“That’s all right,” Jared says, sitting down in a cushy leather chair, draping his arm over the back, and settling the ankle of one long, jean-clad leg on his opposite knee. “We’ll just keep you company here in the lobby, sweetheart.”
“Sure will,” Tellar agrees, claiming a seat across from Jared, stretching his legs out in front of him.
The woman’s lips tighten, and it’s clear she’s not enticed by how good-looking both men are, nor pleased, for that matter. But I am quite pleased. I like knowing they are aware of what’s going on out here, when we’re wherever we’re about to be. “This way,” the woman says, turning on her heel and walking down a long hallway.
The instant we follow, my nerves are jumping all over the place. Liam’s hand settles on my back, a silent message of protection and comfort that brings me back down a notch. I’m not alone. We are doing this together.
The hallway stops at a walnut-finished double doorway. “This way,” the woman says, opening both doors and stepping aside to let us enter.
Liam looks down at me, and the promise that we are in this together is in his eyes. Together we step onto the hardwood floor and toward the centerpiece of a sprawling corner office with a downtown view and expensive walnut furnishings.
Mr. Smith, every bit his sixty-plus years, with grey hair and a rather regal carriage, stands as we approach his desk. His lips twist rather wickedly as he says, “Nothing like bringing the mouse to the cat.”
“Unless the mouse has become the cat,” Liam replies, his hand slipping away from me as he walks forward and sets the large envelope on the desk. “Look inside.”
I step to my left to have a view of the two men, who have the room crackling with tension.
Smith’s dark brown eyes narrow on Liam and he appears just curious enough to bite. He tears open the seal and removes the paperwork, studying it a moment, then holds up the list of names cut in half. “Where’s the other half?”
“It’s insurance.”
“Insurance?” He crosses his arms. “Go on.”
“That complete list and the damning paperwork attached to it will be mailed to the District Attorney, a number of congressmen, and local law enforcement in the event anything happens to me, Amy, or anyone who has ever breathed our same air.” Liam leans forward and plants his fists on Smith’s desk. “But because I’m a paranoid kind of guy, I took it a step further. I put a price on your head and every name on that list.”
I gape. A price? As in he hired a hit man? Surely not.
Smith leans in and plants his hands on the desk just as Liam has. “Two can play that game. A price for a price.”
“Then we go nuclear,” Liam replies.
“Yes,” Smith agrees. “We go nuclear.”
Liam pushes off the desk and moves to stand beside me, his hand on my waist. “Let’s go.” He starts to turn me but Smith looks at me for the first time since I’ve entered the room and the cold calculation in his eyes sets me off. “I want my brother back,” I demand.
“It takes a miracle to raise the dead, little one,” he replies. “And I don’t see you offering me any motivation to create one.”
“I have nothing to offer,” I reply.“I was never a part of this. I never knew anything.”
His jaw sets and he reaches for a picture and turns it to face myself and Liam. My lips part in shock as I stare at the stranger we’ve been trying to find. “My son. He was killed tragically in a plane crash six years ago. Your brother was with him. So I guess we can all agree. Your brother’s future has always been in his own hands. But then, if I could have helped him, I would have. Just as I’m sure, you would have helped your brother.”
“She has nothing you want,” Liam bites out, “but mark my words, Mr. Smith, if I find out you have what she wants, you’ll regret the day you were born. And I will find out.”
“Because you have money? That doesn’t work with me. I, too, have money.”
“Money has nothing to do with it. It’s what I’m willing and capable of doing to protect what’s mine. That’s what matters here. Push me I will make you bleed in ways you never believed possible. We’re done here.”
Liam turns me to the door and we start walking.
“Mr. Stone.”
Liam pauses with his hand on the door handle.
“It’s you who do not know what I’m capable of.”
I watch Liam’s lips hint at a cynical smile and now he turns to face Smith. “Not everything, but there are at least a hundred ways I do know you in that paperwork I gave you, and all those ways are illegal. Read through the document and butter up some popcorn. There are some real blockbusters in there.”
And this time, Liam and I leave. Tellar and Jared follow us into the elevator car and the need for silence is killing me. The instant we are in the truck, I turn to Liam but I open my mouth and snap it shut, afraid I could say something that could later incriminate him.
He leans in, resting his cheek next to mine like he does sometimes and whispers, “Yes. I really did it, and I will do anything to protect you and make you happy. Anything.”
We arrive at the private section of the airport and exit the truck. Dr. Murphy arrives in a private car and Tellar helps her with her bags. Jared turns to Liam and me and says, “This is where I say goodbye.”
“No,” I insist. “What about Chad? We need your help.”
“I’ll look for Chad my way.”
“Why not join us?” Liam asks. “Consider it a private hire job.”
“I freelance for a reason. I work best by myself.” He flicks a look at Liam. “And the jury is still out on you for me, Liam Stone, but the book isn’t closed.” His gaze settles on me. “Take care, Amy.” He turns and starts to jog toward the building.
I dart after him. “Wait! Wait!”
Looking surprised, he faces me and I say, “You’re the way Chad reaches me.”
“If Chad calls, I’ll be in touch.” He softens his voice. “You can’t live thinking Chad will reappear, Amy. That’s not living and that’s not what Chad wanted for you.”
Wanted. Past tense. He thinks Chad’s dead. “And you, Jared, can’t live without hope, or you won’t be living at all.”
He studies me a moment, his lips quirking, a cold wind reminding us it’s November despite being in Texas, blowing wisps of light brown hair from the clasp at the back of his neck. “I haven’t really lived in a long time. I’ll be in touch.”
He starts jogging again and this time I let him go. Liam steps to my side and laces his fingers through mine. “He left because he thinks Chad’s dead.”
“He left because this isn’t his place or his way, not because of Chad. That doesn’t mean he’s gone. Either of them.” He motions to the plane. “We need to get you off your feet.”
I nod and let him lead me onto the same private plane we’d been on once before. The doctor fusses over me when I don’t want to be fussed over, and finally Liam and I settle into private seats beside each other in the back of the cabin and pull the curtain for privacy. With a blanket and a pillow, I lay on my side facing Liam, and he does the same. The engines churn louder and I think about how much has happened since that first time I’d seen Liam in the airport and sat next to him on the plane.
“That flight to Denver, did you have anything to do with me ending up in first class?”
“Of course I did. I asked if you were making it on the flight and there was one coach seat left. I paid the guy sitting in first class next to me fifty thousand dollars to take it.”
I gape. “You paid fifty thousand dollars to sit next to me? I don’t understand. You were flying commercial. You could have flown private for that.”