Chapter Thirty

“If he’s dead, he didn’t come in as a John Doe,” Armstrong told Reed when he called first thing the next morning.

“Thanks for looking into that for me.”

“That part’s easy. Anything else I can do for you?”

“Not unless you’re willing to hack into hospital databases.”

“Ha. No. I actually like my job. What are you looking for?”

Reed sighed.

“On second thought, don’t tell me. I don’t need any marks on my record.”

Reed laughed. “Probably for the best.”

Armstrong smiled. “How’s Avery?”

“Better. Still in New York, but no longer searching the gutters. Her boyfriend is with her.”

“Boyfriends tend to do the most damage when suspects are caught.”

“Depends on the size of the fish we pull from the ocean. He’s levelheaded.”

Armstrong leaned on his desk, tapped his pen to the notebook in front of him. “Anyone else I need to worry about?”

Reed sighed.

“You know what . . . you’re right. I don’t need to know that either. You call me if you need any legal information I can share, and let me know how it all works out.”

“That I can do. Thanks again.” Reed hung up.

Yeah, Armstrong really didn’t want to know how Reed and his group operated.

Sasha knocked on their hotel room door at ten in the morning. Good thing, since Avery slept until eight and had finished her breakfast right before.

Sasha wore tan slacks and a silk blouse. Her conservative outfit made Avery pause. “Are we going to church?”

She shook her head. “Visiting hours. Go change. I’ll wait.”

Avery didn’t argue.

After she’d woken up that morning feeling like the hundred-pound weight on her chest had lifted, much of the fight had left her system.

She’d cried. While it might not have seemed like much to the average person, the reality was she hadn’t shed one tear over herself since everything had gone down. The tears, she realized after she’d woken up, weren’t over Spider, but Liam. She almost lost him.

There was no reason for him to chase her to New York, but there he was. She saw the look in his eye when she took off her shirt and he took in the footprint size bruise on her hip. What he had said about her pain being his . . . she got that now. Later, when he made love to her and cherished every piece she allowed him to take, he awakened something new inside.

I love you, Avery.

The words echoed in her mind all night. Not that she had to wait long to hear them again. Liam meant it when he said they were his ending statement. When he saw the worry on her face, he kissed her and said he knew how she felt.

Before she took her morning shower, she sent a group text to the First Wives. I’m feeling much better. Liam is here and helping me through this. I love you all.

The replies were rapid and all held the same sentiment. We love you. We’re here. Call if you need us. Come home soon.

Avery returned to the living room of the suite.

Liam smiled and Sasha sent a look of disapproval.

“What?”

“Boots?”

“Yeah, why?”

She shook her head. “You’re disappointing me. You need a purse.”

Avery sent Liam a look that said What the hell? and okay at the same time.

She returned with her purse.

“Chloé, good.” Another scan from Sasha. “Did you bring any jewelry with you?”

Avery stalked back into the room, wearing the earrings and bracelet she’d bought to wear in the clubs.

Sasha released a frustrated sigh and they left the hotel. Instead of getting in a cab, they walked across the street and straight into a department store. Sasha marched them into the men’s department, picked up a Friday casual jacket, and shoved it in Liam’s hands. “Put this on.”

Liam shrugged into it.

Avery had him turn around. Not only did it fit, it managed to kick-start a flutter in her chest. “Looks good.”

“Why are we dressing up?”

Sasha didn’t answer. She took the coat from him and moved to the service desk.

Liam reached for his wallet, but Sasha had already swiped her card.

After the clerk removed the security tag, Sasha took the jacket from her hands and gave it back to Liam.

“No one has bought me clothes since my parents,” he told them.

Sasha stood to his side, smoothed out the arms. “It’s two thousand dollars, feel free to pay me back. Or don’t.”

Liam’s jaw dropped.

Avery grabbed his hand and they continued through the store.

Sasha stopped at a makeup counter, flagged an attendant, and pointed to Avery’s face. “Fix this.”

Okay, just because Avery hadn’t brought all her concealers and moisturizers didn’t mean she needed fixing.

Only with one look in the tilted countertop mirror, she realized she did.

Sasha pointed to Avery’s feet. “Size?”

“Six and a half. I can buy my own shoes.”

Without comment, Sasha walked away.

Liam leaned in. “What the hell is she all about?”

“Efficiency.”

The woman working on her makeup smoothed something under Avery’s eyes that felt like heaven. “Have you been sick?” the stranger asked.

Avery closed her eyes. “I’m getting over it.”

Liam rested a hand on her shoulder.

Twenty minutes later, wearing an edgy jacket in a rust orange color with matching Prada on her feet, Avery felt a little like her old self. Because she couldn’t leave the makeup lady without buying a few things, Avery held a bag with her boots and five hundred dollars’ worth of makeup.

Apparently Sasha didn’t approve. The second they were out of the department store, she grabbed Avery’s bag and handed it to the first petite homeless woman she could. “Merry Christmas.”

Avery’s jaw dropped. “Those were Stuart Weitzmans.”

“I’m sure Stuart has others. Come on. We’re late.”

Sasha stopped in front of a black SUV double-parked outside the department store. “Liam, you’re in front.”

Avery scooted in the back with Sasha and glanced at the driver. “I know you,” she said, slightly surprised. “You’re part of the Alliance team.”

“That’s right. Cooper. How are you, Avery?”

“I’m fine. This is Liam. Liam, Cooper works with Reed.”

Sasha clapped her hands like she was starting class. “Okay, kids, listen up.”

Liam shot Avery a grin.

“It’s really very simple. Today is visiting day, and the two of you are searching out a facility for your desperate younger brother who is snorting his tuition up his nose. Your brother’s name is Cooper.”

From the driver’s seat, Cooper offered a thumbs-up as he cut through traffic.

“My name is Mary. Think virginal.”

It took everything to keep Avery from laughing.

“What’s my name?” Avery said with a lift in her voice.

“Avery. And he’s Liam. IDs will be checked at the door.”

“Wait, your name is really Mary?”

Sasha looked at her like she was crazy. “Are you new?”

An invisible hand hit Avery upside the head. Fake ID. Okay. “But why do you need a fake ID?”

Again, Sasha blinked and kept silent. “We’ll walk in separately. Mingle. Liam, you stay with Avery. Take your time. Look in open doors, ask questions about the facility, talk to the patients, the counselors, the doctors. Avery, you’re exceptional about keeping your lies together. You do the talking. Liam, your job is to offer those big shoulders to help.”

Avery glanced at Liam. “My pact to tell the truth lasted less than twelve hours.”

Liam winked.

“Do not, under any circumstances, ask about Spider. Rehabilitation facilities will bounce you out the door if they think for one minute you’re there to find someone. Just because you don’t see Spider doesn’t mean he isn’t there.”

Avery’s smile sobered. “What if he is?”

“We’ll cross that when we get there.”

“If we get there.”

Sasha lifted Avery’s chin with a finger. “When.”

Cooper stopped the car.

“Okay, kids. First act is on you. Cooper, drive me around the block.”

Avery opened the door, and Liam was there to help her out.

“I’ll see you on the inside.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Avery glanced up at the sign above the door. “‘Tranquility Springs.’ Sounds like a spa.”

Liam tugged on his jacket. “Looks expensive.”

Avery put her hand in his. “So do you.”

They walked up the steps together and opened the front door. Zen meditation music greeted them, along with a perfectly polished feminine man behind a mahogany reception desk. “Good afternoon. Welcome to Tranquility Springs.”

“We’re here to look around. There is an open house today, right?” Since the lobby was free of people, she was starting to wonder if Sasha had her facts wrong.

“Of course. I just need you to sign in.”

Avery’s hands actually started to sweat. She signed her name to the registration log and turned the pen to Liam.