Free Last Chance (Liar Liar #3) by C.A. Mason Page B

am.
    “Wow.” Lana nudged me with her elbow. “I thought love was a foreign concept to you. I had no idea a girl out there somewhere had actually captured your heart once upon a time. So what happened? Why’d you break up if you loved her so much?”
    “We lost touch after she was attacked.” I was getting in too deep, telling her more than I should. “Enough about that. Let me fix you something to eat.”
    She shook her head as she tried to run a hand through her matted hair. “No, thanks.” Looking around the room, she said, “God, I hate being here, but I can’t stand the thought of leaving this apartment either. What could be waiting for me outside scares me even more.”
    I walked around to her side of the bed and sat on the edge as I held her hand. “You have people who love you and would gladly help you through this. Friends, your father. You have the resources to get the help you need and put this guy away. Please. Not just for your sake, but for the sake of the women who’ve come before you and will undoubtedly come after.”
    Her eyes were brimming with tears. “What are you talking about?” She knew exactly what I was talking about, but she didn’t want to acknowledge it any more than I did.
    “I’m sure he’s done this before, sweetheart.” My hand grazed her cheek. “He was able to hurt you because they didn’t have the courage to speak out.” I pulled her into my chest as her tears fell. I didn’t want to hurt her any more than she’d already been hurt, but I couldn’t stand the thought of that bastard victimizing more innocent women.
    “I can’t do it,” she said, shaking her head. “I just can’t. I’m not strong enough. I’m not brave enough. If I were called to testify, I know I’d fall apart.”
    I thought of Maura’s testimony. She really was one of the strongest women I’d ever known. Not only had she gotten up on the witness stand and stared down the man she believed had attacked her, she had faced me again, years later, holding her ground and refusing to back down until she uncovered the truth.
    “You’re a lot stronger than you think, Lana. Just please tell me you’ll think about it.”
    “I will.”
    “Okay, now let me see about fixing us something to eat.”
    She reached for my hand as I got up. “Do you think we could go somewhere? I’m going stir-crazy here, but I don’t feel safe walking or even driving around this city, knowing he could be anywhere.” When I hesitated, she said, “I know how busy you are. I wouldn’t ask if—”
    “I was tending to some business in New Hampshire when you called me.” As I worked through the logistics in my mind, I realized it may be the perfect solution. I wanted to see Maura again, to be close so I could protect her, and returning with Lana would allow me to do that. “I have a place there with two bedrooms. You’re welcome to stay in one for as long as you want.”
    Lana frowned. “I didn’t know you had a place in New Hampshire. Since when?”
    “It was a recent acquisition.” I hoped she would sense I didn’t want to talk about it. “So what do you say? Should I make a call and ask them to gas up the jet?”
    She smiled for the first since I’d arrived. “That sounds great. Thanks, Blaise, for being such a good friend. I don’t know how I would have gotten through these past few days without you.”
    “I’m just glad I was able to be here for you.” I would have given anything to have been able to hold Maura after her attack, kiss her forehead, wrap my arm around her and promise I’d never let anyone hurt her again. I couldn’t change the past, but I was pretty good at dictating my future, and I wanted Maura to be a part of it.
     
    ***
     
    My limo pulled up to the curb just as Maura stepped out of the apartment building. She literally took my breath away. She was wearing a tight, low-cut black wrap dress with black stilettos, and her hair fell in soft, full waves around her shoulders.
    “Give