“Start at the beginning,” Marc suggested.
As she told the story, Marc interrupted her several times, asking additional questions. The process took far longer than she would have expected, but finally he nodded, his expression full of satisfaction.
“Okay, thanks, Olivia. Would you like me to contact Mike so you can talk to Aaron?”
“Yes, please.” When he handed her his phone, she lifted it to her ear. “Aaron? Is that you, sweetheart?”
“Mommy! When are you coming to get me?”
“Soon, baby. Very soon. Are you being a good boy for Mr. and Mrs. Callahan?”
“Yes. Mommy, Brodie’s daddy wants to talk to you.”
“Okay, but just know I’ll see you soon, Aaron.” There was a brief silence before she heard Mike’s voice. “Hey, heard Ryker got Harper Moore.”
“Yes. But there’s still Kevin Blake.”
“I heard Blake is probably dead,” Mike said reassuringly. “If he and Moore both knew about the money, they’d have worked together to get to you.”
“Gee, thanks. That’s so not reassuring.”
“Sorry, but it’s the truth. Do you want me to bring Aaron to you? Just tell me when and where.”
“Anxious to get rid of him, huh?” Her wry smile faded. “Actually, I’m not sure where I’m supposed to go. There was a hotel room, but I’m not sure if that’s still on. Let me find Ryker and we’ll call you back, okay?”
“Sure, no problem. And really, there’s no rush. Aaron and Brodie are playing together just fine.”
“Thanks, Mike. You and Shayla are lifesavers.” She handed the phone back to Marc. “Your family has been wonderful to us.”
Marc waved off her gratitude. “We owe Ryker and Duncan for the way they helped us in the past. No need to worry about it. Would you like to return home?”
“Home?” She thought about the house she’d once shared with Tim. The one she hadn’t seen in six months, and thought she’d never see again. The idea of returning there wasn’t very appealing, but what choice did she have? Staying in motels for the indefinite future wasn’t exactly an option. “Sure, I guess.”
Marc frowned at her lackluster tone. “We can go to the hotel instead. It’s already been arranged.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m being silly.” She forced a smile. “Although, I would like Ryker to come with me. At least for a day or two.”
Marc lifted a brow. “I’ll get him. He’s likely finished with his statement by now.”
“Thank you.” The thought of having Ryker stay with her filled her with relief. Everyone involved in the case seemed convinced Kevin Blake was dead, but how could they know for sure? Granted, Mike had a point about the fact they would have been working together if they’d both known about the money.
Marc returned with Duncan, a sheepish expression on his face. “Um, looks like Ryker already left, but Duncan agreed to take you home.”
Left? Why would Ryker have taken off without telling her?
Without so much as saying goodbye?
Her heart seemed to stop in her chest. Obviously, Ryker felt his job of protecting her was over. He hadn’t really cared about her and Aaron, not the way he’d loved his girlfriend and her daughter.
“Olivia? Are you ready?”
She drew in a deep breath, trying not to let her despair show on her face. “Um, sure. But will you please call Mike to let him know? He offered to bring Aaron.”
“Of course.” Duncan took a few steps away, speaking quietly into the phone for a few minutes before turning back to her. “He’ll meet us at your place.”
She nodded and wearily pushed herself to her feet. She followed Duncan back out to the parking structure where he’d left their SUV. She was surprised it wasn’t being held as evidence, but remembered Ryker saying something about the security video. Maybe that was all they needed.
She was happy to leave the hospital and to know she’d be seeing Aaron again soon.
But the hollow feeling in her chest wouldn’t go away.
Ryker’s leaving had put a gaping hole in her heart and she knew that her life would never be the same without him.
EIGHTEEN
Walking away from a woman had never been so difficult. Ryker’s heart felt as if it were being ripped out of his chest. He already missed her.
But their time together was over.
She needed to move on, and he knew having him around would only be a horrible reminder of the danger she and Aaron had been in. The violence she’d witnessed. Seeing all that blood had made her shiver.
She’d get over him, even if he wouldn’t get over her.
His role in life was to save others, the way he’d always wished someone had stepped up to help his girlfriend and her daughter. Now that his mission was accomplished, it was time to move on.
Olivia would be fine with Duncan and Tony, but by the time he’d called a rideshare for a pickup, he was already doubting his decision to leave.
Shouldn’t he at least say goodbye? Let her know that if anything changed for her in the future, she could reach out to him? What if the violence didn’t bother her the way he’d thought it did?
The rideshare driver pulled up in a fancy black BMW. He was staring through the passenger window at Ryker impatiently. “Well? Are you coming?”
“No.” He turned and headed back through the parking structure to the hospital entrance. He frowned when he noticed Duncan’s SUV was gone.
His heart squeezed and he quickened his pace. When he burst into the lobby, he raked his gaze over the area, looking for a familiar face.
“Marc!” He rushed toward the FBI agent. “Where’s Olivia?”
“She left with Duncan and Tony.” Marc frowned. “Tony said you left.”
“I’m back.” He couldn’t believe he’d missed them. “Where are they headed? To another hotel?”
“No, she’s going home.” At Ryker’s blank look, Marc added, “You know, her house. Where she once lived. Mike is bringing Aaron out to Madison to drop him off there.”
The home she’d shared with
