The Awakening: Liam (Entangled Covet) (13 page)

“It’s my fault you were brought into this to begin with. I’ll make sure you’re safe, and when we catch

this guy I’ll leave.”

Emma had already suffered at the hands of this man twice.

And now Ava knew firsthand he had no qualms about beating a woman unconscious. The idea of him

doing the same to her little sister…her heart twisted.

That would
never
happen.

She’d feed whatever information she could to SPAC to help them find this lunatic, but she would so

whatever she needed to make certain Emma was safe, and if that meant she had to stay away from Liam

until they found him, then she would, no matter how much it hurt.

Steeling her regrets, she looked Liam directly in the eyes.

“I was
tortured
. Beaten, strangled, drugged
”
She waved the phone she still clutched in her hand. “He’s

already called me and let me know he was coming after me…because of you. Why would I want the reason

for my abduction in the same house as me?

He paled, but as she suspected he would, he snatched the phone from her hand. “I won’t leave you

defenseless.”

“I’m not defenseless.” She nodded toward the front yard. “I have one of your own people watching the

house at all times.”

“I
won’t
leave you.”

“You’re not coming inside.”

“Then I’ll stay outside.”

“Do what you want, but you’re not stepping a foot inside this house.”

She slammed the door in his face, and almost broke down when the crash of the latch echoed around

the room. Pressing a shaking hand to her mouth, she peeked out the window. Liam had retreated to sit on

the top step of her porch, his elbows braced on his knees, head bent forward with his hands laced behind

his neck.

The epitome of a man refused. Deserted.

Pain and regret burning away at her insides, she closed her eyes. All she could hope was that one day

she’d be able to take his hurt away, be able to confide in him about everything. But until that day came,

she’d stay silent to keep her sister safe.

Chapter 7

Four hours later, Ava lifted the soup pot off the stove and shuffled toward the sink, wincing as her

ankle throbbed in protest. The pulse of pain had become more persistent since she’d entered the kitchen

and propped her crutches against the wall so she could cook. She should probably rest, put her foot up, but

every time she sat down, her mind started wandering to places she’d rather steer clear of.

Liam. Emma. The kidnapping.

The kidnapping was the worst. Those horrible thoughts magnified every creak of the house until she

was a tense and jumpy mess. To keep busy, she called the coffee shop and checked in. Becky, one of her

waitresses, had said everything was going fine, but everyone was asking about her and wished her a speedy

recovery. The sentiment had made her a smile. Unfortunately, the call hadn’t lasted long and she was back

to jumping at creepy creaks throughout the house within ten minutes.

She’d finally turned the volume up high on the television so all she could hear was the booming of
The

Big Bang Theory
and Sheldon’s antics. Comedy was good. Laughter was needed. But tonight, the sitcom

that always brought forth belly-laughs couldn’t even get her to crack a smile.

Couldn’t wash away the fear, worry, and…guilt.

She’d finally admitted defeat and hobbled into the kitchen, leaving the show on in the background. She

didn’t know what she was looking for, why she’d gone in there. She wasn’t hungry or even thirsty, but as

soon as she opened the refrigerator and found the whole chicken she’d placed in there to defrost for dinner

this week, she knew what to do to keep busy. Chopping onions, celery, and carrots, and washing the

chicken had cleared her mind, helped her relax. Helped her wait for Emma. Though she did keep glancing

at the clock every few minutes, watching the time tick by since they’d spoken on the phone hours ago.

I’ll be home soon. Jessica and I are in the middle of something
.

That had been Emma’s excuse for not coming home straight away. Not that she’d enlightened Ava on

what that something was. More than likely that something was nothing, and Emma was pretty much telling

her that she was in no rush to see her.

At first the thought had hurt, but Ava pushed it away, reminding herself the last few days had been

rough on her sister, too, and if she needed to do this slowly then Ava would let her. In the end, Emma’s

reluctance to come home had been a blessing in disguise. The house smelled of chicken soup and pumpkin

gooey butter cake—her most popular dessert at the coffee shop.

It smelled like home.

When Emma walked in that door, she would walk into routine. As though nothing had changed. As

though the last couple of days hadn’t happened. They needed that, even if it lasted for only a few seconds.

At least for Ava. Once that door closed behind her sister, it would be the two of them inside, while Liam sat

outside alone.

Every now and then, a compulsive urge to check if he was still there would come over her and she’d

limp over to the window and peek out. And every time, he was still there, sitting with his elbows braced on

his knees, his fingers entwined, staring out across the yard. And every damn time, pain knifed through her

sharper than any real blade could inflict, and she wanted to take back every mean thing she’d said.

She shoved her thoughts away. She’d made her decision. No going back now.

After straining the broth, she picked the chicken meat off the bone before she placed the soup back on

the stove. Wiping her hands on a dishrag, she hobbled back into the living room just as the front door

opened.

Emma walked in, frowning as she looked back at a German shepherd trotting in after her. At the dog’s

presence, Ava blinked. “Who’s your friend?”

When her sister turned around, her color dropped a few shades and she swallowed, her eyes

immediately going to the carpet as long, strawberry blond hair fell forward to curtain her face.

“You look like crap, sis,” she muttered.

“Thanks for that.” Ava had deliberately put on a long-sleeved shirt with a high neck so the worst of the

damage was covered, but there wasn’t anything she could do about her puffy, purple cheek, or the dark

bruise that had formed under her right eye.

“You sure you’re okay?” she asked as she scratched the dog on top of the head.

“Sore, but yeah, I’m fine. Where did the dog come from?”

She shrugged, keeping her focus on the dog’s head. “Just showed up yesterday, wouldn’t leave me

alone. Even followed me to school today and stayed outside. He’s really sweet. You don’t mind if he stays

do you?”

Wow. So this was how SPAC put a detail on someone unknowingly. Definitely effective. As much as

she was grateful that in animal form this officer would be with her sister pretty constantly, she saw a

potential problem: attachment. “If he’s that sweet, honey, he probably belongs to someone.”

Another shrug. “Yeah, I know, but can he stay until we find his family?”

Most likely as soon as SPAC found the kidnapper, there’d be missing dog posters plastered everywhere.

“As long as you understand that the moment we know who his family is he has to go home.”

“Okay.”

An awkward silence followed. Ava bit her bottom lip, uncertain what to do or say. Her sister was so

closed off…distant. Giving the impression that if Ava made the wrong move Emma would bolt right back

out the door. Not that she expected her sister to tackle-hug her when she’d come home. Never the overly

affectionate type, a quick peck on the cheek as she was rushing out the door was as mushy as her sister got.

But this tension between them was new and disconcerting.

Emma glanced at the front door, brows drawn together. “Why is Liam sitting on the porch?”

“He heard about the accident.”

“That didn’t answer my question.”

“We broke up. Just because I was hurt doesn’t mean I’m just going to open my door to him again.”

When Emma walked across the room and plopped onto the couch, the dog followed her and sat at her

side on the floor. “I never understood why you guys broke up. You seemed really into each other.”

And she never would. Ava would make certain of that.

“Relationships fizzle, hon.” She cautiously moved closer to her sister, wanting to be near her, but when

she tensed, Ava stopped. Why did she refuse to look at her?

“I guess. Still doesn’t make a lot of sense. You were always so happy when you were with him. You

didn’t seem too happy afterward.”

The last thing she wanted to do was talk about Liam Inhaling, she sat beside her sister on the couch,

who then scooted further into the corner away from her.

The movement hurt. “Emma. Are you okay?”

She fiddled with the end of her black concert T-shirt. “Yep.”

“I’m sorry about what happened.”

Yet another shrug and Ava almost groaned in frustration. “You couldn’t help it.”

“Come on, Emma, talk to me.”

“Nuttin’ to talk about.”

“Please. The last couple of days couldn’t have been easy for you.”

There was a long silence before three barely whispered words came out of her sister’s mouth. “You

scared me.” She angrily wiped her palm across her cheek before going back to toy with the hem of her

shirt.

Just like that, Emma was no longer a fifteen-year-old teenager determined to show no feelings, but a

frightened child who didn’t know what to do with the emotions inside her. Why she wouldn’t look at Ava

suddenly made sense. She didn’t want to see. Didn’t want to relive the last couple of days. Wanted to

pretend it hadn’t happened. And the bruises on her face kept her sister from doing so.

“I’m so sorry.”

“You didn’t call to check in. You never came home. You never do that. Why would you go hiking

without your stupid phone, anyway?”

Good question. “I just needed some air and went for a walk. I thought I’d be back before you got

home.”

So many lies.

“Don’t do something that dumb again.”

Unable to make that promise, she reached over and squeezed Emma’s hand. None of them knew what

the future held. And until this bastard was caught, Ava’s was definitely not hopeful. She just needed to

make sure her sister’s was.

When her sister finally lifted her head and made eye contact, Ava’s breath left her in one forceful gush.

The toll of the last few days was evident on her haunted face. Dark, puffy circles underlined her hazel eyes.

The tip of her nose was red.

She’d been crying. A lot.

She gathered her sister in her arms and held tight, as Britton had for her. And the action had the same

effect. Little sniffles quickly escalated to hard sobs. Tears blinded her vision as she hugged Emma closer,

letting her get it all out.

When her sister pulled back, she rubbed a fist against her eyes like a child does when sleepy, and Ava

wanted to tug her back in her arms and shield her from the evil in the world.

And that was exactly what she was doing by keeping her mouth shut. The madman had gotten to her

sister twice. He never would again.

“I made chicken soup for dinner and pumpkin gooey for dessert.”

“Really?” She perked up, a small smile coming to her own lips. “Jessica’s mom’s cooking is decent, but

doesn’t come close to yours.”

“At least I’m good for something, right?”

A seriousness that was way too old for a teenager stole across her sister’s face. “You’re way more to me

than just your cooking. You saved me, sis.. I was headed down a bad path, and it could’ve gotten so much

worse, but you gave me a fresh start. And I’m so glad you did.”

Good Lord, the child was determined to make her crumble. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she

brushed a strand of hair behind Emma’s ear. “You’re my little sister. I love you and I’ll do anything to give

you the life you deserve.”

“I love you, too.” Wetness rimmed her sister’s eyes beforeshe looked away, then hopped up from the

couch. “I’m starving. Let’s eat.”

She took her sister’s cue and let the sentimental moment pass. It was more than Emma had ever said to

her, but she had never needed words from her sister. Just seeing her thrive in the environment she had

provided had always been enough.

After she stood too, pain thumped in her ankle causing her to shift slightly to take the weight off her

foot. Her sister noticed. “You sit. I can pay you back for waiting hand and foot on me after I broke my leg.”

She glanced at the TV. “Beside, this is a great episode. Bazinga!”

Emma hurried into the kitchen, leaving Ava to stare at the wall in front of her unnerved by innocent

words. Her sister had no idea that her broken leg hadn’t been an accident because of a crappy skateboard.

It’d been Ava’s fault. Because she’d been too slow in responding to her tormentor’s demands—every time

she’d tried to break up with Liam she couldn’t force the awful words out of her mouth.