by India Kells
The charming brick building was a couple of blocks from the Magnificent Mile toward Lake Michigan. When Aleksei had arrived in Chicago, he’d purchased the place as his home base. It had been decrepit inside and out, but Aleksei had worked on the top apartment himself, renovating it on his own before meeting Deva. Liam knew there were two other floors. The one directly underneath had been converted into a small guest apartment and a gym. The last time he’d visited, his brother had shown him around, telling him about the work still to be done. He’d discovered an unexpected talent for construction, but it didn’t lessen the fact that Aleksei was still feared within the different gangs controlling the city. Even though he’d stepped down from all direct criminal activities, it would be stupid to think that anyone could walk away free. And Liam suspected that Aleksei didn’t want that either. Deva had been born and bred in biker gangs, and Aleksei intended to keep her safe, even if that meant keeping a foot in that world.
Consequently, it made the relationship between the brothers a tad uncomfortable as Liam had no intention of leaving the force yet. However, he trusted Aleksei, and that had to be enough for now.
Punching in the entry code, Liam drove into the underground garage and parked in the corner. Catriona didn’t say a word, but her eyes were wide, evident that she was impressed by the system, as well as the cars and bikes currently inside. Contrary to Archer’s building, Aleksei’s home didn’t have an elevator, so they had to climb up the three flights of stairs before being welcomed by a smiling Deva.
“Hey! Welcome!”
The feisty brunette, dressed casually in sweatpants and tank top, welcomed them into her home, giving Chewy a good rub. The dog immediately made himself comfortable by dashing for the leather sofa in the living room. Liam had been there before, but again, Catriona was taking in the vast space and windows flooding the apartment with light. In the corner, by the windows stood a huge Christmas tree with all its ornaments twinkling in the sunshine. Smaller decorations were dispersed all around, offering a charming atmosphere and so unlike his brother.
Deva grasped Catriona’s hand in hers. “I’m Deva Landry.”
“Catriona Walsh. Thank you for offering us a place to stay.”
As her usual self, Deva dismissed it. “My pleasure. Anything to help take down the big bad daddy.”
Liam rolled his eyes at her description of the situation. “Please don’t use those words, it sounds so wrong.”
Deva only laughed. “My father was as bad as yours. The only difference is he didn’t have the money to bring any of his evil plans to fruition. And I believe that’s why Catriona is here. An angel coming to save us all.”
The words being said like that felt so right to Liam. Way too much. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
Catriona stepped closer and looked him in the eye before smiling back at Deva. “I’m good with numbers. From experience, cutting off the money is the best way to slay the dragon once and for all. That’s why I’m here. To help your family.”
Deva nodded while locking gaze with her. “Slay the dragon. I like that.”
Liam scanned around. “Where’s Aleksei?”
At that she rolled her eyes. “You know your brother. Any change in his routine and he goes into a fit.”
Catriona looked back at him before turning her sorry gaze to Deva. “I don’t want to inconvenience you…
Once more, Deva took her hand. “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad that you’re here and helping. And don’t mind Aleksei, he’s just a big baby.”
“Who are you calling a baby?”
The Russian inflection was undeniable in the man’s voice as he stepped behind them in the apartment. Dark hair falling on silver eyes, his fighter’s body soaked with sweat, Liam couldn’t deny his brother was using every trick in the trade to spread fear all around himself. And to prove it, Catriona stepped back in surprise.
Aleksei kissed the top of Deva’s curly hair before extending a hand that Liam took. “Brother.”
Being a man of few words, a family trait, Liam nodded. A silent acknowledgment between the two.
Catriona seemed to have taken the moment to shake off the surprise and offered her hand. Liam was impressed by how she squared her shoulders in front of Aleksei and gripped his much larger hand.
“Catriona Walsh. Gabrielle asked me to help you with the financial side of your investigation.”
Aleksei locked his jaw but didn’t have time to say another word as Catriona noticed the blood on his knuckles. It seemed his brother had a lot of steam to let out on the punching bag. “Oh, goodness, look at you, you’re hurt!”
Before anyone could react, the delicate woman was dragging the mountain of a fighter toward the kitchen sink and started to wash his hand. His Russian brother looked at Liam with a hint of helplessness on his face. Deva was hiding her laugh behind a hand, but Liam was wise enough not to avoid any potential smirk. Instead, he tried to save him.
“Catriona, it’s nothing dangerous. Aleksei was training bare-knuckled on his punching bag.”
Instead of making her back-off, she took his other hand too. The image was unusual and strangely endearing. When she took a clean dish rag to dry his hands and examine them, she looked so distressed. “Why would you do that? Why would you hurt yourself in such a way? The blood has stopped, but maybe it would be better to put something on them to avoid infection. Would ice help maybe?”
Deva was about to intervene, but Aleksei acted first. Liam thought his brother would push her aside and grumble away, but instead, he took his hands back gently and offered her a faint grin. “Thank you for caring, little one.”
The smile that bloomed on her face was once more fascinating. “I do care. I hate to see anyone hurt. Don’t hurt yourself, okay?”
Baffled, Aleksei opened and closed his mouth before Deva finally cut through to save him.
“While Aleksei tends to his wounds and takes a much-needed shower, let me show you the apartment one floor down where you’ll be staying.”
Liam winked at Deva as Aleksei escaped and Catriona didn’t have a clue of what just happened.
The smell of fresh paint wafted as they approached the apartment. The place was luminous with vast windows and white walls. The decoration was a beautiful mix of gray and teal, giving the space a warm glow. The couch in the living room looked incredibly comfortable compared to his own furniture.
“There are two bedrooms, they’re small, but we’ve just finished them. There’s one bathroom, the shower stall is ready unfortunately not the bath. The kitchen still needs some work, but the sink is functional. I’ll bring a microwave and small fridge later on so you can at least get some food in. However, you’re welcome upstairs any time you like.”
Liam nodded, but he didn’t think he would impose on his brother more than they already were.
“Let me know if you need anything else. You can put up a Christmas tree if you like.”
Liam didn’t say anything, but he wouldn’t waste any time on that. He never did.
“Thank you, Deva. Sorry to impose on you again. Hopefully, we’ll either close the case fast or find another safe place.”
“Oh, please! Next time you need something like that, call me directly.” And she turned to Catriona. “That was for you.” And with a wink, she left.
Alone in the space, Liam let go of Chewy so he could explore and fill the awkward silence. Or maybe it was only him because Catriona seemed as peaceful and at ease as ever.
“How about I go get all the paperwork at the station so we can get started?”
The intention was noble, but it was more survival and the need to be alone that his brain came up with that idea.
“I’ll go with you.”
He feared that would be her answer. “Maybe you should rest, unpack.”
That was when she detached herself from her examination of the room to turn her fascinating golden eyes to him and he knew his tactic had failed.
Without a single word b
ut with her usual smile, she went to the door and called for Chewy, who had since turned traitor. Liam bit back a curse, and as he went to the door, wondered if he shouldn’t start asking a higher power for the strength to carry on.
Chapter Four
They had to park a couple of streets from the police station. The neighborhood was lively and decked in lights and decorations for the holidays, which made her want to laugh and skip on the sidewalk like a child.
It was still quite cold, but Catriona didn’t mind. Even if it was early, the sun was setting between the buildings, the golden rays making the snow shine like little weeping diamonds.
School buses circled the streets and kids were already out playing.
A quick look at Liam confirmed he wasn’t enjoying the walk at all. The collar of his coat was up, which gave him an even more dangerous vibe. In the last light of day, she could see red highlights in his hair and beard, mixed with some lighter gray. When she noticed the gray, she could also see fine lines at the corner of his eyes, the signs of a man who worried a lot. She could tell he didn’t smile much, which she found extremely sad.
Arriving at the corner where a big Christmas tree blinked in the rhythm of a Christmas carol, she watched as his face creased into a frown. “You don’t like the holiday season, do you?”
Silver eyes turned to her, as glacial as ice. “You mean the time of the year where crime and accident rates explode, people are losing any brain cells they ever had and are more concerned about a stupid trinket they have to buy and are ready to jump into a fight for it?”
The tone was laced with hatred and venom, but Catriona had to bite her lower lip to avoid fueling his mood. “I didn’t believe you were such a Grinch.”
“I’m more surprised you like it all, little nun.”
Blinking at his insinuation, she didn’t know what to think, even less about the name he’d used to irritate her. “Why not? Most people are filled with joy and excitement. They enjoy being together, seeing kids unwrapping gifts. That’s what I find most magical. Just being together. Don’t you think?”
Liam shrugged. “I was a bastard child of a single mother who didn’t know what day of the week it was, let alone if it was a holiday.”
Her first instinct was to take him in her arms, but with his closed expression and the fact she didn’t know if he would accept it, she restrained her impulse. “I was in an orphanage most of my life, but the nuns always made sure we enjoyed Christmas with the limited means they had.”
This time, it was his turn to look at her but before he could offer her any type of pity, she pointed a finger at him, the meanest she could muster. “Don’t you dare turn soft on me. I was the lucky one and even if a family would’ve been better, it could’ve been so much worse. I’ve heard about violence and abuse suffered by unwanted children and I never experienced that. I can’t complain.”
As they strolled, a bunch of kids ran between them, Catriona giggled and swiveled so fast her boots skated on the ice and she braced herself for a hard fall.
However, the only hardness she felt were the two hands that caught her before she hit the pavement.
What she hadn’t expected when she looked up to thank him was how close his face was to hers. His warm breath made her cool skin tingle, but it was the sudden swirl in his silver eyes, like melting ice, which made her belly fill with anticipation. The sensation was sharp and unusual, and didn’t make sense to her. Before she could comprehend her own reaction, the connection was cut when Liam blinked and steadied her before letting go.
At first, she thought he’d ask if she was okay, but instead, he stayed silent. Catriona forced herself to say something, at least a thank you so as not to appear like a fool.
As she opened her mouth, a body bumped into her as he ran past them. Her first thought was that she was once again in Liam’s arms, but the second one made her realize that her bag had been snatched.
Everything happened so fast; her initial reaction was to cry out before following Liam as he dashed after the thief. The sidewalk was more slippery than she’d anticipated, and she skidded a few times. Liam seemed to have the best footwear for the job, better than his target, allowing him to gain ground, once inch at a time.
Catriona almost fell when both figures disappeared into a side street, making a tight turn around the corner of the next building. There she saw Liam finally gripping a handful of coat, stopping the thief in his tracks. The sudden halt was brutal as the thief lost his momentum and stumbled hard on his back. Liam barely maintained his balance but kept a firm hold on the criminal. Catriona huffed and puffed as she slid beside them.
The thief was not happy to have been caught and had dropped her bag in order to fight his way out of Liam’s hold.
“Stop it. It’s your lucky day. I was off-duty, but I’ll deliver you to the precinct myself.”
As she looked at him, she realized the man was young, much younger than she’d anticipated. He seemed to be a young teenager, not tall yet but lanky, and she could see the signs that he was underweight. The dark skin of his cheeks seemed taut, his eyes hollow, although there was a definite fire in them as he fought back.
“Let me go, you fucking donut eater!”
Liam growled under his breath as he finally brought the youngster to his feet and maintained his control on him with an arm lock. What Catriona saw was how Liam rubbed his thigh with his free hand, a definite sign that the chase had aggravated his injured muscles. “And here I thought you were about to sweet talk me. Insults won’t keep you from being arrested.”
Caught and unable to break the hold, Catriona saw something on the youngster’s face, it was quick but undeniable—fear.
“Wait.”
Liam and the kid froze at her voice, as if remembering she was there. Catriona took a few steps to stand before her thief, but Liam warded her off, which she decided to ignore. Instead, her eyes went deep into the dark ones of the teenager. When she smiled, it was obvious he was startled by her attitude, but immediately closed down, probably suspecting some sort of trick.
“What’s your name?”
“As if I would tell that to a fucking cop.”
Liam shook him a little as if to berate him for his foul language, but she carried on. “I’m Catriona. You stole from me because you needed money?”
The kid who had to grow up too fast sneered at her. “What do you think? Don’t you think I’d find something better to do if I had the choice?”
Ignoring the insult, Catriona touched his shoulder. The young man shrugged, but it was clear that under the coat, his body had suffered from strain and hunger. She guessed that he was a good enough thief, but the fear in his eyes, the way he looked for a way out told her he was stealing for someone else.
Gazes locked for a moment, she nodded before reaching inside her bag. She’d exchanged some money at the airport, not knowing when she’d have access to an ATM again, or if she’d need to pay for her accommodations in cash. Taking the thick wad of money, she offered it to him.
Liam rolled his eyes. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. Why are you doing that?”
For the first time, Catriona glanced at him and put her palm on the fist Liam kept on the young boy. Slowly, and without her having to say a thing, he released the young boy, and she linked her fingers with him. Once he was free, the boy sidestepped, ready to bolt, but remained within reach of the money.
“What’s the catch?”
“None, just take the money.”
He looked at Catriona and then at Liam, obviously torn whether to take the suspicious gift or not, which confirmed that he wasn’t a wicked soul, but one who was in desperate need.
His hand hovered before closing his fingers over it. Another moment he stayed there, probably asking himself if he was dreaming or not, before he looked up at her.
“Cary Paylor.”
And before she could answer, he turned and sprinted out of sight.
Catriona offered the young man a small prayer for his s
afety and slowly returned her attention to her surroundings. The warm and calloused hand in hers was the first thing that brought her back. The cold had intensified as the sun disappeared, the cold piercing through her coat, seeping into her skin.
The contact made her heart beat faster, bringing a new kind of heat inside her body. Catriona turned to see Liam observing her.
“Why did you do that? He tried to steal from you.”
His handsome face was troubled and, with his entire focus on her, Catriona felt like the center of the world. How could this man make her feel such a way? Her whole life, she’d been sure of every step she took, the kind lit with faith. When she was offered the chance to dedicate her life to God, the call had been strong, but the journey had been filled with delays and sideways missions. Was that pull another way to test her or a sign she should reconsider her calling?
“I know, and I don’t condone criminal activities, but in that young boy, I saw so much suffering and desperation, it was impossible to look away. He wasn’t stealing for himself, and he didn’t enjoy doing it.”
As she spoke, Liam’s features softened until he sighed and squeezed her hand gently. “I know, I sensed it too. But it was a knee jerk reaction to go after him. I felt how thin he was. He hasn’t been pulled into a gang yet. But don’t you think that we could have helped him more at the station? Call in a social worker who would have offered him a solution for himself instead of whoever he’s protecting?”
In a silent answer, Catriona tightened her hold. “You saw how determined he was. He would’ve been the same with an officer or a social worker. And maybe a kind gesture will stick with him more than arrests and accusations.”
Liam shook his head, a smile hovering on his lips. “You see the positive in everyone and everything, don’t you?”
“As do you, otherwise, I never would’ve been able to convince you to let Cary go.”
Fingers came to trace her cold cheek in a ghostly caress. “I’m like Cary, a protector. Don’t mistake me for a good soul. I’ve seen and done too much in my life to even qualify for the word good.”
