by Amy McKinley
The reporter droned on. Liv lost focus as facts played through her mind. Alex sat there, seemingly beaten. The reporter never once mentioned her husband’s involvement with his father. The difference in the last names maintained a separation, as if he wasn’t connected to the Ramirez family. The fact that his father was not listed on Alex’s birth certificate helped too. Born in the United States, he would not come under suspicion, at least not for some time. It would take a zealous investigation to uncover the facts.
Alex had lied. But why?
“Liv.”
She startled, forgetting who sat beside her. Leaning back, she yanked her death grip from his arms, slightly horrified she had reached for him and probably cut off his circulation. “I…” She stopped. What could she say?
He held his body rigid, but his eyes softened as she met them. Who was he really? He was too built, too fit, and too observant of his surroundings. The paramilitary and the police in South America were not all to be trusted. Plus, Alex’s involvement in his family’s organization as well as being an employee of the NYPD left her on shaky footing. The thought of military led her to another question. What was Liam exactly?
“I need you to fill me in on the whole story, Liv.” His firm yet gentle words drew her attention.
He deserved the truth. But she deserved to learn who he really was.
She chewed on her lip, wondering if she should ask for information from him first or share her story. Her even being there could cause enormous problems for him—not only from the cartel but also from the government.
Decision made, she met his gaze. “That man on the news…he’s my husband.” At his silence, she caved. Everything flew out of her mouth, from their life back home to learning who Alex’s father really was to her miscarriage and escape. Liam listened without saying a word. Through her sobs and the moments she needed to catch her breath, he sat patiently by her side, letting her tell her story at her own pace. Not once did he appear to judge her. His silence gave her the strength to confess.
Carefully, he enfolded her in his arms. “Is that everything?”
A bitter laugh left her lips, and she pressed herself against the back of the couch. “His father is Juan Carlos Ramirez. So yes, there’s more.” She tilted her head back to watch his reaction.
He nodded, his eyes turning hard. With everything she had gone through so far, his transformation was the only one that didn’t frighten her.
He smoothed her damp hair from her face. “Let’s get you some tea or maybe something stronger? Then you can tell me everything.”
Wine. Her affection for his label was not something she’d shared yet. It wasn’t important. Neither was the fact that he had spoken with Alex about acquiring cases and visiting. “Wine would be perfect.”
His arm slipped around her waist, and he led her to the side bar, where he opened a bottle of cabernet sauvignon with his label on it. She pushed all thought of the last time she’d had a glass from her head. Things had been simple then. How could she have not noticed or made the connection when the name Seas was across the sign when they’d turned into the vineyard? When Liam handed her the glass, she took a large gulp.
His lips quirked up at her hearty sip, until his gaze locked on her neck. He hooked a finger under the chain and lifted the butterfly for closer inspection. Because of Alex’s insistence and the wide panic swimming through his eyes, she’d left it on even when she escaped.
But she had taken care to keep it hidden from view after boarding Liam’s boat. She’d mostly succeeded, except when she’d risked exposure in the pawnshop, where the man had used the information. That had ended badly for him. The fear mixed with envy in the man’s expression reaffirmed that parting with the pendant would have been a mistake. The pawnshop man had calmed down when he’d skimmed over her other jewelry. Desire to possess her diamond earrings had burned in his gaze. Those, he had bought.
Another indication the necklace held significant meaning had become clear with the dress shop owner, Marita, her adamant refusal to help, and her demand that Liv leave immediately.
She’d trusted Alex with her life. Now her life lay in another’s hands. Her instincts had led her astray once before. Still, she owed Liam an explanation.
“Alex gave it to me.” Her whisper broke the silence and drew Liam’s gaze to hers.
“I’m familiar with the design…and its meaning.”
Panic surged. “What meaning? Wait, are you connected to them?”
He squeezed her shoulder. “No, I’m not. The opposite, Liv.” He shook his head when she opened her mouth to question him further. “We have to talk about this more, but I’ve got a few calls I need to make right away.” Standing up, he paused. “Stay inside. I don’t want to take any unnecessary risks with you out in the open.”
Who does he need to call? Setting her drink down, she worried her hands together. The longer she was alone with her churning thoughts, the more determined she became. Liam would not withhold secrets. She would make sure of it or leave of her own accord.
Chapter 21
Despite her resolve not to, Liv found herself creeping down the hallway, following Liam’s deep voice. A sliver of light shone through the door to his office. Silence filled the air until a chair creaked and his authoritative voice spoke again. He was obviously speaking to someone on the phone.
“No. Be real. No one new started working on the farm. The harvest is done, and only a skeleton crew remained until yesterday evening. We don’t have to involve the other part of our team, not yet, anyway.” He waited a beat, listening to the other person. “Exactly. With the on-site store downtown, we’ll need someone to watch over the employees due to the connection to me. Right. We’re close to setting up a base here.”
Liv held still, waiting to hear more. So far, his intent to return her to Alex’s family had not happened. Even so, she wanted further proof. When Liam spoke again, she leaned closer to catch his words.
“We’ll be fine for a day or two, but they won’t be far behind. She was recognized in the last port, and you’re aware it’s only a matter of time before they learn who the boat she was on belongs to.” A few seconds passed. “If you can manage to come with Jo and the kids, and Jack too, that would be a huge benefit. Trev can keep an eye on my employees in town.”
The pause stretched longer before he responded. “Connor won’t be able to be here. He’s helping Chris with something. I don’t think we’ll need our full team. I get he’ll be pissed. Too bad, they’re still at each other’s throats. If Chris is here, Trev would have a coronary. They need a little more time to pass to get over it.” He said his goodbyes and hung up.
She turned to make a fast exit but not before he saw her. His gaze caught and held hers through the doorway and he rose from his chair, rounding his desk.
“Liv, there’s nothing to worry about while you’re in the house. Some friends of mine will arrive and help before the cartel comes.”
Her eyes went wide, mainly from Liam verbalizing her fears. “Do you really think there’ll be more than a few?”
He nodded slowly. “There’s more involved with bringing you back.” With a hand on her arm, he guided her into his office. The smell of leather, wood, and Liam invaded her senses.
A huge mahogany desk took up a large portion of the back of the room. Four wing-backed chairs were scattered in corners and in front of his desk. Tall built-in bookcases overflowed along one wall. The inviting room begged her to curl up on the small couch on the left and pluck a book from one of the shelves. As she stepped farther inside the room, she gave Liam her attention.
“The report on TV forecasts your husband’s innocence and a lack of involvement with the Ramirez cartel. From what you said, there is a connection. What it sounds like to me is he’s been a plant in the NYPD all along. Returning with you by his side will only solidify his identity there. If he fails…”
She took a step back. “I don’t understand.” How did her presence change anything for Al
ex or make her valuable to them? If money was the lure, Alex had access to her net worth, which was a small fortune.
Compassion filled Liam’s vibrant eyes, and he rose from the corner of his desk, where he’d perched. “Let’s not worry about anything yet. I’m only taking precautions.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. Together, they walked out of his office, and she kept pace as he led her to the back porch and the glider. She was grateful for the fresh air as he lowered himself beside her.
“None of this makes any sense.” She turned and faced him. “Alex is part of their family. Hurting him probably had to do with finding out he was a detective. They may think he’s building a case against them.” With thoughts churning in her head, she didn’t allow time for Liam’s rebuttal. The thought of what she’d read of the Ramirezes’ attacks threw her into denial. “With what happened, I don’t mean anything to them. There’s no reason to pursue me, or for my existence to affect them.”
His arm went around her shoulders, and she leaned into him. If she could just get to Alex, then she could find out why she was important to the cartel. She had to believe some semblance of the man she fell in love with was still inside him.
“We’ll figure it out. They have the name of my boat. Eventually, they’ll find my name, and in time, my home. They’ll be here soon.”
“Maybe we should call the police, then.”
“I’ll handle that now. I’ll call my contacts in the CIA and FBI.”
“Why would you call them rather than the police?”
He shrugged. “That’s who I’m used to working with. They’ll notify anyone else if it’s needed.”
“But we aren’t even sure how many they’ll send. Obviously, two didn’t work. I’d think more would come.”
“I do some contractual jobs for the CIA. We’ll be ready when the cartel arrives.”
Liv’s brows furrowed. “I thought you were retired military and you ran this farm and vineyard.”
“I do. I was in the service for years. When I came back here to check in on my parents, they told me they wanted to sell and move to Ireland to be close to my sister and her kids. So I stepped up and am running the farm rather than turn it over to a stranger.”
“Even though you have another business?”
“That came later. I missed my team in the Navy. We formed the business some time after.”
He was not in just any division of the Navy. He was a SEAL. She nodded when he said he would make the calls then be back. When he returned, they moved to the kitchen after Liam’s stomach growled, and she realized that she too was hungry. Their conversation continued except for the topic she wanted to learn more about—his training in the military.
“When you were on the phone earlier, you mentioned something about a base?”
He nodded. “My buddies and I expanded a branch to Trev’s brother’s company. It’s special ops but contracted. We’d tossed ideas around for a while about forming one, and it seemed logical to expand Gray Ghost Security Group. We’ll have our division up and running soon. I purchased a large plot of land adjacent to the farm. That’s where our base will be. There’s another plot bordering the east side of my land too. We’re thinking of purchasing that just in case it’s needed.”
Liam rehung the dishtowel on the stove’s handle. He picked up the chicken Caesar salads and set them on the table along with tall glasses of iced tea. “Do you sculpt in your home, or do you have a studio somewhere else?”
Liv took a few bites but mainly just moved the food around. “I have an in-house studio, complete with an offshoot room that houses a kiln.”
Liam speared a large helping of chicken and romaine with his fork. “Do you miss sculpting?”
“Desperately.” Giving up for the moment on pretending to eat, she picked up the sweet tea and took a sip. “Without it, I feel anxious and almost at a loss for what to do with myself.”
Liam leaned back, his salad finished. “Then we’ll have to get you some clay when things calm down.” He motioned to her food. “Eat.”
She smiled. Feeling lighter, she took a bite. Her stomach growled, and she gave in to how hungry she really was.
Liam chuckled. “I’ll have you ready to go in a couple of weeks. If there’s anything specific you want, just tell me.”
She wouldn’t be there long enough to acquire all the tools needed and sculpt. What was Liam’s objective?
Chapter 22
Liv slipped outside into the afternoon sunlight and caught sight of a shirtless Liam. She frowned, slightly uncomfortable. Stacked, sinuous muscles gleamed in the sun, so different from Alex’s lean, strong body. It gave her a little more confidence in dealing with the fight that lay ahead. Liam talked with another man, whose baseball hat shielded his tan features, and she gripped her hands together. Who is he?
When the man he spoke with tilted his head to get a better look at her, Liam turned, and her heart exploded in a staccato beat. She may have made a huge mistake by letting another person see her. If this man lost his life at the hands of the cartel, his blood would be on her conscience.
“I’ll catch up with you next week, George. Enjoy the time off.” Liam dismissed the other man and walked toward her with silent grace. “I thought we should do something together.”
“Who was that man?”
“George, an employee. We’re finishing up this last harvest’s detail and making sure the farm is good to go. He’ll leave, and the crew won’t be back until I give George the all clear.”
She twisted her hands, anxious about another witness. “Oh.”
Liam chuckled. “Don’t worry. George will be fine and won’t say a word to anyone about you. I need to grab a shirt. I’ll be just a minute, but in the meantime, you should head inside.”
Liv followed him inside, walked around the living room, and took note of a picture of Liam in uniform. Having a SEAL on her side had to help.
Liam rounded the couch, a tight blue shirt stretching across his chest. His corded arms hung at his sides, and as her eyes traveled their length, she froze at the gun in his hand.
“What’s going on?”
“Have you ever shot a gun before, Liv?”
“Ahh, no.” She took a step back, wanting as far away from it as she could get.
“Come with me.”
Oh God. Should she run? “I’d rather not.”
The deep, rich sound of Liam’s laughter rolled over her. “I promise, you’ll be fine. I’m going to teach you how to shoot at a target. A paper one.”
With his words, the reality of her situation solidified even more. During his phone conversation to his friend, or business partner, he’d said a few days was the most they had. Soon, she would have to deal with violence and death again. Should she learn to shoot a gun?
Liam had done nothing untrustworthy, and maybe it would be a good idea. At least it wasn’t a knife. The involuntary shudder coursed through her at the memory of Alex’s brother slicing the man’s neck when they’d docked.
Trailing behind Liam, she shoved the gruesome thoughts away. It was time to put on her big-girl panties. Liam pushed open a door she hadn’t noticed before. And why would she have? It was between two built-in bookcases. With a shove of his hand, it swung wide to reveal a steel door, complete with an access panel. Liam punched in a code, and it popped open, revealing a stairway that led down.
A chill traveled along her skin. No one would find her down there. If he had any ill intent, he could do whatever he wanted to. Well, he could have done that on the boat when they were far out to sea. No, this was stupid. She had to put her full trust in him, even if it meant handling a gun.
Soft light overhead helped them navigate the stairs. When she reached the bottom of the landing, an enormous space stretched out before them. At the very end of the room hung two targets, like the ones she’d seen on TV shows with shooting ranges.
Liam grinned. “It’s soundproof, but you’ll want these.” He handed her headphones. �
�Before you put them on, let me go over what to do. We’re going to start with your stance. Which is your dominant leg?”
“My right one.”
Hands on her shoulders, he turned her to face the target. “Feet shoulder width apart. Now slide your dominant foot slightly back. I want you to try this position, and if it’s not comfortable, change to both feet shoulder width apart.”
Shuffling her feet, she decided to try the stance with her foot a tad behind.
“With your right hand…I’m assuming that’s your dominant one?” At her nod, he continued. “Firm grasp on the grip, and finger extended to the trigger. Your other hand goes lower on the handle, overlapping, for support.”
The gun’s weight and texture felt alien to her. She did as he instructed, her arms straight out from her body, finger lightly resting on the trigger, gun pointed at the bull’s-eye.
“Good. Now line both sights for the center of the target. When you have it sighted correctly, what you’re aiming for will appear blurry.” He slipped her headphones on for her, stepped behind her, adjusted her aim slightly, and told her to fire.
The recoil was minor, not as bad as she thought it would be. Of course she completely missed the target. She lowered the gun, and Liam took it from her hands and winked. With his own earphones in place, he fired off several rounds.
“Ready to go again?” he asked.
At her nod, he stepped back and handed her the gun, nudging her in front of him. His arms came around her, and she worked to focus on the target and the strange weapon in her hands. He made it appear so easy. Liam helped her to aim, put his finger over her trigger finger, and squeezed off a shot.
When she lowered the gun and squinted at the hanging piece of paper, elation swept through her. “I hit the target!” She turned to smile at him.