Free Deadly Questions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 8) by Lily Harper Hart Page A

not spreading information. We didn’t tell anyone about you.”
    “You must have told someone,” Lily challenged. “How else would they know where to find me?”
    “I don’t know,” Finn said. “Have you told anyone else?”
    “No.”
    “Are you sure?” Finn pressed. “You told Emma.”
    Lily narrowed her green eyes dangerously. “Are you calling me a liar?”
    “No,” Finn said, holding his hands up in a placating manner. “I’m just saying that it’s a hard story, and it’s your story. People want to tell others when something bad happens. It’s just human nature.”
    “I didn’t tell anyone,” Lily said. “I’ve managed to stay off their radar since I ran, and now they’re back.”
    Finn exhaled heavily, shuffling over to the chair next to the couch. He kept his movements small as he sat in it, not wanting to inadvertently scare the woman on the couch. “Okay, let’s take this from the beginning,” he said. “Did you recognize the man at your door?”
    “No,” Lily said. “He said he worked for Christian.”
    “And Christian was your … .”
    “The man who took me in,” Lily finished.
    “Right,” Finn said. “When was the last time you saw Christian?”
    “The afternoon I was taken,” Lily said. “I never went back after that. I left all my things, and I just … ran.”
    “When was that?”
    Lily searched her memory. “Almost two years ago.”
    “And how long were you with him?”
    “A couple of months.”
    “When you ran, how did you do it?” Finn asked.
    “Well, I hopped on a bus and went north,” Lily said. “I didn’t have the shoes to do it on foot – or any shoes, for that matter.”
    “Did you change your name?”
    Lily shook her head. “No.”
    “Then how do you know this Christian didn’t just find you on his own?” Finn asked.
    “You don’t find the timing somewhat coincidental?”
    Finn shrugged. “It is cause for concern,” he agreed. “I can promise you that we never mentioned your name, or your story. He had to have found you through some other means.”
    “I don’t see how,” Lily said, crossing her arms over her chest.
    “We’ll find out,” Finn said. “I promise. For now, I don’t think you should go home.”
    “Where am I supposed to go?”
    “I can put you up in a hotel,” Finn said. “No one will be able to find you there.”
    “Or you can stay here,” Emma offered.
    Finn internally cringed.
    “Here?” Lily looked around dubiously.
    “Yeah, you can sleep on the couch,” Emma said. “It’s comfortable.”
    “I think a hotel is a better option,” Finn said carefully.
    “Why?” Emma asked, confused. “She can sleep on the couch. It’s not a big deal. Why waste the money?”
    “He doesn’t want me around you,” Lily said. “He thinks I’m beneath you.”
    “That’s not true,” Emma protested.
    “No, it’s not,” Finn agreed. “This apartment is very small, though, and a hotel would allow Lily to have her own space.”
    “But … .”
    “Emma,” Finn said. “This apartment is too small for three of us. Lily would be safer – and happier – in a hotel.”
    “And then I wouldn’t be here hobnobbing with you,” Lily said. “Admit it, you just don’t want your girlfriend to hang out with a former prostitute.”
    “That’s not true,” Finn said. “I admire what you’ve done for yourself.”
    “Oh, whatever,” Lily said, heading toward the door. “I’m leaving. I want you people to stay away from me. You’re going to get me killed.”
    “Lily, no,” Emma said. “You’re staying here with me.”
    “Emma,” Finn warned.
    Emma turned, her eyes dark as she regarded Finn. “You can go and stay in a hotel if you want. Lily is staying here, where it’s safe. She shouldn’t be alone. She’s been traumatized.”
    “We need to talk about this,” Finn pressed.
    “No, we don’t,” Emma replied. “This is my apartment, and Lily is my friend. If you don’t like it, you can go. No one is