by Nicole James
At his words, she looked over at him.
“We weren’t here. We didn’t see anything. We don’t know anything about what happened to those men. Got it?”
She nodded.
“They got what they deserved.”
She nodded again.
“Babe, talk to me. You okay?” He squeezed her hand. When she continued to just stare out the window at the scenery passing by, he tugged her over. “Come here.”
She scooted across the seat and under his waiting arm, which closed tight around her. He rubbed up and down her upper arm. “Everything’s gonna be okay. I’m not gonna let anyone hurt you. Understand?”
She nodded and tucked in against him.
He drove the rest of the way down the twisting, turning road one-handed. It was challenging, but there was no way he was taking his arm from around her.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Liam didn’t pull his arm from around Velvet until he spun the wheel up the driveway to the farmhouse.
She straightened. “What are we doing?”
He parked the truck. “We’re going inside. We’re going to take a shower and clean up. We’re going to wash our clothes and get rid of any evidence we’ve been up there. I’m putting the camping gear back where it was.” He glanced at the clock. It was ten minutes past seven. “What time does the shop open up?”
“Not ‘till eleven.”
“When does Vano go in?”
“Usually not until ten, but nothing’s usual anymore.”
“We could wait until tonight, but we may be too late by then. I say we hit the place now and tear it apart, see what we can find.”
“I don’t know.”
“We’ll do a drive by and make sure he’s not there.”
“Okay.”
Liam reached for the door handle. “Come on, angel.”
They climbed from the truck, and Liam put his arm around her and led her inside.
Mrs. Larsen was up taking a pan of cinnamon rolls out of the oven. She turned when they entered. “Well, Liam. I wasn’t expecting you this morning. What a nice surprise.”
“Mrs. Larsen, this is my fiancée, Velvet.” He smiled down at her, and she looked back at him with the first smile she’d given him since she crawled out of the tent this morning.
“Your fiancée? Why I had no idea you’d gotten engaged! Congratulations!”
“Well, I haven’t put a ring on her finger yet, but I asked her last night.”
“While you were up camping? Why, isn’t that romantic?”
Liam exchanged a look with Velvet, and they both realized there were people who knew they’d gone camping. He glanced back at Mrs. Larsen. “We’re going to go upstairs and get cleaned up, then some of those rolls would sure taste good.”
“Well, all righty. You two do that, and I’ll have breakfast ready in a jiffy.”
Liam led Velvet upstairs to the bathroom. He turned on the shower. “It’ll take a minute to heat up. It’s an old house. Get undressed, and I’ll be right back.”
She nodded and he moved down the hall. He grabbed clean clothes from those he kept in his old room. Then he tapped on Maxwell and Malee’s door. “Max, you in there?”
Maxwell opened the door and stuck his head out. “Liam? What are you doing here?”
“Took Velvet up camping last night. We’re gonna take a shower. Any chance Malee’s got something Velvet can wear? I mean I know they aren’t the same height, but maybe a sundress or something might fit her.”
“Yeah, give me a minute.”
“You come up with anything, just leave it outside the bathroom door, and I’ll get it.”
“Sure, man. So, how’d it go?”
“Get dressed, and I’ll tell you over breakfast.”
“Deal.”
Liam walked back to the bathroom, closing the door quietly. Velvet was already behind the shower curtain and steam was beginning to fill the room. He set his change of clothes down on the lid of the toilet, then reached between his shoulder blades and pulled his thermal shirt over his head. He tossed it to the floor and shucked his boots and jeans. “How’s the water?”
“Heavenly,” she replied as he drew the curtain aside and stepped in. She was facing the water spray. His eyes swept over her back and ass. She was slender and yet had all the right curves. He moved in close, putting his hands on her tiny waist and moving over her hips. She leaned into him, her skin hot from the steamy water. His arms slid around her, and his mouth dropped to the wet skin where her neck met the curve of her shoulder. He pressed soft open-mouthed kisses along it.
Her head dropped back, and his mouth moved up to her ear. “This is the first shower we’ve taken together.”
“I think you’re right,” she murmured.
“Give me the soap.” His hands closed over hers, taking the bar from her. When his palms were lathered, he set the bar on the shower caddy hanging from the showerhead. Moving with care, he soaped her wet glistening skin from her throat to her waist, at first avoiding her breasts and making her squirm in anticipation, and then closing over them and giving her what she wanted. He gave them all his attention until the tension in her muscles melted off her. He knew her brain was buzzing with all that had happened, and he wanted to give her a few minutes relief.
He dropped one hand, trailing down her stomach and delving between her legs. He swirled the soapy slickness all over her and stroked and moved his fingers in tight circles around her clit. He kept at it until she writhed against him. When she was close to coming, he pinched her nipple, and she groaned out a shout as she trembled with orgasm.
His mouth hovered over the shell of her ear. “I love you, Velvet.”
“Oh…Liam,” she whispered, biting her lip and trying to hold back the moan that vibrated in her throat. When her shudders finally ceased, her forehead fell against the side of his neck, and she gasped out a breathy, “I love you, too, Liam. So much.”
He gathered her in his arms and moved her against the wall. “Brace your hands.”
She did as he told her, placing her palms on the tile as he positioned himself and speared into her slick wetness.
Her head fell forward, and she went up on her toes. He couldn’t tear his eyes from her gorgeous, firm, perfect ass that jutted out toward him. Only thing better was the way her slick pussy took his dick as he pumped in and out of her. Fucking beautiful. He moved one palm up her back from the two dimples at the base, up over the tattoo he’d put between her shoulder blades—the stallion they’d seen that day they’d gone for a hike. Wild and Free, were the words tattooed in a banner underneath the design. That’s what she’d always be to him, and he intended to make sure she stayed that way. He’d die before he let anything happen to her, and he sure as hell wasn’t letting any FBI agent send her to prison.
The resolve strengthened within him, and his thrusts accelerated along with it. He moved in close against her, his left palm landing on the tile next to hers while his right arm locked tight around her waist. He dipped his head alongside hers and pumped hard. He knew he was getting close, but he wanted her right there with him. His mouth hovered over her ear, and he whispered, “Touch yourself.”
She did, automatically following his command, as if she were powerless to do anything but as he wished.
He dropped his mouth to her shoulder and nipped, growling softly, “I’m close, baby, so close. Get yourself there.”
She moaned, her fingers working her clit.
He dropped his hand from the tile and pinched her nipple as he sucked hard on her neck. She moaned again, her body shuddering in orgasm, and his arm tightened. He thrust into her and exploded in release.
He slid slowly in and out of her slick pussy a couple more times and then wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.
Her hand came up to cup his cheek, and she turned her face against his neck and kissed him. “I love you, Liam.”
Euphoria expanded through his body. After a moment, he pulled out, and she turned in h
is arms. “I think we need to soap up again.”
He grinned down at her. “Yeah, and in this old house, we better be quick before we run out of hot water.”
“Thank you.” She stared up at him, her expression turning serious.
He frowned, and kissed the tip of her nose. “For what?”
“For believing in me, for coming for me yesterday, for loving me, for saving my life today. For all of it.”
“I told you, you’re it for me.” He stroked the side of her face with his thumb. “Today, tomorrow, forever. Understand?”
She smiled, and nodded.
“You and me, together against the world.”
She chuckled. “The world doesn’t stand a chance.”
He returned her laughter, glad to see happiness back on her face, if even for a moment. “No, it doesn’t.”
***
Once they dried off, Liam opened the bathroom door and found a small stack of folded clothes. He grabbed them and stepped into the steamy room, holding them out to Velvet.
She frowned. “What’s that?”
“I asked if you could borrow some fresh clothes from Max’s wife, Malee.”
“Is she the one in the picture I saw framed on the wall?”
He nodded.
“Liam, she’s lovely, but she’s about four inches shorter than me.”
“Well, at least take a look.”
Velvet picked up the folded item on top and held it up. It was a long pretty floral sundress. It probably was to Malee’s ankles, but it only came to just below Velvet’s knees. She slipped it over her head. It fit her chest and waist and hips and hung in a loose flowing style. “How does it look?”
“Beautiful,” Liam said, his eyes moving over her and stopping on her chest. “You look good braless.”
“I have a bra. It got shoved in with the sleeping bag when we were in such a hurry to leave.”
“Yeah, I may have to hide all your bras.”
“Liam!”
“I liked seeing you wearing my flannel shirt this morning, too.”
“I liked wearing it.” She picked it up off the bathroom floor. “After we wash it, I might just steal it from you.”
“What’s mine is yours, sweetheart.”
A few minutes later they gathered around the big round oak table in the kitchen. Mrs. Larsen had a plate of bacon set in the middle next to the cinnamon rolls, and she was making her way around, spooning up helpings of scrambled eggs on each plate.
Liam sat next to Velvet. He reached over and squeezed her hand.
Max and Malee sat across from them, Malee with her obvious baby bump.
“Where’s my little nephew?” Liam asked.
“The school bus picked him up while you were in the shower,” Max said.
Liam made the introductions. “Velvet, this is my brother’s wife, Malee.”
She extended her hand. “Pleased to meet you. I hope we’re not inconveniencing you by dropping by like this so early.”
Malee smiled. “Not at all. You are most welcome.”
“When is your baby due?”
“In eight weeks.” Malee dropped a hand to her belly.
“You must be so excited.”
“Yes. And ready for her to be here.”
“It’s a girl?”
She nodded.
“Do you have a name picked out?”
Malee looked up at her husband. Max answered for her. “We haven’t decided yet.”
“Yes, we have,” she insisted.
“We’re down to two options.”
Malee rolled her eyes. “We’ve decided.”
“We’ve decided not to share it until the big day.”
“Well, I’m sure she’ll be beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“So, you two seem to be getting along great from the sounds of it,” Max commented.
“From the sounds of it?” Liam asked, biting into a gooey roll.
“Thin walls, bro.”
Velvet covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, my God.”
“Don’t be an ass, Max.” Liam gave him a look as he licked the icing from his thumb.
“She’s gonna be a part of this family, she’s gonna have to get used to the teasing. Besides, I get the feeling she’s a tough one.”
“I can handle it.” Velvet lifted her chin.
Max grabbed the plate of bacon and dropped a couple pieces on Velvet’s plate. “By the way, I’m sorry for the way I acted that day you came to the shop.”
“I understand.”
Liam frowned. “Wait, what? When was this? How’d you act?”
“The day she came and gave Jameson that check. I was kind of a dick to her.” He glared at Liam. “On your behalf, of course.”
“What’d you do?”
“I just told her she had no business there, and she should go.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Then Ava told me to sit down and shut up.”
Liam grinned, his coffee mug halfway to his mouth. “She’s a wise woman.”
Max winked at Velvet. “That she is. She was the only one of us who gave Velvet the benefit of the doubt straight off the bat.”
They ate quickly and said their goodbyes, making excuses that Velvet had an appointment. Fifteen minutes later, Liam was cruising slowly past the front of House of Ink. He turned the corner, and they rolled down a side street. He peered down the alley that ran behind the businesses but saw no cars this early, just a garbage truck down on the end.
He looked over at Velvet craning her neck to see out the back window. “What do you think?”
“Let’s try it.”
Liam cut the wheel and made a U-turn. He pulled to the curb on the side street and jammed the gearshift in park. He studied Velvet. “You ready?”
“Yes.”
“You have a key?”
She nodded. “I swiped one off Vano’s key chain the morning I met the FBI agent. By now he probably figures I have it.”
“Then let’s be quick.”
They jogged to the back of the business, and Liam kept an eye out while Velvet unlocked the heavy metal door. They weren’t two feet inside, the door shutting behind them, when a beeping sound went off. Liam’s eyes hit a security panel on the wall. “Shit, babe. You know the code?”
“Fuck. No.”
“What would be easy for him to remember?”
“His birthday, maybe.”
“Try it, quick. We’ve only got about thirty seconds.”
She punched it in, but the screen still flashed red. “Shit.”
“Anything else you can try?”
She bit her lip. “Wait.” She punched in another number and the screen turned green.
“Bingo.”
“What’d you use?”
“My mother’s birthday.”
“He a momma’s boy, huh?” Liam asked.
“Totally.”
Liam pulled her to him and kissed her forehead. “Good thinking, babe. Let’s get to work.”
“His office is in here.” She led him down the hall to the first door on the right and fumbled with the lock. It opened, and Liam flipped the light on. The desk was a mess with an overflowing ashtray, bottles of ink, rubbing alcohol, used cotton wipes, an ear piercing gun that looked like someone was in the process of cleaning, old tattoo magazines, manila files piled haphazardly, and papers scattered.
His eyes moved around the room, landing on the small safe on the floor behind the desk. “You know the combination?”
She shook her head. “I can’t get in the safe.”
“You sure? You did so well with the security system.”
She smirked at him, and he grinned back.
“You check the desk, I’ll go through this file cabinet,” Velvet said.
“Doesn’t look like he uses it much,” Liam joked, eyeing the mess on the desk.
She rolled her eyes.
Liam pushed aside a stack and pulled out the new issue of Inked Up, the
one with them on the cover. “Velvet.”
She looked over. He held it up. Her mouth dropped open, and she took it, staring down at the cover. “Oh my God.”
“Pretty awesome, right?”
She thumbed through it, taking in the photographs of the article. “They’re good.”
Liam took the magazine from her. “They’re more than good. But wait, there’s more.” He flipped to the article on her and watched her reaction as she saw the black and white picture of herself and the article banner. Her eyes moved along the words.
“What does it say?”
He told her and watched her eyes fill. “It’s a good story, baby. Don’t cry.”
She flipped it closed and nodded, then frowned. “How does Vano have this?”
“Good question.”
“He must have taken it from my mail.”
“He’s probably been looking for you, and his key, I’m guessing. He’s probably searched your room.”
“How do you think those two goons found us?”
Liam shook his head. “No clue. You think they put a tracker on you? Because if they’d followed us, I don’t think they would have waited until morning.”
“A tracking device? That’s creepy.” She frowned. “Shit.”
“What?”
“I wonder if the FBI has one on me.”
Liam’s jaw tightened at the thought. “Let’s get to work. I don’t want to be here long.”
She nodded and moved to the file cabinet. Liam scanned the folders, finding the usual stuff, print outs of payroll, electric bills, phone bills. He found one buried at the bottom, labeled Advertising. He thought that was strange since he knew they did no advertising, at least he’d never seen any in the time the place had existed. He flipped it open. It was a single page with a list of acronyms in a column and a large number next to each. BOC, CBOC, CB&T. And then they all clicked into place. These were banks: Bank of Colorado, Community Bank of Colorado, Colorado Bank & Trust. He scanned the numbers next to each. They didn’t look like account numbers, they looked like amounts with commas. “Jesus Christ.”
“What?” Velvet glanced up.
He showed her the list. “I think those are the amounts he has in each bank.”
