Page 108 of Karma
“Where?” She grabbed a pen and paper and scribbled down the address he’d given her. “How far from here is it?” She didn’t recognize the street name.
“It’s an hour away.”
She was exhausted, but she wouldn’t say no. “I’ll see you soon,” she promised him.
Needing caffeine, she stopped at Cuppa Café and picked up an extra-large coffee to take with her on the drive. She programmed the address Brian had given her into her GPS and started on her way. It was dark by the time she pulled up to a heavily wooded area on the street Brian had named.
There was only one driveway on the street beside a discreet sign:MEADOW TREATMENT CENTER. Liza pulled to a stop and stared at the sign, not comprehending what she saw.
Her cell phone rang again. “It’s me,” Brian said. “Are you close?”
“I…I’m here. I’m also confused.”
“This is the last call they’ll let me make for a while. Pull in, park, and go to the entrance. Ask for me. They’re expecting you at the desk,” Brian said.
“Treatment center?” She still couldn’t believe it.
A few minutes later, she’d reached the main desk and asked to see Brian McKnight.
A young woman led Liza down a maze of corridors and into a large waiting room with a television and a set of matching couches. “Just wait here,” the dark-haired woman instructed.
Liza knew she was trembling, but she couldn’t stop. She wouldn’t until she saw her brother. The minutes dragged by until finally, she heard his voice.
“Liza?”
“Brian!” She turned, and he stood in the doorway, looking nothing like her brother.
His normally well-combed hair was a mess, he wore a beard that hadn’t seen a razor in way too long, his eyes were bloodshot, and his skin was sallow. He was dressed in gray sweats and a faded youth league baseball T-shirt, clothing he’d never normally wear. But none of that mattered compared to the fact that he stood in front of her safe and sound—and in a treatment center of all places.
Liza ran to him and pulled him into a tight hug. “I was so worried about you.”
“I don’t know why you haven’t given up on me yet,” her brother said.
She stepped back, meeting his gaze. “I don’t want to, but I can’t go through this again. I won’t. The loan shark, the threats, people following me…” Her voice trailed off. She didn’t want to relive the day.
“I’m sorry.”
She pressed her lips together in a grim smile. “I know.” But she also knew apologies weren’t enough, not anymore. “But you’re here, in this place. I’m so proud of you.” She hugged him once more.
“Umm, I can’t take complete credit.”
She stepped back. Taking his hand, she led him to one of the sofas. “What do you mean?”
“Your boyfriend found me in a dump hotel.”
“My what?”
“Your cop boyfriend. He showed up and started giving me orders. He made me shower. He cleaned up the mess I made of the room, tossed the bottles…He even gave me clean clothes.” Brian ducked his head, obviously embarrassed.
Liza was too stunned to speak. Instead, she fingered the worn shirt her brother wore. Dare had done this? For Brian? A man he despised?
“He read me the riot act and then gave me five minutes to decide whether or not to let him drive me here.”
Liza blinked back tears. “You came.”
“He pretty emphatically told me not to do it for you but for myself. But I have to say, the man loves you, Liza Lou.”
She shook her head hard, not wanting to hear those words, refusing to believe in fantasies ever again. “Dare’s got a lot of his own guilt over Stuart Rossman. He lives to do the right thing now. Helping you was his way of making sure he did right by me to the end. That’s all.”