A cooperative moon rose full and brilliant, casting enough light that it was easy to see the way, as he half-jogged along the side of the highway to the side road. A few minutes later, he was there. As he made his way up, he glanced around to make sure he wasn’t being followed, keeping his ears peeled for the slightest sound. The trees and brush grew thicker the farther in he went. He had the feeling a noose was slowly closing around him. A shudder slithered down his spine as he thought of the creatures that lurked in the darkness. Thank goodness there were no snakes on the island, but there plenty of wild boar and spiders the size of rats. A blanket of fast-moving clouds cloaked the moon, making it harder to see. His heart jumped into his throat and he whirled around when he heard a rustling noise. Was it a person? Or a boar? The empty space closed in around him as he strained to hear, but there was only thick silence. He quickened his pace to a jog, wanting to distance himself from whatever was lurking nearby. He went another quarter mile and was losing hope of ever finding Cooper. Then he saw the Audi. Liam halted in his tracks, pulse throbbing in his temples. He bent over, resting his hands on his knees, attempting to slow his breathing. Finally, he stood and surveyed the scene. About thirty yards from the Audi stood a dilapidated building, choked with spindly vines and tall grass. The windows on the front were covered with black, preventing him from looking in, but he could see intermittent slivers of light underneath the door. It looked like the beam of a flashlight. Holding his breath, Liam made his way toward the building. He inched around the side to the nearest window. It was also covered in black. A bitter frustration boiled over him. There was no way to see what was going on inside. He was debating what to do when he heard a scraping sound. He realized it was the front door, opening. Then he heard the clunk of it closing. He froze, listening. A few seconds later, a car engine started. He inched to the front corner of the building. Ever so slowly, he stole a glance around the side. He jerked back to remain unseen as the headlights of Cooper’s car cast spotlights through the dense air, while Cooper backed up and drove away.
Liam waited a few minutes before walking around to the front. He wasn’t surprised to see a thick padlock on the door. He circled the building, going the opposite direction, to see if there was another way in. Only one door, but the windows on the sides were low enough to the ground for him to easily crawl through. He didn’t relish the thought of breaking and entering, but there was no way he could come this far and leave, not knowing what was in the building. He would have to go in through a window. Was there an alarm? From what he could tell, there was no power going to the building, but that didn’t mean it didn’t have an alarm. His only hope was to get in quickly, see what was inside, and make a hasty exit. Now how to break a window? He thought about using a stick but didn’t want to venture into the thick foliage to find one. So, he decided to take off his shirt and wrap it around his fist. It wasn’t the greatest plan, but it was all he could come up with. He held his breath as he punched through the glass. It shattered on the first attempt. He used the shirt to push out the remaining glass, making sure there were no shards to slice him. Once inside, he pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight. There were dozens of shipping crates stacked around the space. He went to the nearest one and pushed open the top. He shone his flashlight. His breath caught when he saw what was inside—an oyster-gray tray with intricate markings that looked Chinese. Underneath the tray was a gilt, copper alloy figurine of an Asian goddess. In the bottom, was a bust of Buddha, made of schist. He snapped a quick picture of the items, then replaced the lid. He moved to another crate. This one contained paintings. He was taking a picture of the ones on top when he heard an approaching car. Beads of perspiration broke across his brow. There was an alarm! He ran to the window and was climbing out when the door burst open.
“Stop!” Cooper ordered.
Liam fell to the ground and jumped up. He wadded his shirt like a football and made a dash for the forest, as Cooper ran back out the front.
“I said stop, or I’ll shoot!”
A shot pierced the night air. Liam winced and kept running. He thrashed through the dense growth of underbrush and trees like a madman, trying to get away. Another shot was fired, and he felt the force of the bullet as it whizzed past him. Cooper was right behind him at first, but then the distance between them increased. Liam ducked behind a tree, trying to flatten himself into it. He held his breath and uttered a silent prayer when he heard footsteps.
“Where are you?” Cooper yelled.
Panic convulsed through Liam when Cooper came within a few feet of him, and then he went another direction. Run, his mind screamed, but Liam stayed put, not moving a muscle for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, he stepped out from the tree, relieved the coast was clear. As soundlessly as he could, he made his way back to the building. He stayed hidden in the cover of the trees, even though Cooper’s Audi was gone. The trek back to the car seemed like the longest hike of Liam’s life as he kept to the edge of the forest, rather than the road. All the while, he looked around to make sure he was alone.
He didn’t take a full breath until he made it to the safety of his car. His mind was on fire. The situation with Cooper was much, much worse than he imagined. He had to protect Maurie from this man, but how? He almost drove to her home that instant to tell her all he’d discovered, but he needed a little time to sort things out in his head. He shuddered to think what would’ve happened if Cooper had caught him. His instinct had been right on track—Cooper was a dangerous man. Liam needed to tread lightly—for Maurie’s sake, and his.
It would be the next morning before he realized his sunglasses were missing. Had they fallen out of his pocket somewhere along the trail? Or had he lost them when he was climbing in and out of the window? He shuddered to think what would happen if Cooper discovered them in or around the building. Odds were he lost them somewhere along the road or in the forest. Yes, he would hold to that theory because the alternative was too dreadful to contemplate. He needed to focus on the things he could control, not what had already happened. And he needed to keep his wits about him, for that was the only thing that would get Maurie and him through this mess.
Chapter 6
Maurie heard the words, but she couldn’t believe they were coming out of Liam’s mouth. She laughed. “What? That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I’m telling you the truth.”
“Don’t you think you’re taking this jealousy thing a bit far? I mean, the scene at the restaurant was somewhat understandable, but this …”
Liam clenched his fists and sprang to his feet. “This isn’t about jealousy!” He raked both hands through his hair, a gesture she recognized well—the geyser on the verge of spewing.
She tried understand where he was coming from, but he wasn’t making any sense. He’d called her first thing this morning, saying it was crucial that he come over. The moment he stepped through the door, he told her some crazy story about how he’d followed Cooper to an outbuilding in Hau’ula, where he was storing antiquities that Liam suspected were either stolen or forgeries. This whole alpha male rivalry between Liam and Cooper was spiraling out of control. It was time for her and Liam to have a heart-to-heart talk. “Hey.”
He turned.
She patted the spot beside her. “Come here.”
For a split-second, he looked like he might refuse. Then his shoulders sagged as he nodded.
She looked at the rugged face she knew so well, trying to find the best way to phrase her thoughts. They’d shared so much together over the years, had gotten to the point where they could finish one another’s sentences. She didn’t blame Liam for being upset about the wedding. It was hard for her to keep the lines between friendship and something deeper from blurring. One minute she considered him her best friend, and the next, she had to fight tooth and nail to keep from throwing her arms around him and kissing him (just to see how his lips would feel against hers). It was hard not to notice how his biceps rippled un
der his shirt when he moved. And now the image of him, shirtless, was seared into her brain. She squelched the treacherous thoughts before they could lead to her undoing. She couldn’t allow herself to be drawn in by Liam’s antics. He wouldn’t know the meaning of true love if it hit him between the eyes. He only attempted to instigate a romantic relationship with her now because he was on the rebound. As soon as another damsel in distress crossed his path he’d trot off after her, leaving Maurie in the dust. She loved Liam in spite of his weaknesses, but she couldn’t put herself in jeopardy. Guys like Cooper didn’t come along everyday. “I know it’s hard for you to see me with Cooper.”
“You have no idea,” he muttered.
She chuckled. “That’s where you’re wrong. It about killed me to see you with Dani.”
His hands flew into the air. “Yes, because you knew she wasn’t the right one for me. That’s what I keep trying to tell you about Cooper.”
“That was one of the reasons.”
He gave her a funny look. “What do you mean?”
She touched his arm. “It was hard for me to see you with someone else.”
There was a hint of mischief in his chocolate eyes. “Because secretly you’re madly in love with me?”
She shoved him. “No, you moron, it’s because you’re my best friend, and I didn’t want to share you with anyone else.” She paused, her eyes going soft. “How many times do I have to tell you that my marriage to Cooper won’t change our friendship? I need you to be happy for me, Liam.” Her throat constricted. “I have a chance to build a life with a wonderful man.” She gave him a pleading look. “Surely, you won’t deny me that.”
He shook his head. “You’re getting this all wrong.”
Why was he being so difficult? Her neck and shoulders tightened. “Am I? From where I’m sitting, it seems like this is all about jealousy.”
He blew out an exasperated breath. “Yes, I care about you, love.” His eyes held hers as he touched her hair, sending a jolt of energy through her. She wondered if he felt it too. “And you mean much more to me than just a friend.” She started to interrupt, but he held up his hand. “I’ll admit I was jealous of Cooper, and I acted petty at the restaurant. But this isn’t about jealousy. Have you heard a thing I’ve said? Cooper’s not the man he’s pretending to be.” His voice rose. “He shot at me! If I hadn’t gotten away, he probably would’ve killed me. Think about what I’m telling you. A legitimate gallery owner doesn’t house inventory in an outbuilding in the middle of nowhere.” He pulled out his phone. “Look, here are the pictures I snapped.”
Liam could be so dang infuriating. She wanted to shake some sense into him. She took the phone and scrolled through the pictures, barely seeing them. “This doesn’t prove a thing. There must be a reasonable explanation. You broke into his building. He had a right to protect his property.”
“Are you listening to yourself? He came after me with a gun. I wasn’t a threat to him.”
“He didn’t know you weren’t a threat. For all he knew, you could’ve had a gun.” Maurie massaged her temples to ward off the headache spreading over the bridge of her nose. “This is crazy.”
Liam began rubbing her back. “I know it’s crazy. I suspected the guy was a phony, but I wouldn’t have imagined him fencing illegitimate art and antiquities.”
She jerked away from him. “Enough! This has gone too far. Cooper’s on his way here now. When he arrives, we’ll all sit down and talk about it. I’m sure there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.”
A panicked look twisted Liam’s face. “He’s coming here?”
“Yes, he’s taking me to breakfast at the Hukilau Café. He should be here in a few minutes.”
Liam grabbed her arm. “You can’t say a word to him.”
“Why not?” Just as she suspected. Liam concocted the whole story.
“Because he’s dangerous.”
She rolled her eyes. “Not this again.”
“Promise me you won’t say anything … I’ll get more proof.” He stopped short when he saw her expression. “You don’t believe me, do you?”
“No,” she admitted, “I don’t.”
Hurt settled into his eyes. “After all we’ve been through …” He shook his head. “And you don’t believe me. Talk about a kick in the groin.”
Her heart went out to him, and she wanted to smooth away the worry lines on his face. On the other hand, she was frustrated as all heck. He was disparaging the man she was going to marry, and for what? His ego? “I’m sorry. I don’t know what to do with this.”
Time seemed to stand still as they eyed one another. Liam was the first to speak. “Okay, here’s what we’ll do. I’ll take you to the building and show you. That should be enough proof. Then you can contact Kalia.”
Had he lost his mind? “Fine. We’ll go take a look at the building.”
“And then you’ll call Kalia.”
Outside of Liam, Kalia was her closet friend on the island. She worked for the Honolulu police department. At Liam’s request, Maurie had called Kalia one other time to help get Dani out of a jam. There was no way Maurie was going to call Kalia again and drag her into this mess. “First let’s go to the building, and then we’ll see about the rest.”
The doorbell rang. Maurie moved to stand, but Liam caught hold of her hands. “Promise me you won’t say a word about this to Cooper.”
A sense of foreboding came over Maurie when she saw the fear in Liam’s eyes. Now she was more confused than ever. “Okay, I promise, I won’t.”
Tension snaked around Liam when Cooper stepped into Maurie’s living room, causing the events from the night before to come crashing around him. He felt again the cold, clammy fear of being hunted like an animal, the shots firing around him. And here he was, in Maurie’s living room, standing face-to-face with the man while pretending nothing happened. Cooper’s face turned a shade darker when he saw Liam. Before last night, Liam would’ve gotten satisfaction out of goading him. But that was before he realized how serious a threat Cooper was. The fact Cooper was here in Maurie’s home about to take her to breakfast, made Liam’s blood curdle. He wondered if Cooper suspected him of breaking into the outbuilding. Had he come across the sunglasses? It was impossible to tell from his demeanor, but that was no surprise. Liam pegged Cooper as the sort of man who’d mastered the art of a poker face by age twelve. Cooper was as smart as he was dangerous. That’s why it was imperative for Liam to keep his cool. One false move and he’d put himself in jeopardy and Maurie as well. “Good morning,” he said breezily.
Cooper’s cold eyes appraised Liam. “I’m surprised to see you here so early. Did you sleep here last night?”
The accusation was loud and clear, sending Maurie into a tailspin as she rushed to explain. “No, Liam stopped by a few minutes ago to discuss a few of his upcoming projects.” She looked at Liam, her eyes begging him to back her up.
“Yes, that’s right. Maurie keeps a finger on the pulse of everything I do.” When he saw Maurie’s face fall, he quickly added. “I don’t mean she keeps a finger on me personally. I mean she keeps her finger on the pulse of the business.”
“I think he gets the picture,” Maurie said, her face going cherry red.
Cooper just looked at him like a rodent needing to be exterminated. A shiver ran down Liam’s spine. He clasped his hands together, trying his best to sound casual. “I know you two are off to breakfast, and I need to be going.” He looked at Maurie. “I’ll catch up with you later this afternoon.”
She nodded.
“I’m afraid this afternoon won’t work,” Cooper said.
Irritation pricked over Liam, reminding him how much he detested Cooper.
“What do you mean?” Maurie asked, frowning.
“Remember? I’m hosting a party for John Koga at my home this evening.”
“The sculptor?” Maurie said.
Cooper nodded.
John Koga was a masterful modern sculptor. His whimsical pieces
were showcased at galleries around the world. Under different circumstances, Liam would’ve been super impressed that Cooper knew him.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot about that.” Maurie put a hand on Liam’s arm. “Sorry. Let’s plan on getting together tomorrow afternoon instead.”
Disappointment rained down on Liam like a raging thunderstorm, and it was all he could do to keep his expression passive. “Sure.” That meant he had to wait a whole day to show Maurie the outbuilding.
“Hey, why don’t you come to Cooper’s party?” Maurie turned to Cooper. “You don’t mind, do you?”
Liam had the hysterical urge to laugh at Cooper’s reaction. The corners of his jaw twitched so violently it looked like he was undergoing shock therapy. Then a tight smile came over his lips, reminding Liam of a piece of elastic stretching several times beyond its capacity. “I don’t mind at all.” He put his arm around her. “Anything to make you happy.”
The thought of attending a party at Cooper’s home sounded about as ridiculous as having a tea party with a lion, but it would give Liam an excuse to watch over Maurie. And it would give him a chance to snoop around Cooper’s home, maybe learn more about him. “That’s very kind of you. I would love to come.” All of this forced politeness was making him nauseous.
“Good, it’s all settled,” Cooper said briskly.
“Oh, and the dress is black tie,” Maurie added. “As hard as it is, you’ll have to separate yourself from your usual shorts and t-shirt,” she teased.
Liam shook his head in mock sadness. “Only for you, love. Only for you.” For a split second, Liam felt like it was just the two of them again. He longed for the simplicity of how things used to be before Dani and Cooper intruded. His beautiful Maurie. So strong and independent. Yet, so trusting. He had to find a way to make her see the man Cooper really was before it was too late. And somehow, he had to show her that he truly loved her.
Love on the Rocks (Hawaii Billionaire Romance) Page 5