Dean was saved by the bell.
They were called out for two more med calls before the shift was over.
Sam tossed her duffel bag into the back seat of her car and dialed Liam’s number.
He answered on the second ring. “Samantha.”
“Right. Is Isabella okay?” She chewed on her bottom lip.
“She’s fine, but we do need to sit down and talk.”
“How bad is it?” She leaned her head back against the head rest.
“It’s not great, but it’s not bad either.”
“Text me your address. I’m on my way.”
“Okay. I was just about to order some pizza for the girls. Any special requests?”
Depending on what he had to say, she probably wouldn’t be able to eat. “No, thanks.” The phone beeped in her ear, indicating she’d received a notification. “I got your address.”
“We’ll see you when you get here.”
“Goodbye.” She disconnected the call and looked at the address he’d texted. She needed to remind herself that it couldn’t be too bad or either he would have called her earlier, or she’d be picking Isabella up at the US Marshals office.
She pulled her car into the driveway behind the black SUV and put it in Park. Everything was going to be okay. She took a deep breath, exited the vehicle, and walked up to the front door.
It opened as she approached. Liam stood in the opening, blue jeans hanging low on his hips and a blue thermal shirt with sleeves pushed up to his elbows defining his torso, unlike the button-down shirts she was used to seeing. His hair was tousled as though he’d been running his hands through it.
Cassie was right. He was good-looking.
Her stomach fluttered. Now was not the time to be admiring this man. It was wrong on so many levels. In another life, where he wasn’t a marshal and she wasn’t his protected witness, Sammight have been tempted to run to him and jump, see if he would catch her. Take a chance and see what might happen in his arms.
“Good evening.” He stepped to the side to let her enter.
She ducked inside, avoiding getting too close to him. A hint of citrus and sage filled her nose. Had he always smelled like that?
The door clicked shut behind her, snapping her to attention.
“Right this way.”
She followed him into the empty kitchen. “Where’s Isabella?”
“She and Sophia are hanging out in Sophia’s bedroom.” He pulled a chair out for her. “Have a seat. Can I get you something to drink? The pizza should be here in ten minutes.”
She shook her head. “I’m fine.”
He opened the refrigerator, pulled out a bottle of water, and set it in front of her. “Just in case.”
Her knee started to bounce under the table. “What did you find out?”
He sat down in the chair across the small table from her. His gaze was entirely focused on her. “It appears that our girls haven’t been completely honest with us up until this point.”
She sat up straight and met his gaze. “I was afraid of that. What did you learn?”
“There’s a group of individuals who go to school with them called the Renegade Rebels.”
“I’ve heard of them. According to Bella, it’s a group of popular students with bad reputations.”
