“I got the old man!” Trace said, following the gurney out.
A third gurney left with Sonya’s covered body.
Liam suddenly felt very sleepy, as if he were drugged. Perhaps driving the truck wouldn’t be such a good idea.
“Are you okay?” Morgan asked.
“I’m tired all of a sudden.”
She nodded as if she understood. “I’m like that when I get home from a stressful Vegas trip.” She stopped, tears flooding her eyes. “I never have to come back here, do I?”
Liam wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “No, angel. I promise you’ll never have to come back here ever again. Let’s get your family patched up and go home.”
She hugged him to her side. “Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I do. You didn’t sign up for any of this, and I don’t know what I would have done without you.”
“You would have survived like you always do.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think I could have. Not this time.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “I love you, angel.”
Chapter 26
It was impossible to stop all the commotion in her head. Morgan couldn’t grasp a single thought with so much happening around her. Piper was crying over both Grandpa and Greer who had survived surgery. Thankfully both had a good chance at recovery. Liam was speaking in hushed tones with Reed, who shook his head every now and again. She knew they were talking about Grandpa’s fate once he left the hospital. Van was in a room down the hall, still unconscious from the accident. And here she sat, with multiple people’s blood dried on her clothes.
And Liam had told her he loved her.
She’d said nothing back.
Then the moment was over, and he said nothing more.
Morgan closed her eyes. She had known this was the last time she’d ever come to Vegas, but she thought it was by her choice alone. Now her grandfather would likely face prison time, if not extradited to Russia on top of it. She couldn’t even begin to imagine the devastation that Piper was feeling. She’d been closest to Grandpa since she was just a tiny girl, even living with him so she could stay near.
“Why now, Grandpa?” she quietly asked the sleeping man.
His eyes fluttered open. He reached out with an unsteady hand to pat hers. “I could not bear to see you suffer. It is my past, my burden that I never wanted to share.” His unfocused eyes stared at her. “I was afraid.”
“Afraid?”
“Of losing your love when you found out. Forgive me for waiting as long as I did.”
Morgan leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. Even though he’d kept his identity from her, she knew he only did it to protect them. Whatever happened as a result could have been his fault, but she didn’t have the energy to think about it. It was something she and her sisters would have to face later.
“If you taught me anything, it’s that we are family and we are stronger together. And when you have time and are feeling better, I want you to tell me your story.”
“I will.” His eyes closed. “Remember I love you.”
“I love you too.”
When he fell back asleep, Morgan had a horrible thought. It wasn’t over yet. There could be backlash from the organization. They were all still in danger, including Liam.
She took a shaky breath, knowing what she’d have to do. But would she have the strength to do it?
* * *
Liam watched Morgan from the doorway. She had been speaking with her grandfather, and he didn’t want to interrupt. But then Walter fell asleep and Morgan leaned back against the chair, her eyes focused on the sleeping man.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
Morgan’s tired gaze flickered to him and his heart squeezed. He wasn’t upset that she hadn’t returned the feelings that came flying unedited out of his mouth. He wouldn’t lie and say it didn’t hurt, but he couldn’t be angry. Her grandfather and sister had been injured, and they’d only known each other a short time. It was the worst possible timing to announce that he loved her. He just hoped she wouldn’t push him away if she didn’t feel the same. Sometimes it took time to love, and he was patient. If he thought about it, he’d already waited for her his whole life. He just didn’t know it until recently. Maybe the same would happen for Morgan.
He could only hope.
“I’m trying to figure out what will happen now,” she said. “Did Reed tell you anything?”
Liam nodded. “Are you sure you want to discuss this here?”
“What else is there to do?”
He could think of a million things that’d be more pleasant, including filing taxes or enduring Trace’s antics for another twenty-three years. But her strained face told him she wouldn’t rest until she knew everything. Liam sat down beside her and placed his hand on hers. She didn’t flinch or pull away, which was a good sign.
“Reed doesn’t know much since he’s no longer on the inside. If his hunch is correct, your grandfather might serve a reduced sentence depending upon his cooperation. He already gave the FBI information on every crime lord present, which may help his case.”
“But he’s eighty-five!” Her brow furrowed.
“The law doesn’t care about age. He will have to face his past.”
Morgan shook her head. “I still can’t believe it. How could he be Nikolai Pavlovich?”
“I know, angel. I was stunned too.”
She was silent for a moment before saying, “This will sound horrible, but I’m not sorry she’s dead.”
“The Ivankovs have hurt your family for a long time. Sonya was going to kill us and the entire crime syndicate. Something in her snapped, and your grandfather took action. It doesn’t make it right, but . . .” Liam shrugged, not sure how to finish his thoughts. “Reed will have many black nights because of it.”
“I feel sorry for him,” she said. “But he did it out of defense. She would have shot you and the rest of us if she’d had the chance.”
Liam nodded and then asked, “What do I call him now? I keep thinking of him as Walter.”
Morgan glanced at her grandfather. “He will always be Grandpa Walter to me.”
Liam leaned over and kissed her forehead. “We’ll get this sorted out.”
Morgan looked at him oddly, almost with remorse. “Liam, I don’t know how to say this . . .”
Those were words he didn’t want to hear. Nothing good could come from a start like that.
“If it’s about what I said before, you don’t have to say it back. I blurted it without thinking of your feelings and what you’ve been through.”
Morgan shook her head. “It’s not that. Well, not really.”
“Then what is it?”
“I think I need time to process all of this. Alone.” She couldn’t keep eye contact with him. It was as if she was looking everywhere except at him. “I — It’s not that I don’t like you, but with everything that’s happened, I need space.”
“You can have all the space you want. I just want to help where I can.”
“I don’t need your help,” she said, her voice agitated.
“I know you don’t need it,” he said, trying to calm her. “You’re capable of handling it all on your own. I just thought it’d be nice to have someone to lean on.”
“You’ve been very sweet, and I don’t know what I would’ve done without you, but now I have to do the rest on my own.”
“Why?” he asked a little more harshly than he meant to.
“Liam, I don’t want to fight.”
“I don’t either. But you aren’t making sense. Will you turn away your sisters’ help, or is just mine?” He stared at Morgan, willing her to look at him. “Or is it me you don’t want?”
That got her attention. Her eyes flashed as she glared at him. “I don’t want to talk about this right now. Just go. Go home, and leave me alone.”
Liam’s chest constricted. He couldn’t breathe. Was she
really sending him on his way as if the past days hadn’t mattered? It didn’t make sense. Had he missed a cue?
“Angel —”
“Don’t call me that!” She stood with her arms crossed. “It’s time for you to leave or I’ll have security escort you out.”
Liam stood and took one last look at her before walking out. He stormed past Reed who was standing near the door.
“Find Trace,” Liam snapped. “We’re leaving.”
“What about —”
“She’s made it perfectly clear she doesn’t want me here.”
Liam willed his emotions to hold together. He would not succumb to the jagged pain that was ripping his insides apart.
Chapter 27
Piper carried her bags downstairs and set them by the door. The taxi would arrive any minute. She looked around at the familiar old house that she and Grandpa had shared, committing it to memory. It would have to last her while she was away.
It had been two months since the “Vegas incident” as they were now referring to it. Because of his cooperation, Grandpa had been sentenced to five years at a minimum-security prison. The lawyer said with his age, failing health, and good behavior, his sentence could be reduced to a year.
Morgan was beside herself trying to run the business alone and barking at anyone who tried to help. Greer made the unfortunate mistake of bringing up Liam, to which Morgan grew a second head. Greer quickly promised to never speak his name again.
And Van . . .
How could she have ruined a relationship that hadn’t existed? It was as if he and Morgan shared the same temper. Anytime Piper drew near he’d pick a fight with her.
She looked down at the paper she was holding. It was her salvation. The day she received the letter, she knew what she had to do. No one wanted her around anyway. And Grandpa was gone for at least a year.
The taxi pulled into the driveway. Piper looked around one last time, picked up her bags, and left.
It was time to follow her dreams.
* * *
Trace cringed at the clutter lining the hallway to Liam’s office. Bethany stood just outside his door, reading messages.
“For the tenth time, I’m not in!” Liam barked.
Bethany looked to Trace for help.
“Still at it?” he asked.
She nodded. “He’s breaking apart the desk as we speak.”
“I didn’t think my brother would fall so easily. Who would have guessed he was a sentimental fool?”
“I heard that!” Liam snapped.
“Good. I’d hate to add hearing loss as well.”
Liam stomped to the door, sleeves rolled to his elbows, sweat trickling down his neck. He looked like the stuff nightmares were made from.
“You look like shit,” Trace said.
“I gave you full access to your trust fund. What the hell are you doing here?”
Trace raised a brow. “I guess I can add a loss of manners to the list. But never mind that.” He swept into the office before Liam could slam the door in his face, which he’d done a few times recently. The man was becoming insufferable and all for a bit of lace. Well, maybe not lace if they were speaking of Morgan. She was more the sturdy cotton type.
Liam ignored Trace and went back to his desk, sledge hammer gripped in his hand.
“You really are breaking the desk,” Trace said. “I thought Bethany was exaggerating.”
“I hate this desk.” Liam took a swing at it, cracking a section of the wood clear off.
“It didn’t seem to bother you before. In fact, many things didn’t seem to bother you. Well, except me. And now you’re beating a defenseless desk.”
Liam tossed down the hammer and took a breath. “I’m working through a few things.”
“Like Morgan?”
Liam glared.
“She used you and sent you on your way,” Trace said. “I get it.”
“No, she didn’t.” Liam crossed his arms. “I really thought she would’ve called by now. I gave her the space she said she wanted, and now that Walter is in jail and life is moving on, I thought she’d call.”
“Did you try calling her? Maybe she’s afraid after your last conversation.”
“I told her I loved her,” Liam snapped. “What is there to be afraid of?”
“So soon?” Trace’s lip curled. “Rookie move.”
“Get out!”
“I can see you’re still a little sensitive.” Liam made a threatening move toward him. Geesh, the poor guy was more lovesick than Trace realized. Good thing Liam had him for a brother. Trace quickly raised his hands in surrender. “I just have a request, and then I’ll be out of your hair.”
“What?”
“Stephanie is sick and can’t do the afternoon tour.”
“And?”
“You need to cover for her.”
Liam looked as if he was about to launch across the room and throttle him. “Why do I need to cover for her?”
“There is no one else to do it.”
“What about you?”
“You know I can’t do the tour. I know nothing about this place.”
“And what about my other seventy-five employees?”
“Busy.”
Liam propped his hands on his hips.
“And,” Trace continued, “you are the best at it. Plus, you need a little distraction that isn’t so destructive.” He looked around the office. “Really, there isn’t too much left in this office that you can destroy.”
Liam picked up one of the many glass paperweights and tossed it back and forth in his hands.
“You look very menacing, but we both know you won’t throw it at me.”
When Liam took aim, Trace scurried from the office, slamming the door behind him.
“The tour begins at three,” Trace yelled through the door. “I suggest you shower and change before.”
The door shook from the launched paperweight.
“He’s getting worse,” Bethany whispered.
Trace draped his arm around the pretty assistant. “No worries. He’ll be back to normal by nightfall.”
Now, it was up to Greer.
And his hands were now free for other things.
“Oh!” Bethany gasped. Her hands flew to her tight derrière. “Did you just grab my butt?”
Trace unapologetically smiled. “We have plenty of time for a private tour,” he said, nodding toward his seldom-used office.
Her mouth dropped open, revealing her sweet pink tongue. God, what he could do with that tongue.
A sly smile curved onto her lips, and he knew his day was looking up. He led her to the office and kicked the door closed. “I think I might like office work after all.”
She giggled and perched on his desk, looking every bit of his office daydreams.
Yes, he definitely liked his job.
* * *
Morgan tried to ignore Greer, but it was nearly impossible. She was standing in front of her desk, glaring.
Greer crossed her arms. “Why are you being so stubborn? I booked a tour at Cast Again Foundry at three.”
“I don’t have time,” Morgan stated.
“You never have time.”
“I didn’t realize how much Grandpa did. Between his workload and mine, I can’t keep up.”
“That is your own fault,” Greer said. “We all asked if we could help and you shot us down.”
Morgan winced.
“Sorry, bad choice of words. You’re still having nightmares, huh?”
“Aren’t you?” Morgan asked. “You’re the one who was shot.”
Greer shrugged. “Bad stuff happens, but it’s over now. I might still jump at a car backfiring or a loud door slamming, but that’s just the after jitters.”
Morgan leaned back in her chair. “Do you really think it’s over?”
“Most of the bratva have been extradited. And even though Grandpa is in jail, he still has a few secrets up his sleeve to keep the rest at bay.”
&n
bsp; “How do you know?”
Greer smiled. “It’s Grandpa! It took us over twenty years to find out his real name is Nikolai Pavlovich. The man is a vault of secrets. He didn’t give them all up.”
“You’re probably right.”
“Of course I’m right.” Greer put her hands onto the desk and leaned forward. “Is that what you’re waiting for? Did you think we were going to feel a backlash from this?”
Morgan nodded. “I was sure we would.”
Greer studied her. “And that’s why you kicked Liam to the curb.”
“I didn’t kick him anywhere,” Morgan flustered. “And there’s no curb!”
“You did! You were trying to protect him.”
Morgan sighed. “I didn’t want him to have to deal with our problems anymore. If you haven’t noticed, we seem to have a lot of them.”
“The only problem is you.”
Morgan’s mouth swung open. “Me?”
“Yes, you! You’ve been playing mother hen and boss, keeping everyone at a distance. I don’t think you’re trying to protect us. You’re trying to protect yourself but are too chicken to admit it.”
Morgan snapped her mouth closed. Is that what everyone thought of her? Was it true?
“You have one hour to get ready. We’re going on that tour and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
“Fine. I’ll go.”
“I’ll get Papa Bear to throw you in the trunk if I have to!” Greer continued.
“I said it was fine. We’ll leave in an hour.”
Greer straightened and gave a curt nod. “See you then.”
Once her sister left, Morgan dropped her head into her hands, recalling the words Greer had bludgeoned her with. They were true, and she couldn’t hide from them. After her dad died, Morgan built her tower and stowed everyone at the top so they wouldn’t get hurt. But in the process she did just that.
She had to call Liam and make amends. He probably hated her by now, and she wouldn’t blame him. It would shred her heart to hear his voice and not be able to see him again, but she owed him an explanation. Perhaps he’d forgive her in time and she could finally tell him what he’d wanted to hear months ago but she was too afraid to say.
Melting Point Page 20
