Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #1)(63)

I’m taken aback. What does he mean? What does he know? “Liam—”

“We’ve already established you don’t want to be around me when I’m like this. I’m not done being an ass. I’ve got a lot more of my father to deal with and a lot more of the me you don’t like to follow.”

“I can deal with you being an ass now that I know why.”

“I can’t. Just please stay here in the hotel where I know you’re safe.

There are cameras and security, especially in this suite. I need to know you’re safe.”

He’s decided. I hear it in his voice. “Yes. Okay. I’ll stay, but I really want to go with you.”

“Stay, Amy. And think about tonight when I’m gone.”

“There’s nothing to think about.”

“We both know that’s not true.” He sets me aside and pushes to his feet.

I follow him to the bedroom and sit on the bed while he changes into faded jeans and a light blue pullover, and boots, then fills a suitcase. “When will you be back?”

“I don’t know. I have to take care of this kid my father hurt and her family, and get him back into rehab.”

Back into rehab. This is very much an ongoing battle for Liam.

“Where’s your phone?” he asks.

“I don’t know. I don’t even remember dropping my purse or briefcase when we came in the door.”

His jaw tenses and he turns away, returning with my things. “I want you to put Derek’s number in your phone. I know you don’t know him, but he’s like a brother to me. I trust him and so can you.”

I pull out my phone and Liam takes it, keying in the number for me before going down on a knee in front of me. His expression softens and his fingers caress down my cheek. “For the record, we’d make beautiful babies together.”

My breath lodges in my throat and I lean into him, resting my forehead on his. “I don’t want you to go.”

“I just hope you want me to come back.” He kisses my forehead and then digs out the key to the car, pressing it to my palm. “I’ll take a cab. Use it if you need it.” He reaches behind him and pulls out his wallet and a credit card.

I shake my head. “No, Liam.”

“I’m not getting on this plane thinking you might need something I can’t give you. Take it. The pin is 1117. We will both have piece of mind in knowing you have it if you need it.”

Reluctantly, I nod and accept it. “Hurry back.”

He pushes to his feet, stares down at me for several seconds and then grabs his bag and starts walking. Fighting the urge to chase after him, I dig my fingers into the blanket and wait for the sound I dread. The door opening and shutting with him on the outside.

I am alone again.





Chapter Nineteen


I wake up the next morning in an empty bed, with my cell phone on the pillow where I wish Liam’s head were resting. He didn’t call. He’d sent me a text message when he landed in New York that was nothing more than Are you okay? followed by walking into the hospital when I’d confirmed I was fine. I’d called him several times but he had not answered.

Sitting up, I scan the room that has oddly begun to feel like home, but today it is an empty shell and I have nothing to fill it with. It scares me how wrong I feel without Liam. How quickly I have become used to waking up to him. My phone beeps with a text and I quickly click on it.

This is why I didn’t want you here. There is a link and I click on it. The headline reads, Billionaire’s father arrested on DUI. The subtitle though is the worst part. Mother of two almost bleeds to death while young daughter

watches. I read the details of what has been reported and my gut knots at the horrific article that all but calls it Liam’s fault for not controlling his father. I dial his number. He doesn’t answer. I text him. Please call me.

Walking into courthouse is the reply I receive.

He doesn’t want to talk to me. I feel it. He needed me last night and he feels like I wasn’t there for him. Maybe I have a little too much of my pops in me for both our good. My confident, talented man isn’t as confident as I thought. Somehow the vulnerability in him makes him more human, more special. But he doesn’t think so. He thinks of himself as damaged goods.

My hand settles on my belly and I hate the certainty that if I am pregnant I’ll have to leave Liam. He is too high profile, too newsworthy, and my child and I would therefore be in the spotlight, where we would become bigger targets than I already am. I see why Alex hated the press. Liam is media fodder whether he wants to be or not. I don’t want to leave him. I don’t want to run anymore. That means I cannot sit back and hope I am not found. I can’t go on trying to find answers in a scared and non-committed way.

Decision made to act and quickly, I throw off the blanket, rush through a shower, and then dress in jeans, a tank top, and Keds. I leave the hotel on a mission for answers, and make my now daily stop by the bank, where I disappointedly find nothing has changed. There is not more money in my account. The discovery serves as reinforcement for what I have to do next. If Liam were to suddenly be out of my life, I have to be able to survive and not end up dead.

I swing by the cell phone store, where I buy several disposable phones. A few blocks later, I stop at Evernight to find another “out to lunch” sign. I call Meg and she actually answers.