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Right now, he had to bury his own hurt and figure out how to help her. On top of that, Karina was missing. He needed to get to work tomorrow and pick up the search from the night shift detectives to figure out where she’d gone, if they didn’t locate her overnight. He couldn’t be in charge of the case, given their personal connection, but he could do everything in his power to help.
He headed for the kitchen and stopped in the doorway. Roxie stood at the sink, running her hands under the water. He waited to see if she’d do it herself, then went over and turned the water off. He tugged the towel off the front of the oven where his mom had put it the last time she was here and dried off her hands.
She shuddered. “It was him.”
She thought he didn’t believe her.
Liam took the towel and tossed it on the counter. Then he tugged her against him and wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened but, after a second, wrapped her arms around his waist and held on. He’d ditched his gun belt, so there wasn’t a bunch of stuff between them.
Unfortunately, that meant she fit perfectly there. This was dangerous territory. She wasn’t in the right mental place to deal with him coming on to her, so he’d need to keep some distance.
“When you’re ready, I’ll take you back to Destiny’s.”
Her arms tightened reflexively.
“Or you can borrow a shirt, and I’ll sleep on the couch.” Those were the only two options he was prepared to offer. Given her history, she probably wouldn’t opt to stay.
“I want to stay here.” She spoke against his shirt.
Liam rested his chin on the top of her head. “Okay.”
He could barely wrap his mind around this. Mark was dead—Liam had been at the funeral. Now she was saying Mark was alive? She was investigating his wife’s disappearance like it was a death.
Tomorrow he’d have to go back to work and trust Vanguard, and Clare, to have her back. Help her solve her problem. For now, though, he could be there for her.
“I should call Tessa.”
He shifted. “Right now?”
She blew out a breath. “Probably tomorrow.” She eased back in his arms. “I have no idea where my phone is.”
“The officer gave it to me from the truck. They were surprised when the vehicle was empty, but I’m glad you’re okay.” He ran his thumb down the scar on the side of her head.
She closed her eyes.
Liam leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. It might be a miracle she was alive, but there was still a whole series of hurdles between them. “I called you.”
She jerked back. “After I left the house?”
He shook his head. “Not tonight. Years ago. Actually, about six months before Mark’s funeral.”
Her expression shuttered. “I never saw it.”
“You didn’t pick up. I got a text reply saying not to call again. You didn’t want to see me, ever.”
Her eyes closed. “That wasn’t me.”
Liam’s heart broke all over again—the way it had when he’d read that text.
“I thought you’d moved on.” And she had, but not in the way either of them thought. If the end of the relationship was anything like the rest of it, who knew what Mark had subjected her to? She could have ended up like his first wife, missing with no one having a clue where she’d ended up. With a cadaver dog looking for her.
His whole body shuddered.I’d have lost you.
Tears ran down her cheeks.
He reached for her again. “Please don’t cry.”
She waved him off, swiping at her cheeks. “Why not? It’s so sad it’s tragic. Kind of like everything else in my life right now.”
