Melting Point

by Pierce, Nicolette

  “You love her,” Morgan said.

  Reed let his hands slip from his face. “You must’ve talked to Liam.”

  “We spoke a little about the past, just so I’d understand how everyone is connected.”

  “And you know they dated?”

  She nodded.

  “Well, then.” He looked away.

  “Well, then, what?” Morgan asked.

  “Go to sleep. It’ll be morning soon.” Reed turned away.

  Trace glanced from Reed to Morgan. “Don’t let him bother you. He’s been in love with Sonya since before Liam started dating her. The only people who didn’t notice how lovesick he was were the two flaunting it under his nose.”

  “And so he followed her to the FBI after Liam broke it off.”

  Reed cursed and turned toward Morgan. “It means nothing. I was helping a friend. But then her dad started asking for favors, each one bigger than the last. I tried to reason with her, but he had some kind of control over her. So, I made sure that if she was going to break the law, that I could at least protect her.”

  Whether he admitted it or not, Morgan could hear what he wasn’t saying. He was in love with Sonya, even during her downfall. Now he was paying the price and yet he still loved her.

  Chapter 19

  Liam wiped blood from his mouth. Sonya had been serious. He didn’t know how serious until after he pushed her away when she tried to kiss him. She bit down, drawing blood.

  He watched her carefully, not knowing her next move, nor his. She hadn’t bothered to put her robe back on, but instead sat on the bed, her legs curled under her.

  “I meant what I said before, Liam.”

  “I know, but this isn’t a game I wish to play.”

  “And what game is that?”

  “You know exactly what I mean. Every time you wish for something, you’ll threaten me until I give in. I’m stopping this now.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “And what if I don’t stop?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If you don’t care about your own life, perhaps your life isn’t the one I should be threatening.”

  “What do you want from me?”

  “Everything you took away.”

  “We’ve been over this. We were young, and I’m sorry for hurting you, but that was years ago and the only thing you’ve done is proved I was right.”

  “Then you give me no choice.”

  “You always have the choice to do the right thing. I’ve never taken that away from you.”

  She stood and gathered her robe, slipping into it. “Being born into this family doesn’t offer me many choices.”

  “It should offer you more choices than you can imagine. Your father is dead. You no longer have to worry about him.”

  “Yes, I have Reed to thank for that,” she snarled. “Now I’m left with his empire.”

  “Dissolve it and move on.”

  She smirked. “I have better plans for it.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I will make it my own.”

  Liam wanted to shake her. Could she not hear herself? Could she not see how many people she was hurting? Or did she only care about her hurt, her anger?

  “How will you make it your own?”

  “You’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Sonya, this is insanity. Stop this now before more people get hurt.”

  She slid up to him, studying him. “Are you concerned for me?”

  “Yes.”

  She looped a finger into his waistband. “Then prove it.”

  He grabbed her hand. “Concern and sex are not the same thing.”

  Sonya snatched her hand away. “Dmitri!” she yelled, then focused on Liam. “I don’t think you’d protest if you didn’t already have another lover.”

  Dmitri entered the room to await her order.

  Sonya leaned in to Liam to whisper, “If I can’t have you, no one can.” She straightened, tightening her robe. “Dmitri, take him to the holding cell. He can await his fate with the rest of them.”

  * * *

  “Now I’m even more worried,” Piper said.

  “He’s Russian?” Greer pondered. “And went to prison? How did I never figure this out?”

  Piper had the same question. Greer was notorious for digging up secrets, and this one was huge.

  They sat quietly for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts.

  Finally, after she couldn’t stand the swirling questions, Piper said, “I don’t intend to keep my promise. Do you?”

  “I don’t know. What did he say his name was?”

  “Pavlovich, I think.”

  “So, I would have been Greer Pavlovich? And you’d be Piper Pavlovich.” She smiled. “That’s kind of cute.”

  “Greer.” Piper tried not to whine, but she feared Greer was losing focus.

  “Yes, I know.” She waved off Piper. “I don’t intend to keep the promise either, but I am curious . . .” Greer pulled her laptop from the end table and opened it.

  “What are you curious about?”

  “Everything.”

  Piper could have dittoed that but decided to wait to see what Greer was up to. After opening the web browser, Greer typed in a search relating to Pavlovich and Ivankov.

  “What are you looking for?” Piper asked, peering over her shoulder.

  “A connection. Grandpa said this was his fault. I want to see how the connection between Pavlovich and Ivankov began. If Grandpa left Russia to escape, he wouldn’t strike up a relationship with Ivankov. If it were me, I would stay as far away from any Russian I could, fearing exposure. So, Ivankov must have known Grandpa in Russia and then found him when he moved to Vegas.”

  It was certainly a plausible theory. Piper couldn’t think up a better one given that the bomb was delivered only moments ago.

  “Would there even be anything online about them?” Piper asked. “It happened such a long time ago.”

  “Ivankov is still active.”

  “But Grandpa isn’t.”

  “Isn’t he?”

  “Greer, you heard him yourself. He didn’t seem like he wanted anything to do with the life he left behind.”

  “I have a feeling his wants were not a part of that life.”

  Piper frowned. “Did you see how many tattoos he had?”

  Greer cringed. “They weren’t very good. I would’ve asked for my money back.”

  “Did you see the one with the cathedral? There were two domes, but it looked like he was going to add a third and it was never finished.”

  Greer’s brow wrinkled. “I tried not to notice.”

  “Do you think he’s driving there by himself?” Piper rubbed her hands together nervously. “You know he doesn’t like driving at night.”

  “Maybe he’ll take the redeye.”

  “Then we should too.”

  “We’d have to see if tickets are available.”

  “Then do it. You’re the one with the computer.”

  “I will, but there’s something interesting here.” Her mouth moved slightly as she read.

  “What is it?”

  “Do you think that’s Grandpa?” She pointed to her screen.

  Piper leaned over and looked. “It has to be. Grandpa has an old picture of him and Grandma in his bedroom. If it’s not him, then he has a twin brother.”

  “If this is Grandpa, his real name is Nikolai Pavlovich. Which I guess would make sense. I don’t think there are too many men named Walter living in Russia.”

  “What does the article say?”

  “I don’t know. It’s in Russian.”

  “Try one of those translator websites.”

  Greer copied the article and searched for a page that would translate. “Here. I’ll try this one.”

  Piper tried to read the English version of the article. “It doesn’t really make sense.”

  “No, but it still gives us key points. There’s a law of thieves. Something about territory dispute. Ten dead. Dange
rous crime lord wanted in connection. May flee country.”

  Piper pressed her fingers against her lips. “I don’t like these key points.”

  “Grandpa wouldn’t . . . you don’t think . . .”

  “No.” Piper shook her head. “There’s no way. Nuh-uh. Grandpa is a good man. He would never.”

  “But, we never knew he was Russian, nor did we know he went to prison and came out with ugly ink. He could be this Nikolai Pavlovich, dangerous crime lord. Then it would make sense that he’d know Ivankov.”

  Piper shook her head harder. “Nope. I’m not believing a word of it. We’ll just have to ask Grandpa.”

  Greer closed the laptop and placed it back on the end table. “Then let’s go find him.”

  * * *

  When Liam was shoved into the holding cell, he wasn’t sure what to expect, but Trace and Reed were not on the list. Morgan’s gaze went straight to his lip; a sure sign Sonya’s damage was noticed. A guard secured his wrists in handcuffs attached to a wall and slammed the door closed, locking it from the outside.

  He wanted to ask Morgan if she was okay, but what came out of his mouth was not that. “Trace, what in God’s name are you doing here?”

  “I found Reed.”

  “I asked you to find him, not get locked up with him.”

  “You left that out of the instructions.” He yawned. “You owe me a trust fund free and clear of your management.”

  Liam sighed. Even in a suffocating cell, Trace only thought of his money. “Is everyone okay?”

  They all murmured an affirmative, except for the man with his back turned.

  “Marik,” Reed filled in the unspoken question.

  “What is the plan?” Liam asked.

  Reed shrugged. “Were you with Sonya? That looks like her handiwork.” He pointed to his lip.

  “Yes, she wasn’t happy with me. Looks like she wasn’t happy with you either.”

  “Did she give you a hint as to what she’s up to?”

  “Not really. Something about clearing out her father’s old people and making the bratva her own.”

  “Is that the reason for the huge coffin production?” Morgan asked.

  “I think so,” Liam said, sitting down as close to her as possible. “Reed, can you add anything to her story?”

  “I learned there will be a gathering tomorrow night. Many of the leaders will be there.”

  “The thieves in law?”

  Reed shrugged. “Some yes, some no. Russia is changing, and the thieves in law have become business leaders and government officials. But there is still a corrupt undercurrent run by the thieves in law. The gathering will most likely function as a treaty party. Encroaching is not tolerated, and it can become a bloodbath if not dealt with.”

  “A treaty party sounds like a good thing,” Morgan said.

  Reed nodded. “They can be, but I have a feeling Sonya has a different outcome in mind. The parties invited are all people her father worked with and might still have deals with.”

  “So, what are we going to do?” Liam asked.

  Reed raised a brow. “Nothing. Let them kill each other off. It’ll save the feds time.”

  “I doubt that’s the official feds stance,” Liam said.

  “I agree with Reed,” Trace said. “It’s not like we can do anything in here anyway.”

  “Morgan will be needed tomorrow to help Dmitri,” Liam said. “I might be able to twist his arm to let me help like I did tonight. We might be able to create a diversion.”

  “I’m all for diversions and escaping,” Trace said.

  “Reed, is there anything you can think of that would help?” Liam asked.

  “Where is the welding being staged?”

  “In the shed out back. It’s empty except for the welder and sheets of steel. Dmitri locks us in when he leaves.” Liam looked to Morgan, a smile creeping onto his lips as he remembered just how determined she had been to escape. “We’ve tried to break it down before with no luck.”

  “How does the welder work?” Reed asked. “Is it electric?”

  “Yes, it’s plugged into the one outlet in the shed. It also uses a nonreactive shielding gas.”

  Reed shook his head. “I’ll have to think on this. I really don’t know.”

  Marik turned to the group. He was a smaller version of Dmitri, but still had the same heavy brow and eyes that Liam wouldn’t want to see in a dark alley. “Dmitri will take care of it. He has plan.”

  “Does this plan include us?” Liam asked. “Because so far he hasn’t been very cooperative.”

  “Dmitri is never cooperative, but he will come through on plan.”

  “With us?”

  Marik shrugged and turned his back to them again, stretching out on the floor.

  “That’s not very reassuring,” Trace muttered.

  Liam agreed. Even if Dmitri had plans to aid Marik, it didn’t mean he’d help the rest of them. To place their fates into his hands would be like playing Russian roulette.

  Liam leaned against the wall, exhausted. “Everyone think on it and we’ll see if we can come up with anything. Otherwise, get some rest, because I doubt we’ll get any tomorrow.”

  When Reed and Trace closed their eyes, Liam reached for Morgan’s hand but was a couple of inches too short. “Scoot over.”

  Morgan was able to make up the difference, and he folded her hand into his. In that instant, he was unexpectedly at peace. Was this love? He had thought he’d been in love before, but no one had ever affected him like this. It was as if she found a part of him that even he didn’t know existed.

  He glanced over at her, thinking her eyes would be closed. But her eyes were open, staring into his. “Go to sleep, angel.”

  “I will,” she said softly. “I was afraid when the guard took me. I thought I might never see you again.”

  He gently stroked her hand with his thumb. “I had that same fear. How do you feel?”

  “Good.” She looked at his lip. “And you?”

  He squeezed her hand. “Never better.”

  She smiled and leaned her head against the wall. “I have a plan,” she whispered.

  “What is it?”

  She shook her head. “Tomorrow. When there are no ears.”

  “Until tomorrow, then. Go to sleep, angel.”

  Chapter 20

  Morgan knew what she had to do, but timing it was the problem. If it went terribly wrong, Dmitri would throw both her and Liam back into the cell. It was hard enough to get Liam out to begin with. It was only because of Liam’s calm demeanor and willingness to move steel that the guard allowed Liam to leave the cell.

  They had worked for hours, and still she was unable to make a move. Liam looked at her every so often, wondering if she’d do something soon. She should’ve told him the plan last night when she’d had the chance. It was stupid of her. And with Dmitri always present, she couldn’t do anything.

  Marik had said Dmitri had a plan of his own. What could it be? And did it have anything to do with the gathering of leaders that would take place tonight?

  Morgan set down the welding gun and slipped off her gear.

  “What are you doing?” Dmitri asked.

  “I need a break. My shoulders are killing me.”

  “We keep working.”

  “I haven’t eaten anything in over a day and I’m tired. Just give me five minutes to regroup.” While initially it had been Morgan’s choice not to eat, she’d scarf down anything set in front of her now.

  “A few minutes won’t hurt,” Liam said. “We’ve already completed three boxes.”

  “Five minutes, then work.” Dmitri took off his gear as well.

  “And food?” Liam questioned, his eyes speaking volumes of his hunger.

  “Sonya does not feed those who will die.”

  Morgan walked over to Liam, stretching her arms and back.

  He placed his hands on her shoulders. “How bad does it hurt?”

  “I’m just sore and rea
lly tired.”

  He nodded and gently began kneading the muscles that didn’t seem to want to work any longer.

  “You don’t have to do that,” Morgan said, even though his hands were like heaven. “You must be just as sore and tired.”

  “I want to.”

  She leaned into him, not bothering to argue. She could hear his heart. It was a comfort to listen to.

  “Are you okay, angel?”

  When she mumbled an affirmative, he placed a soft kiss on her head and hugged her tight. It felt like the most natural thing in the world, and she wondered when it had happened. When did she begin craving his touch? When did she acknowledge Liam’s pet name for her? And why did her heart break every time she thought of the end?

  “Time’s up,” Dmitri said.

  Morgan sighed and tore herself away from Liam, shaking away the sensation of his arms around her. Those feelings would not help her nor Liam now.

  “Dmitri, you must’ve been able to speak with Marik,” Morgan said, slipping on her gloves. When he didn’t reply, she added, “Because he said you have a plan.”

  Dmitri scowled.

  “I know you don’t want to help us, but we’re willing to help you.” Morgan waited, still no reply. “Will you at least get us water? Between the fumes and the heat, I’m about to pass out.”

  Dmitri’s scowl never moved, but he curtly nodded and left the shed, bolting the door behind him.

  Morgan picked up his face shield and looked at the inside.

  “What are you doing?” Liam asked.

  “Taking the batteries out.” Morgan lifted the panel. “The automatic adjustment won’t kick in and he’ll be blinded for a moment. We’ll have to make a run for it.”

  “What about Reed and Trace?”