to the apartment.”
    “Devon, I can’t put Dee in danger. She’s pregnant and has a baby. I would never forgive myself if she were hurt.”
    Again she surprised him. Of course, she was a mother now, so that might be the reason. Still, it eased some of his anger—for the moment. Thinking of his sister before her own safety was more than he expected.
    “First of all, you don’t know my sister that well. She can beat the crap out of a lot of people—even pregnant. Second, you haven’t met my brother-in-law. He’ll take care of her. Plus, I need his advice about this. Like Dee said, he’s a former bounty hunter. He knows how to help people disappear.”
    “I don’t need his help. I was fine until you showed up on my doorstep.”
    He turned into the parking garage and pulled into his spot. They were going to have to cut their vacation short. There was no way around it. Or he could take Ali and Bridget away and book a flight for Dee, Micah and Alana.
    She checked her gun, undoing the safety, then slipped out of the car. No conversing, no questions—just cold and methodical. She kept the gun out as she surveyed the area. He stepped out of the car and did the same.
    It was stupid, but he was turned on by it. There was something sexy about the lethal way she walked around the car. She nodded at him, and he popped the trunk. She headed to the backseat and leaned in to get Bridget.
    “Let me take her,” he said.
    She didn’t even turn around to respond. “I’ve got her.”
    And she did. With ease, she pulled her daughter out of the car and straightened.
    “You get the bags.”
    She hesitated and that pissed him off. For a long moment, she studied him, but she handed Bridget over to him. He took her into his arms, and she made a few little sleepy sounds kids made. Then, she moved this way and that, trying to get comfortable. She finally settled her head on his shoulder facing his neck.
    Devon pulled in a deep breath as his heart squeezed tight. It was hard to even come up with words to describe what he was feeling. And, there wasn’t time to deal with it. He had to somehow get them out of Seattle alive and figure out who was actually after them.
    They walked silently to the elevator, and took the entire ride up in silence. When they reached the apartment floor, he waited for Ali to step out then followed her. After unlocking the door, they stepped into the apartment.
    “No security?” she asked.
    “Normally, but they knew I was out and there is a little one sleeping.”
    She nodded.
    “Why don’t you set that down over there,” he said, motioning with his head. “I’ll take her back to my bedroom.”
    He started walking to his room and Ali came with him. It annoyed him but then, it made her a good mother. If the roles were reversed, he would have behaved the