by Aria Grace
“Why are you telling me this?” A quizzical expression on his face makes me pull back a few inches from where I’ve instinctively leaned closer to him. “I don’t even know you. Every time we’ve been near each other, I’ve humiliated myself in one way or another. How can you possibly stand being around me? Do you have some kind of humiliation kink that I’m feeding into without even knowing it?”
“No, Liam. It’s not a kink.” I throw the car into reverse and back out of the parking lot, feeling a strange mix of frustration and annoyance. We don’t have time to play these games anymore. “I saw your tattoo on the first night, and I’ve been curious about why you’re here. And now that you say you’re in trouble… Well, I think I can help if you let me.”
I don’t say another word until we get on the highway. When he still doesn’t speak, I lower my tone and try to appeal to his sense of self-preservation.
“Look, if you think you can do this all by yourself, then by all means, go for it. I just know what it’s like to be a scared kid without a lot of options. I had to rely on others to help me when I was at my lowest point, and I’m just offering you that same courtesy. If you don’t want to take it, that’s your choice.”
Liam’s shoulders sag forward as the enormity of the situation sinks in. We don’t speak again for the entire ride back to The Vault, but I hope he takes my advice and does have a talk with Tanner. It would be easier if he came to me directly, but Tanner will relay any information I need to have. Not only to serve my mission but to keep Liam safe.
Tanner is the one person I trust to put this kid’s needs above anyone else’s—including his own.
I certainly can’t say the same about myself.
12
Liam
I didn’t know what to say to Edge for the rest of the ride back to The Vault, so I didn’t say anything at all. But as soon as I got out of his car, I knew what I had to do.
I need to talk to Tanner. Even if he fires me, that’s okay because chances are good I’ll have to leave anyway.
Instead of heading to the dorms, I walk straight into Tanner’s office and ask for a few minutes of his time.
“Of course, Liam.” He waves toward the chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat.”
I close the door behind me then sit down across from him, picking at my cuticles to keep my hands busy.
After a moment of awkward silence, Tanner presses me to get to the point. “What can I do for you?”
“I have a situation back at home, and I don’t really know what to do about it. Edge said I should talk to you.” I bite my lip and hope he doesn’t get mad that I’m wasting his time. “I don’t want to burden you with this, but I’ll probably need to take some time off, and I know that’s not really allowed.”
Tanner leans back in his chair with both elbows resting on the armrests and his fingers steepled in front of his chest. “Okay, Liam. Tell me what’s going on, and we’ll go from there.”
Without giving myself enough time to talk myself out of it, I spew out everything I know, including the part about the kids being kidnapped and shipped to Brazil into a trafficking ring. Strangely, Tanner doesn’t look as shocked as he should. He obviously knows I’m a Nicola, because he helped me cover my tattoo, but he hasn’t asked very many questions about my family. I got the feeling he was happy to help me escape from under my uncle’s thumb but didn’t want details.
“Did you explain all of this to Edge?”
Tanner’s question surprises me. I expected it to be more about why I brought this shit into his business or how I expected him to help. “Um, no, sir. I didn’t want to get a client involved, even though he really wanted me to spill my guts.”
Tanner gives me a knowing smile then leans forward so his clasped hands are on the desk in front of me. “You can trust him, Liam. Edge knows of your family and what they’re capable of. He’ll want to help you if you let him. Is it okay if I tell him what you’ve told me? Or do you want to tell him yourself?”
I close my eyes and throw my head back, anticipating the awkward conversation in my mind. Ugh, why does Edge have to be so fucking hot? If he were a dorky businessman, it would be so much easier. But Edge is all leather and muscles and…power. And he’s seen me at my lowest, in more ways than one.
Tanner takes my silence as genuine discomfort. “What’s wrong, Liam? Do you not want to talk to Edge? Is there a problem between you two?”
I open my eyes and offer a small shake of my head. “No, there’s nothing wrong with him. I’m just so embarrassed to be around him.”
“Why is that?” Tanner looks genuinely confused, but I know he hasn’t forgotten my first night on the floor.
God, do I really have to say it out loud? “He’s seen me at my worst. He knows what these clients do to me and what they make me do to them. It’s so embarrassing. I can’t imagine what he thinks of me right now.”
“Liam, I know for a fact that Edge will not judge you for what you do while working here. He’s a client too, remember? He understands that what happens in this building is not about who you are as a person.” I nod when Tanner pauses to see if I understand what he’s saying. I do, but I just don’t believe it applies to me. “He also knows that anyone working here is trying to better their lives by saving up a nice nest egg. You don’t have to be embarrassed around him.”
I snort out a strained laugh. “Tanner, he walked in when I was cleaning up after my appointment with Baby Boy Bobby.”
Tanner’s eyes widen, and he purses his lips, obviously holding back a smile.
“Go ahead and laugh.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean back in the chair with a pout. “But I wanted to die. I was still wearing the fucking diaper he made me piss in.”
A strained grin breaks across Tanner’s face, and he reaches over to pat my arm. “Oh, honey, I know that must’ve been awkward. I’m sorry it happened, but I can promise Edge won’t hold that against you. And he won’t think badly of you just because of anything he’s witnessed so far.”
“Whatever,” I say, resigned to the fact that I need their help. I can’t help Alexi or those kids on my own. So, if Tanner trusts Edge, then I guess I need to too. “I’ll talk to him.”
“I think that’s a good start. Then I can work with him to see how we can get your cousin out of that situation and stop whatever your uncle has planned before anyone gets hurt.”
“Thanks, Tanner.” I stand up to leave, but I remember the other thing I need to talk to him about. “Oh, is it okay if I do triple shifts for a few days? I need as much tip money as possible if I’m going to help Alexi move out here.”
Tanner turns to his computer and brings up what looks like a scheduling application. “There’s a party coming in at seven. Talk to Damon if you want in. If he thinks you can handle it, there’s a minimum gratuity of five grand for the night.”
My jaw drops in shock. That could almost double my savings in one night. “Thank you, Tanner. That means a lot to me. I’ll talk to Damon now.”
13
Edge
Tanner calls just after five to fill me in on his conversation with Liam. He thinks Liam will approach me for help, so I start making plans of my own. Rainier is already monitoring the email account and the computer Liam’s cousin has been using.
Rainier said there’s some low-level shielding software installed on it, obviously an attempt to hide the originating IP address, but any programmer with proper motivation could easily get past it. Fortunately for me, Rainier has such motivation.
He was abused as a kid and is particularly invested in stopping Nicola from executing his attack. And he’s also just a good guy. I’m lucky to have him on my side. Once the details are worked out with Rainier on what I need from him, I bite the bullet and reach out to Justin, my ex.
We were together for almost five years, but I couldn’t give him what he needed. My complete devotion. My need for vengeance was my priority then, and it’s my priority now, even if some deep thread of protect
iveness keeps trying to surface whenever I’m around Liam. But I trust Justin to have my back…and Liam’s. And whether I want him around or not, I’ll need the backup.
The phone rings three times, and I fully expect to go to voicemail. I haven’t talked to Justin in eight months, and when he left, we both said things we didn’t mean.
“Hello, hey. Hold on a second.” Justin’s confident voice rings through the phone, and I feel a little guilty for calling him like this. “Sorry about that. I’m just getting out of the shower. How are you?”
I haven’t even said a word yet, but he obviously knows it’s me. “I’m well, Justin. You?”
“I’m good. Busy.”
“Great. Business is going well?” Justin started his own security firm two years ago, and that was probably the beginning of the end for us. He wanted me to go legit, working for the casinos in town instead of against them. I knew my business would be a hindrance to him when he started his own company, but I just wasn’t interested in following his path. I have my own destiny to pursue. But I’m proud of everything he’s accomplished in just a few years.
“Yeah, it’s been great. Tanner has hooked me up with some big corporate guys, and I can barely stay staffed well enough to meet the demand.”
“I’m happy for you.” And I am. He deserves all the happiness he can get, and he never would have found that with me.
“So…” Justin says warily. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”
Here goes nothing. “I need to hire security.”
“For you? That can’t be good.”
“No, not just for me. For one of Tanner’s boys. He’s a Nicola.”
“Holy shit, Edge. Did you kidnap someone? Who is it?” I can hear both fear and awe in Justin’s voice, and it makes me smile.
His assumption isn’t a bad one. There was a time when I considered kidnapping Joseph’s wife just to get to him. But that’s not my style. I like a more direct approach.
“No, Liam left the family. He’s been working for Tanner, but Joseph is planning an attack in Texas next month. Liam and his cousin Alexi want to stop it.”
“What do you need me for?” Back to business. I’ve always appreciated that about Justin. He’s a fun and casual guy ninety percent of the time. But when he gets into business mode, he’s like one of the Queen’s guards. No nonsense. I like that. “I’m taking Liam to Nashville on Saturday to meet with his cousin. I don’t think Alexi will be followed, but I’d like to have some back up. Someone you trust to be discreet.”
Justin scoffs as if I’ve just insulted him. “All my guys are discreet, Edge. I wouldn’t be in business if they weren’t.”
Touché. “Well, do you have someone available for the weekend?”
He’s quiet for a moment before he shocks me with his statement. “I’ll go.”
“Jus,” I say quietly. “You don’t have to do this. I’m sure any of your guys will be well suited for the job.”
“Yes, of course they will. But I’m not sending any one of my guys. I’ll go. I just need to move a few people around. How long will we be there?”
I sigh in defeat, knowing he isn’t going to change his mind on this. “Just till Sunday. I want to get the details firsthand so we can figure out our next move.”
“Is this it, Edge?” Justin says with a slight heat to his voice. “Is this what you been waiting for all these years? Your chance to knock off those last few names on your list?”
“Maybe,” I answer as honestly as possible. “I hope the fuck it is. Because until I take out Joseph, I’ll never be able to move on with my life. You know that better than anyone.”
Justin breathes heavily into the phone but doesn’t respond for a long moment.
“I’ll book your ticket and send you the itinerary. Our flight out of McCarran is at 7:30 a.m.”
“Yeah, I’ll be there.” His confident demeanor cracks for just a second as a hint of sadness sneaks through his words.
“If you decide to send someone else, just let me know. I’ll understand.”
“I won’t,” Justin says with finality. “I’ve been waiting for you to get to this point for a long time. And I don’t want to miss a thing.”
Even though he can’t see me, I roll my eyes. Whether I finish my list or not, there will never be anything between Justin and me again. We had something great for a while, but it wasn’t a forever kind of thing. He knows that as well as I do. It just took him longer to accept it. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Bye, Edge,” he says quietly before disconnecting the line.
Now that I have an extra gun in place, I check the time. Tanner said Liam will be busy with a party tonight, and he promised to personally keep an eye on things. That means I don’t have to go into The Vault.
I need to do some research on my own before this weekend anyway. Maybe I’ll even pick up some popcorn and go visit Rainier for a while. In case I die, I should at least make good on one promise to him.
On Friday morning, I pick up a box of donuts and head over to The Vault. I stop by Tanner’s office first to let him know I’m here then head over to the dorms, surprising the guys with sugar just as they’re all starting to wake up.
Damon directs me to Liam’s room. It’s at the end of the hall and after quietly knocking a few times, I open the door and step inside. Liam is curled around a pillow, breathing softly through pink parted lips. I just stand there for a minute and watch him. It’s creepy, I know. But I can’t help it. He’s fucking gorgeous.
His roommate rolls over and gasps when he sees me standing there. I smile at the young man whose morning wood is tenting the sheet covering his waist and wave. His guarded look softens and he smiles back at me. “Um, hi.”
“Hi, I’m Edge.” I take three long strides to the side of his bed and offer him my hand.
He pulls the sheet up tighter over his chest and accepts it. “I’m Scotty. Has Tanner set up house calls now and forgotten to tell us?” He’s only kidding, but the desire in his eyes seems genuine enough.
“Not quite.” I take a step back and glance at Liam’s sleeping form once again. “I need to talk to Liam, but I hate to wake him up.”
Liam hums and stretches his arm over his head. “Did I hear my name?”
“You sure did,” Scotty says in a singsong voice. “From a big, sexy man standing over you.”
Liam’s eyes fly open, and the look of terror reflected back at me makes me flinch. Why does he hate me so much? Oh, yeah, because I’m a dick.
I school my features to hide the hurt at his reaction and give him a small grin. “Good morning, Liam. Did you sleep well?”
“Edge? What are you doing in here? Does Tanner know you’re here?”
“You’re always so paranoid about Tanner. He’s fine.” I roll my eyes and sit at the foot of his bed. “But yes, he knows I’m here. I even brought donuts.”
“Donuts?” Scotty sits upright in bed. “Like right now? There’re donuts here?”
“Yep.” I chuckle at his enthusiasm. I forgot how simple things can please people. “In the kitchen.”
“Don’t mind my bare ass.” Scotty jumps out of bed completely nude then steps into a pair of basketball shorts. “I just know donuts aren’t going to last long with these animals in the house.”
“Save me one too,” Liam calls out just before Scotty closes the door behind him. As soon as we’re alone, he turns his attention to me. “I guess Tanner told you everything?”
I nod, locking my gaze to his. “He did. I wish you would have told me yourself.”
Liam shrugs and messes with the sheet covering his body. “I would have, but you haven’t been back.”
“Does that mean you’ll let me help you?” I rest my palm over his foot, watching as his eyes track the movement.
“I guess, but…” Liam sits up and leans against his headboard. “I still don’t understand why you want to. What’s in it for you?”
I was hoping he would just be grateful and
not question my motives. I don’t like to lie but I’m not sure he’s ready for the truth yet. I decide to start somewhere in the middle.
“I have some unfinished business with your uncle from a long time ago.”
14
Liam
My jaw goes slack as Edge’s words sink in. “You know my uncle?”
How is this possible? How come he hasn’t mentioned this sooner?
“I do.” His thumb rubs across my ankle absentmindedly and Edge looks out the window. “Back when he lived in Vegas, he took something from me. Now he needs to suffer the consequences.”
I can’t pull in a full breath. Edge has known from day one who I am and has been using me to get to my uncle. I should have known his interest wasn’t about me at all. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Edge starts as if I’ve slapped him across the face. “Liam, please, hear me out.”
“Hear you out?” I laugh and pull my legs up to my chest so he isn’t touching me anymore. “You’ve been using me all along. I’m so stupid.”
“You’re not stupid, Liam.” He folds one leg up on the bed so he’s fully facing me. “You’re kind and sweet and…sexy. But you aren’t stupid. Please let me help you.”
“Help me?” I bury my face in my palms so he can’t see the mortification I’m feeling. Not that it would be an unfamiliar expression on me. That’s pretty much the only way he’s seen me. “You need me to help you. You don’t give a shit about me or Alexi.”
“That’s not true, Liam.” His voice is softer than I’ve heard before. This guy can really act.
I rub my face a few times to wipe away the emotion then look at him again, trying to see who he really is. “I can’t believe I actually thought… God, why am I always so gullible.”