“Because I did everything he said, and he still hurt my mother.” Her voice rose an octave. “You have to understand, Agent Maverick—”
“Liam.”
“You have to understand that I wanted to talk, but I was confused about what happened. My mother is all the family I have. And I couldn’t risk her life when I didn’t know anything specific.” Her voice cracked. “I’ve felt guilty for five years. Every time I saw the news or heard someone talking about the people who lost their lives in the fire, I wondered if Mr. Inman set it or if my silence contributed to the deaths.” Tears filled her eyes. “I’ve had nightmares where I see their faces. Nightmares of losing my mother and having to live with her death on my conscience.”
The pain in her voice tore at him, and he squeezed her hand. “You’re not alone, Peyton. And you are not going to lose your mother.” Not as long as he could help it.
A strained silence stretched between them. She sipped her wine and wiped at a tear trickling down her cheek. But she didn’t release his hand. Instead, she tightened her fingers into his palm as if he was her lifeline.
It felt oddly wrong to hold hands with a person he’d considered a suspect. But he couldn’t tear his hand away either. Pain, guilt and fear darkened her eyes. The idea of Peyton hurting anyone or intentionally lying to the police to cover for someone seemed unfathomable. Instead, he saw the caring, devoted, loving nurse he’d heard about. A woman who had become a victim.
A woman who only wanted to protect her aging mother.
“Jacob can arrange for one of his deputies to stand guard at your mother’s door.”
Panic flared in Peyton’s eyes. “But then the man who threatened me will know I talked.”
“It’s the only way, Peyton. He almost killed her anyway. It’s time you stood up for the truth and let me and my brother do our jobs.”
She shook her head. “I still worry about the threat.”
Liam’s mind raced. “Okay, how about this? The deputy will be disguised as one of the hospital staff.”
Peyton bit down on her lip, but she finally gave a nod and squeezed his hand. “I can live with that. As long as he doesn’t get to her, I’ll help you any way I can.”
“Then you’ll let me put a trace on your phone in case this man calls back.”
“Absolutely.”
Good. The only way she’d be safe was to catch this bastard.
* * *
PEYTON’S HAND TREMBLED as she pulled from the parking lot. Liam’s warm, masculine hand and soothing voice lulled her into a temporary sense of security.
But she couldn’t let down her guard.
Not until they knew what was going on and that the threat to her and her mother was over.
Letting Liam trace her phone calls might help.
Renewed determination filled her.
You have to help me, sis. Someone’s after me.
God. What had her sister gotten herself into?
Nerves on edge, she pressed the voice control on her car and asked to call Joanna’s number. The phone rang twice, then Joanna finally answered.
“How’s Mama?” Peyton said without preamble.
“The same,” Joanna said softly as if she didn’t want to disturb Peyton’s mother. “She hasn’t regained consciousness, but she’s stable, Peyton.”
Fear nearly choked Peyton. “I...can’t lose her, Jo.”
A heartbeat passed. “I know. She’s going to pull through. Your mama’s a tough lady.”
But even tough ladies didn’t always survive. Her job had taught her that.
“I’m on my way to the hospital. Can you stay until I get there?”
“I promised not to leave her, and I won’t. She’s in room 310.”
Peyton murmured her thanks and hung up. Rain began to drizzle down, fog blurring the road, and she slowed as she rounded a curve. A pair of oncoming headlights nearly blinded her, then the car swerved, tires squealing as it corrected itself into the right lane.
Perspiration dotted her skin, and she maneuvered a bend in the road, then glanced in her rearview mirror to see if Liam was still following her. He was two cars back.
A half mile down the road, a dark SUV pulled out from a side street and barreled toward her. She swerved to avoid being hit but had no place to go as another car was in the oncoming lane. Suddenly the SUV smashed her in the passenger side and sent her into a spin.
She clenched the steering wheel in a white-knuckled grip, brakes squealing. But the force of the impact made her lose control. She hit the guardrail,