Broken Circle

by Amy McKinley

  Her brows furrowed. “How do you know that’s what he said? I haven’t even heard that.”

  “I have a few military and police connections. I’ve seen his statement. They haven’t released it because the paparazzi are like vultures when it comes to your family and the recent tragedies.”

  No words came out as her mouth opened and closed. Her entire life felt like one big string of inside connections between family and influential friends. Why did Liam’s association shock her?

  Fierce determination hardened his features, and she shivered for an entirely different reason, one her grief-stricken brain refused to process. The only thing she did pay attention to was her intuition. Around Liam, she didn’t fear for her life. That alone was what she focused on. If only she could forget her other life, the people that would surely come for her, and the husband who wanted her back under different pretenses. Alex would have access to her financial accounts. What was she to him now?

  With or without Liam’s help, she planned to find out.

  “What do you propose?” Her former rage sizzled out, leaving her tired from learning of Rachel’s death and from the release of grief and acceptance that her marriage wasn’t what she’d thought. She looked to Liam and borrowed his strength, temporarily. Depleted, she allowed him to pull her to his side.

  “Nothing for tonight. You’ve processed enough. Just know things are in motion and that this is what I do.”

  “Thanks, Liam. If you don’t mind, I need some time alone.”

  “I have a friend arriving late this evening and another in the morning. I don’t want you to be alarmed if you run in to either of them before I get a chance to introduce you.” With a light squeeze to her shoulder, he left the room.

  Memories of Rachel bombarded Liv, and she dropped her head into her hands. Alex peppered into many of those recollections too—her husband, the killer, liar, master of deception, and the person responsible for Rachel’s death. He didn’t deserve Liv’s time. He didn’t deserve to linger in her thoughts. Rachel did. If Liv allowed her mind to dwell on how Rachel had died and on her mistake in involving her friend, she would succumb to days of crying and misery. Rachel would hate that.

  Tomorrow she would put it all to rest, attack her impending problems, and move on with her life, at least mentally. Divorce would be imminent. She would be free once again, this time in an entirely different manner. She would have no parents dictating the direction of her life, no husband, and she would no longer be a pawn for others.

  Chapter 25

  Wanting to be alone, Liv sat on the front porch with a cup of coffee. Her hand shook as she raised it to her mouth. The cold water she’d splashed on her face had failed to ease some of the swelling from her grief-induced crying jag over her best friend. I can’t even go to her funeral. She flinched as memories punched through her foggy brain of all the times she and Rachel had shared over the years. Why did he do it?

  It didn’t make sense to her that, as a member of the forensics team, Rachel would have been a threat. What had she done or said to put herself in Alex’s way? Liv wiped a strand of hair from her clammy forehead. Marrying Alex had been her escape, a little over a year ago, from her parents’ mapping of her life and their controlling ways. Now her actions led to the unraveling of her world.

  Knees to her chest, she rested her chin on them, her coffee growing cold on the side table. Puffy clouds inched across the sky, and she shifted her focus to faint sounds carrying on the gentle breeze. More than one voice carried to her, the clarity of the words lost in the distance they traveled. Whoever it was must have been on the patio.

  Sifting through the conversation she’d had with Liam, she remembered he had said friends of his would be there today. Pushing herself to her feet, she picked up her cold mug and went to replace it with fresh coffee before heading to the back.

  With a steady grip on her now steaming coffee, she pulled open the glass door and stopped short. She found the owners of the voices she’d heard. Two men turned, and their conversation immediately halted.

  Her brows furrowed. They reminded her of Liam. They looked like soldiers without uniforms. They had to be the men Liam talked of last night who were on his team.

  “You must be Olivia.” The one with lighter-brown hair advanced, hand extended. “Hope we didn’t wake you. We got in pretty late last night. I’m Matt, a friend of Liam’s.”

  With a tentative smile, she stepped closer and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you. Liam mentioned he had guests arriving soon.”

  The one with dark hair, a similar shade to Liam’s, laughed. “Guests? Is that what he said?”

  She tilted her head, confused, and jumped a little when two large hands landed on her shoulders from behind. Liam’s spicy, woodsy scent wrapped around her, and she relaxed amidst the intimidating strangers.

  All of them, Liam included, were frightening in their own way—big, built, and tough looking. She curled her hand, nails digging into her palm. She studied their faces, their relaxed stances, and the easy way they spoke to one another. Each positive trait eased her mind further. They were very different from the men tied to Juan Carlos’s organization. That alone boosted her confidence that they were in fact there to help, not make matters worse for her.

  Liam’s deep voice brushed her ear. “They’re more like brothers, Liv.” He gave her a gentle squeeze then released her. “The beauty queen over there is Matt. He’s married with two teenagers and harmless.”

  Kids. The quick stab of pain caused her to duck her head. She pressed her lips together, annoyed by her behavior. Shoving it down, she straightened her spine and met Matt’s gaze. “It’s not safe to bring your kids here right now. I’ll be leaving soon, and maybe then it will be.”

  Matt grinned. “My kids can take care of themselves, don’t you worry. Leave the worrying for me and Jo to do. They’ll be here tomorrow.”

  “The rude, brooding one over there is Jack. Don’t let him get to you.” Liam moved away from her and clapped Jack on the back. “Good to see you, man. Appreciate both of you coming.”

  “That’s what we do,” Matt chimed in. “Jack and I were about to go over the property unless you wanted to talk strategy?”

  “No. Let’s wait until Joslyn gets here, then we’ll all be on the same page. Liv and I’ll probably be in the training room when you get back.”

  When the guys took off, Liam faced her. “You doing okay?”

  Longing she wasn’t prepared to experience filled her, as did an equal helping of guilt. Her cheeks heated at the memory of Liam’s arms around her and how she’d burrowed into him, an embrace that shouldn’t have happened. “Yes. I want to apologize for my behavior last night.”

  “Stop right there, Liv. I understand you’ve been hurting. I’m not reading anything into it.” He tweaked her nose. “You need some more practice hitting targets, so let’s get moving.”

  Thankful for his understanding, she set her coffee down and followed Liam.

  The sidearm felt less foreign in her hands. But she still only wanted to fire it at the targets. If the need arose, she would find the strength, especially if it meant protecting Liam or those who’d sheltered and risked their lives for her.

  Liam’s arms wrapped around her again, and he adjusted her aim. His finger over hers, he squeezed the trigger and hit the target dead center. The small amount of recoil pushed her back into his chest, something she was becoming achingly aware of. He made her feel safe. It was an illusion, one she was all too familiar with. Ultimately, she would need to be on her own or be in a place where she would be responsible for her survival. With renewed determination, she noted the position and sight so she could hit where he directed her aim instead.

  When he dropped his arms, she missed his warmth and the steadiness of his presence. The cold, foreign presence of the gun affected her more than she’d let on.

  “You’ve got this.” He adjusted her hand position when she moved it a smidgen. “The goal is to keep you out of har
m’s way, but I want you to be prepared just in case. No matter what, Liv, don’t hesitate. Take the shot.”

  Five shots later, she was pleased with her accomplishment. One hole sat close to the center, thanks to Liam’s help. The rest were at least on the target—the white space, but it was better than she’d done last time.

  Needing a distraction from the direness of his direction, she questioned him. Besides, she was determined not to be in the dark again. “Matt and Jack look an awful lot like you.”

  “Really? I don’t think we look alike.” A grin teased the corners of his mouth. “I’m bigger.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You were all joking around, but there’s this, I’m not sure, presence about you all. Maybe a take-charge attitude, but different than what I’m used to being around.”

  He laughed. “I’m sure it’s just because we’re a unit, a team.”

  “Right, the SEALS. I get that, it’s just, there’s more there.” Her brows furrowed as she mulled over what he’d told her. “Are you all still active or reserves? I’m sort of confused by that since you said you work with the government sometimes.”

  “We served our last term several years ago. On occasion, we contract out, but not on a regular basis. Most of us would like to more, but there are some things we’re getting in order for our base of operation.”

  “Just the three of you?”

  “No. There are five from our original team. Five in the one we partner with as well. We have other contacts that join in if we need them, and Jo, of course, but that’s all that’s needed to get the job done.”

  “Since you have government contracts and connections, you must have access to all sorts of information.” Her gaze met and held Liam’s. “Were you aware of who I was when I asked for a ride out of Rhode Island?”

  He shook his head. “Not right away. I got Trev’s text, and he’d run a light background check on you. I had that too. Nothing flagged us there, at least not at first. I don’t want you to be alarmed, but I bugged your phone, so don’t beat yourself up over calling Alex.”

  She walked over to the table and set the 9-millimeter down, processing what he’d told her. He always seemed so accepting of anything she told him. He probably knew a lot of it before she confided in him. No wonder he never seemed alarmed. For some reason, the invasion of privacy didn’t bother her. “Why help me? I’m still having a hard time understanding that. I’m not the job. You didn’t get a contract to keep me alive, to fight a war for me.”

  “You looked wounded and lost. When we got back here, I did some further digging.”

  She nodded, processing. “Then you know all about the cartel and Alex?”

  “Yes. No one within the precinct made the connection, not officially. He’s still free to move around.” He shrugged. “They’re watching him. Sometimes that’s better to draw out more of the players and keep them semicontained.”

  What did that mean for her? She locked gazes with him. “You think I’m in enough trouble to call in your Special Forces team?”

  Chapter 26

  Seated in a sitting room with large floor-to-ceiling windows facing the bluff, Liv wished she were in her studio back home. The gritty feel of clay between her fingers would have gone a long way in easing some of her anxiety. For the time being, she could draw her ideas.

  Picking up her graphite pencil and sketchbook, she flipped to the drawing she would sculpt someday. Her back to the door, she added intricate details, and her heart bled out further. Two arms, forearms flush and hands opening from the palms, formed a chalice, which rose from rippling water. What they held was where she focused her attention. A tiny baby, curled up as if it were still in her stomach.

  In careful charcoal strokes, she made adjustments to the little eyelid and paused to look at the completed sketch. A tribute, really, to the baby she’d lost. Hers had been a peanut, not really as formed as this child. In the curve of the hands, the gentle cradling promised safety, and she poured her love and released a majority of her pain into it.

  Even without being there, Rachel was a part of her letting go, in healing, with what she crafted as well. Her best friend had been ecstatically happy for her, unlike her husband and his family’s odd reactions.

  Someday, her child’s soul would have another chance at life. If not to her, then to a mother whose life offered the world she could no longer provide. Never would she think it was best this way, but in essence, drawing and sculpting her infant was starting to set her free.

  Mentally exhausted, she sat back against the couch. The world around her trickled back into her awareness and, with it, the peel of laughter. Children? Her heart pounded at the thought of Matt’s kids there. She would never forgive herself if something happened.

  Leaving the sketchbook, she whipped around in panic, intent on pleading with them to go. She couldn’t endure the death of innocence again, especially not because of her.

  A small woman stood in the doorway, her platinum-blond hair brushing just past her shoulders. Her beauty shone bright in her fey-like face. Fighting the impulse to rub her tired eyes, Liv fast-blinked. Was the woman real, or had she finally lost it?

  The woman shook her head, breaking contact from scrutinizing the sketch. When their gazes met, Liv sucked in a breath. Compassion and understanding swam in the lady’s azure eyes. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

  The quiet voice grabbed her by the throat. Swaying, she nodded, unable to do much else. She’d already bled out, putting everything she had into her art. She needed to recover, a few moments to reenergize, and with the stranger talking to her, she wasn’t sure if it would be possible.

  The woman offered a small smile as she stepped into the room. “I’m Jo. Joslyn actually, but please don’t call me that. Jo is good. And Liam told me your name. He didn’t tell me you’re an artist.”

  Liv returned the smile, somewhat halfheartedly. “Yes. Your husband mentioned you and your kids would be here today.” She paused, thinking of the best way to say what she needed to. There was no reason she couldn’t. From what Liam had said, this woman would be just as informed as the men. “I’m concerned about your kids being here. It’s not safe as long as I’m here.”

  Jo laughed. “Oh, you don’t have to worry about them. They’ve been through more than you could even imagine.” She swept away her words. “You’ll be shocked once you see them in action.”

  “Aren’t you worried about their lives, their safety, with what’ll be coming for me? Liam said it’s only a matter of time.”

  Jo winked. “Come meet them. And to set your mind at ease, Matt told them they would be guarding you. I will too, just not in the same secured room.” She rolled her eyes. “That man is way too protective and thinks he’s going to shut me out of the action.”

  Liv followed Jo to the door that opened onto the patio. Beyond the glass sliders, two teenagers laughed. Unable to help herself, she scanned their features—the shape of their faces, their tall, lean builds, the placement and color of their eyes—and compared them to Matt and Jo. As a sculptor, that’s what she did. She studied people. The kids looked nothing like either of their parents.

  Liv halted, and so did Jo beside her. “They’re mine in every sense of the word, except biologically. Same with Matt.” Jo’s sure voice answered Liv’s unspoken question. She must have seen the confusion on Liv’s flushed face when she looked between the kids and her.

  Jo grasped her elbow and led her to the couch rather than outside. “You’re going through an awful time. I can’t begin to understand what you’re feeling. Liam did fill me in on everything, but that doesn’t explain where you’re at in terms of your heart.”

  A tear rolled down her cheek before she could catch it. Dammit, she swore she wouldn’t cry anymore. “I just don’t know. I love Alex, but everything changed.”

  Jo pursed her lips. “Back home or in Colombia?”

  Liv leaned against the pillows, needing the support. “He’d been acting a little off at home. Honestly, we
didn’t discuss his work. He preferred to keep it separate, not wanting to involve me, which made me happy for some stupid reason.” Because of my parents’ relationship and influence in my life. “It wasn’t until we were face to face with his father and brother that his personality completely shifted.”

  Jo squeezed her hand.

  Not wanting to talk about it anymore but grateful to have a woman to commiserate with, Liv switched topics. “Were you in the Navy too?”

  Jo grinned. “With these bozos? Nope. FBI.”

  Unease skirted along her skin. “Are you still?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m one of the good guys, promise. And no, I’m not actively with the FBI any longer. I’m a stay-at-home mom for the most part. How strange is that?” She laughed. “I knew nothing about kids when Dylan and Jilly landed in my lap.” Love blazed in her eyes before she turned to catch a peek of her kids through the windows. “When needed, I work with Matt and the others. I’d prefer to do more, but the kids come first.”

  “Why would they be here? It’s so dangerous.”

  Sadness swamped Jo’s eyes. “This isn’t something they haven’t seen before. Before they came to live with me, their lives were filled with abuse and intense poverty. They watched their father murder their mother. Their world was hell. So this…it’s good for them. Gives them a semblance of control back, discipline, and doing something good rather than fall into the destructive trap of their former upbringing. Being included in our team teaches them they can make a difference, be part of a family who protects each other instead of harming.”

  Liv shivered. “I’m so sorry.”

  “For their past, yes. Their future is bright.” Jo grinned. “They’re amazing kids, and I’m so lucky to have them in my life. Come meet them.”

  Liv followed her outside. Two teenagers laughed and joked with Matt, Liam, and Jack. Their attention immediately turned to her and Jo as they stepped out, their smiles still intact.