by Nicole James
“Jesus Christ.”
“There’s more. When I bumped into you today, I’d just met the FBI agent at the diner around the corner.”
Liam’s eyes were intently focused on her. “And?”
“He told me Vano has multiple bank accounts for House of Ink and way more money is going through them than even what Vano’s con is pulling in through the mail. A couple of days ago, they had me plant some bugs around the place and—“
“What?”
“It was part of the deal. He told me today they overheard some kind of shipment was coming in tomorrow, but they couldn’t hear what it was. He wants me to try to find out.”
“You? Are you kidding me?”
“They suspect drugs, possibly cocaine or heroin.”
“Let me get this straight. The FBI thinks your brother is laundering drug money through his tattoo shop?”
“That’s what Agent Sanders said.”
“This just keeps getting better.”
“I know my brother’s done some bad shit, but he’s never been involved with dealing drugs. Liam, no one knows my brother like I do, and maybe Vano’s been a scammer all his life, but he’s never been involved with drugs. He’s always been a small time con man.” She shook her head. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
Liam frowned. “Maybe he’s gotten in over his head with these guys and can’t see a way out.”
She nodded. “Yes, maybe.”
“Velvet if you go sticking your nose in these guys’ business, who knows what they’ll do if they catch you snooping around. You have to see the danger that puts you in.”
“I know. I don’t want to do it; I don’t want to be involved with any of this, but what choice do I have?”
“Babe, there is no way in hell I’m letting you do this.”
“I have to. If I don’t, the immunity deal goes away. They caught me red handed, Liam. I opened the PO Box with the key and took the mail out. The payments Vano had scammed those people out of were in those envelopes. I’m looking at twenty years.”
“Oh my God.” Liam surged to his feet and began pacing. He dragged his palms down his face. “I’m gonna kill that son-of-a-bitch, Velvet. I mean it. I lay eyes on him again, he’s dead.”
“Liam—”
He whirled on her. “You better pray the FBI get him first.”
She went to him, putting her hands on his chest. “Please, Liam, I don’t want you to get involved. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you or if you did something that got you arrested, too.”
“Baby, if you think I’m going to stand by and do nothing, you don’t know me at all. They want to mess with the O’Rourke’s, they’re going to find out we don’t play by the rules. Not when it comes to people we love.”
She turned away and buried her face in her hands. “I’m so sorry I dragged you into all this. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but I feel like I’m trapped and there’s no way out.”
Liam stepped before her and pulled her hands away. When she wouldn’t look at him, he tipped her face up with a finger under her chin. “We’re in this together now, Velvet. Understand?”
She nodded. “Okay.”
He searched her eyes a long time. “I think I’ve got a plan.”
“You do? What?”
“We sneak in the shop after closing, and we tear the place apart. If that doesn’t work I’ll follow those guys and see where they go.”
“We.”
“Baby, I don’t want you anywhere near them.”
“You just said we were in this together.”
“I don’t want you hurt. I don’t want you within a hundred miles of dangerous men like these. That’s final.”
She saw the hard determination in his face. He meant every word. She loved that about him. She’d never in her life had a man that wanted to protect her and keep her safe like he did. The love she felt for him bubbled up and overwhelmed her. She cupped his face with her hands. “Liam?”
“I’m serious, Velvet.”
“I know. But, Liam?”
He visibly relaxed at her acceptance of his declaration. “Yeah, baby?”
“Can we talk about it in the morning?” She dragged her thumb slowly across his bottom lip, hoping he’d take the hint. His eyes dropped to her mouth, and something shifted in his demeanor. His big hands closed over her hips, bringing her flush against him.
“Absolutely,” he murmured as his mouth came down on hers.
***
Liam took her hand and led her into the tent. There wasn’t a lot of room, so they both stripped, and he lay on the sleeping bags, grabbing her and pulling her on top.
He played with her clit until she was wet, then he grasped her waist and lifted her, lowering her pussy onto his erection, slowly penetrating her silky softness. She moved on him, taking him farther inside, inch by inch, and the feeling was incredible.
His hands tightened, holding her in place as he watched her pussy stretch around him. “Christ, I love watching you take me.”
She rocked up and down, undulating against him.
He lay back, content to watch this sexy-as-hell show she didn’t even realize she was putting on for him. Fuck, it was sheer torture watching her work her body against his, seeking out her orgasm.
“Oh, God, Liam,” she breathed and began moving faster and faster. “I can’t…”
“Keep going, baby.” He thrust his hips up and grabbed both her bouncing breasts in his hands, squeezing them and pinching her nipples.
She looked down at him with half-lidded eyes, her mouth open and panting.
“Jesus, sweetness, you are so gorgeous.”
He dipped a hand, his thumb moving circles over her clit, and she clenched down on his cock, driving him fucking crazy. He couldn’t last much longer. Her pussy was squeezing him so tight, and the sight of her bouncing on his dick sent him over the edge. He gripped her hips tight and pounded into her.
Velvet arched her back and tensed her body as she came on him.
It was a beautiful thing to watch. The vulnerability written on her face called out to him, and he came hard, his hips lifting off the ground.
She collapsed on top of him, and his arms went around her, catching her to his chest and letting her know he’d always be there.
“Liam.” She sank down over him like a deflated soufflé.
There was so much in that one word and in the way she melted against him. She was giving in to the safety of his arms; she was giving everything over to him, all the problems, all the worries, and she was trusting in him. He knew in that moment everything would be fine.
For the longest time, she didn’t move. He’d lie there and hold her as long as she wanted.
Finally, when her body stopped pulsing around his dick, he rolled her to her back and leaned over her, giving little licks to her nipples until he’d drawn every last shudder from her.
Liam tenderly brushed her hair from her face and traced his fingertip over her temple, cheek, and down her delicate jaw. “I didn’t know it was possible, but you look even more beautiful.”
She turned sleepy eyes to him, but even then, he could see the worry descending over her.
He searched her eyes and ran his thumb over the furrows in her forehead. “I don’t want you to worry about anything, baby. Okay?”
She stroked his bearded face. “I’m starting to believe that maybe there is a way out of all of this, Liam.”
“There is, Velvet, and we’re going to find it. I promise.” He kissed her forehead. “You’re safe, baby. Get some sleep.”
Her eyes slid closed, and she slept for the first time in week.
***
Skin’s head snapped around to Weasel. “Where is she?”
“I’m pulling up the app; give me a second, will ya?”
The tattoo shop was closed and the shades drawn. Cooter and Finn had gone home ten minutes ago. Skin’s gaze swiveled back to where Vano stood by the register. “I told you to keep a close eye
on her, goddamn it.”
“She left this afternoon to run to the store. Said she was on the rag and had to get some tampons. What was I supposed to do, tell her no? Go fuckin’ get ‘em myself, for Christ’s sake?”
“And now your fucking key’s missing; you think that’s a coincidence? You’re such a fucking moron.” He paced, lighting a cigarette.
“Maybe she’s home now,” Vano suggested.
Skin jabbed the index finger of the hand that held the burning cigarette in Vano’s direction. “You think I didn’t just come from there? You think I’m stupid. Ain’t nobody there. Ain’t nobody been there either.”
Vano ran his hand through his hair. “She’s around somewhere. She’ll turn up. She’s got no car.”
Skin turned back to Weasel. “You find her yet?”
“Bingo.”
“Where is she?”
“Not in town, that’s for sure.”
“What do you mean?”
“Give me a second, this map’s hard to see.” He put his thumb and forefinger on the screen and enlarged the area, zooming in on the flashing red dot. He snickered. “This app for finding your cell phone” —he paused to look at Vano—“or in this case your sister’s cell phone, is cool as hell. Good thing Skin made you download it to her phone when she wasn’t looking.”
“Just tell me where the hell she is!”
“I’m trying to read it. The type’s pretty damn small. She’s in this green area outside of town. National Monument Park, near one of the campgrounds. Hey, this thing’s pretty damn accurate. How ‘bout that?”
“That remains to be seen. We gotta find her first.” Skin grabbed Vano by the shirt and shook him. “You better pray we find her!”
“What would she be doing up there?” Weasel asked Vano.
“Hell, I don’t know. Maybe she’s out there with that guy from Brothers Ink. She’ll come back. What are you so upset about?”
“Because we got product coming in tomorrow, and I don’t want any surprises. I don’t trust her. I like to keep tabs on people I don’t trust. I like to know where all the players in the game are, and if she goes to the cops, we could be walking into a trap tomorrow, and I ain’t going back to prison.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Skin and Weasel drove slowly up into the east entrance of the park, climbing higher and higher. The two-lane road wound precariously with sheer drops on the right and views that went on for miles.
Skin parked the van, sat behind the wheel, and stared out at the trail, barely visible in the darkness. The cockeyed sign that read campsites pointed to the right. Dawn was starting to lighten the horizon. He glanced over at Weasel. “This it?”
Weasel pulled up the tracker on the screen of his phone. They both watched the pinging of the signal that proved she was close.
Skin shut the engine off. “Let’s go.”
“Shit, I told you I ain’t goin’ out there in the dark. There are mountain lions up here. Fuck that.”
Skin leaned forward and opened the glove box, pulling out a handgun. He drew the slide back, chambered a round, and then shouldered his door open. “Come on you fucking pussy.”
Weasel cursed, shoved his door open, and climbed out. He followed Skin down the trail.
***
Liam felt the warm lush skin of Velvet’s naked body snuggle up against him, and he smiled even before he cracked his eyes open. His hand stroked up her back, then down to squeeze her amazing ass. She rubbed against him, and his dick hardened. Seems anytime she was near, it came to life; having her naked against him was really getting its attention. The warmth of the sleeping bag and tent was like a wonderful cocoon against the chill of the morning.
“I have to pee,” Velvet whispered.
Liam chuckled, his chest bouncing her head. “Now? I was just about to roll you over and do all sorts off sinfully decadent things to you.”
“You’ll have to wait a few minutes.” She wiggled out of the bag, put his flannel shirt on over her bare breasts, and slid into her jeans and boots.
Liam rose up on an elbow, grabbed the back of her neck, and hauled her down for a quick kiss before releasing her. “Hurry back, babe.”
She crawled to the exit, and Liam lay down; his eyes drifting shut, only to pop open again when she stuck her head back through the opening in the tent. “You know, some coffee would be amazing.”
“Damn, you’re a demanding wench first thing in the morning,” he grumbled.
“Pleaseeee.” She gave him an entreating smile, and with her tousled hair, she’d never looked more appealing.
“I’ll see what I can do, beautiful.”
She blew him a kiss and left.
Liam stretched, then pulled his jeans on and slipped his thermal shirt over his head. He yanked on his boots and emerged from the tent. The edge of the horizon was a light purple with just a tinge of pink. It reflected across the cloudy sky like a watercolor painting. He never got tired of the beauty of the Grand Valley.
Moving to the remains of the fire, he squatted down to poke at the smoldering embers with a stick and then tossed some kindling on top. With a squirt from the small can of lighter fluid he’d brought, it flared to life. He piled on some medium size branches and soon the fire was crackling and licking the wood with flames of orange.
He dug in the pack he’d brought for the small fry pan and a blue enamel coffee mug. He uncapped a water bottle and poured some in the pan, then set it on top of the logs to boil. Then he dug out a piece of cotton cheesecloth and put it over the cup, making a well and securing it to the rim with a rubber band. He dug out a baggie of coffee grounds, inhaling the rich aroma, and shook a portion into the well of the cloth.
The water in the shallow pan was soon boiling. He grabbed a glove from inside the pack and used it as an oven mitt to pull the pan from the fire. After letting it cool for a minute, he poured it carefully over the grounds until the cup was almost full. Setting the pan back in the fire with some more water, he took the cloth off the cup and brought it to his lips. Grinning, he murmured, “McGyver, you got nothin’ on me.”
***
Velvet squatted down to pee. It was quiet with not even the call of a bird, nothing but the sound of the wind howling up the mountain. She felt a prickle on the back of her neck and the feeling that someone was watching her snaked up her spine like cold fingers.
She’d trudged a good ways from the tent, and now she was regretting going that distance. Quickly tugging her pants back up, she searched through the pines for the orange of the tent. Craning her neck, a small bit of the bright colored nylon fabric became visible in the distance.
She took a few steps and was grabbed from behind. As she sucked in a breath, a hand clamped over her mouth and the cold steel of a gun barrel pressed to her temple.
“Stay quiet or I’ll blow your fucking brains out, Velvet,” a familiar voice whispered in her ear.
Skin! What the hell was he doing up here?
She heard a quiet snicker from behind her off to her left. Skin wasn’t alone. That had to be his partner in crime, Weasel. The two were joined at the hip.
“Not a sound. You understand me?” Skin growled.
She nodded her head, her mouth still clamped tight in his hold.
“You come up here with your new boyfriend, huh? Did you give that pussy of yours to him?”
She was afraid to answer, so she didn’t move.
“From now on, ain’t nobody gonna be touching that pussy but me. And I’m gonna kill that motherfucker for touching what’s mine.”
Velvet’s stomach dropped at the thought of Liam. She didn’t want him hurt. She’d do anything to prevent it. She whimpered behind his hand.
“Told you, not a fucking sound!” he hissed, shaking her.
She nodded, frantic to appease him.
“Maybe I’ll fuck you right here, right now,” Skin whispered, grinding his pelvis into her ass.
He was getting off on tormenting her with his threats. She
could feel his erection and it sickened her.
“That dude’s gonna come,” Weasel whined softly. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Shut up,” Skin snapped in a low growl. His attention returned to Velvet and his mouth pressed against the shell of her ear. “Did you tell him? Did you tell your fucking boyfriend what you know?”
She shook her head.
“I’m not stupid. I know you’ve been snooping around. You think I don’t know?” Then he pushed her forward toward the campsite.
***
Liam eyed the horizon again and wondered what was taking Velvet so long. He stood as the cracking of a twig sounded behind him. “I was just gonna come look—“
He broke off as he turned and found himself staring at a shaking, terrified Velvet, her neck in the headlock of a scary, tattooed skinhead who was holding a gun to her head.
“I saved you the trouble. Here she is,” he said with a sneer.
A chuckle brought Liam’s eyes to the weasely dude standing to the guy’s left. He had ‘side-kick’ written all over him, from the way he stood a step back, to his weaponless hands, to the way his nervous gaze kept shifting to the man with the gun.
Liam dismissed him as not being much of a threat and returned his attention to the man holding Velvet.
“What do you want, Skin?” Velvet whispered.
Liam’s eyes narrowed. She knew him. These two had to be the ex-cons working for Vano. She’d been right to be afraid of them.
Liam immediately began to assess the list of weapons he had within reach: the knife in his pack, the pan of boiling water on the fire, the stack of wood, and maybe even the can of lighter fluid.
“You shouldn’t have taken off, my little honey-pot.”
“I’m not your honey-pot. I’m not your anything,” Velvet insisted in a hiss.
“Oh, just you wait.” He stroked the muzzle of the gun along her cheek. “You and me are going to be spending a lot of time together.”
Hot rage ran through Liam’s veins. He wanted to tear this guy limb from limb.