by Diana Duncan
Her heart labored. Breathing hurt, and not from the smoke. She didn’t want to accept the hideous possibility that Daniel had escaped ... and the ravaged body was Liam’s.
As more and more wrenching minutes ticked past and she didn’t see him, desolation crept over her.
Another grim circle later, she was forced to face the horrible truth. Broken and lost, she clutched the fireman’s coat around herself. Grief slammed into her. Tears spilled down her cheeks.
Liam was dead.
She peered at the ambulances nearly hidden behind the murky smoke. But Murphy was still alive. It was up to her to make sure he got medical treatment. Taking care of his loyal partner was the final thing she could do for Liam.
She slogged toward the ambulance, dodging cops and firefighters. Just ahead, through the wavering haze, she saw a man trudging toward her. A tall, broad-shouldered man with thick dark hair. The air jammed in her lungs. She squinted, desperate to make out his features.
A brief flicker of hope flared ... then was snuffed out by dark despair. No, his gait was all wrong. Instead of a confident, graceful stride, the man moved slowly. Painfully. Head down and shoulders slumped.
He plodded closer. The smoky curtain parted. He lifted his head, and his face swam into clear view. Kate gasped. Reeled to a halt.
The man she never thought she’d see again. The only man she longed to see.
Liam!
He saw her. He faltered, stumbled, and then his beautiful face creased in an unsteady smile. “Kate!” he cried hoarsely. He broke into a run. Reached her and enfolded her in his arms. “Kate!”
Sobbing too hard to reply, she flung her arms around his neck. The coat fell away unheeded as she hugged him so hard he lost his breath. The sun grazed the horizon, flooded the sky with saffron light. His heartbeat thundered against hers and she kissed his bristled cheek. Warm. Vital.
Alive!
He buried his face in her neck and hugged her tightly in return. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Mm-me t-too. I m-mean y-ou, too,” she sobbed.
“Shh.” He stroked her hair, rubbed her back. “It’s okay. Everything’s okay now.” He eased away, cupped her face in his hands. His gaze traveled over her. “You’re not hurt?”
“N-no.” She shook her head. “Y-you?”
“Minor smoke inhalation. Grady forced an oxygen mask on me for a while. No biggie.”
She sniffled, for the first time unashamed of her tears. She had a right to cry. “Where were you?”
“Around back, showing my brothers and the arson investigators inside the area where I busted out.” His thumbs gently wiped away her tears. “That crowbar saved my life. After I coldcocked Daniel with it, I lugged him away from the fire. I used the crowbar to smash through an outer wall. When I turned back to get him, he was gone. He must’ve crawled away, thinking he could escape.”
She ran her fingers through his silky hair, traced his soot-smudged cheekbones, his soft lips. She couldn’t stop touching him. “The firemen found his body. He didn’t make it.”
“I know.” His voice was raw, eyes glazed. “Neither did Murph.”
“But he did! A firefighter brought him out right behind me!”
His face lit up. “Where is he?”
“I told them to put him in an ambulance. He’s hurt, Liam. I don’t know if—” she couldn’t finish. She grabbed his hand. “Let’s go find him. He needs you.”
Hand in hand, they ran to the ambulances. The dog lay motionless on a stretcher inside one of the vehicles. Grady hovered over him, holding an oxygen mask to the canine’s nose. An IV line trailed from a shaved spot on the dog’s front leg.
Grady looked up at their approach, his distinctive O’Rourke features grave. Liam rushed to Murphy’s side. Grady patted Liam’s back. “Easy.” He hesitated. “It’s bad, bro. His vitals are barely there.”
Liam tenderly stroked Murphy’s head. “What are you waiting for? Let’s get him to the vet hospital.”
“I had to stabilize him, or he wouldn’t have made it to the hospital. Hop in the back with him.” Grady slammed the doors, then sprinted around to the driver’s seat.
Siren blaring and lights flashing, the ambulance tore out of the parking lot. Grady radioed ahead to the vet hospital. Kate clung to a support bar as they careened around a corner. “They let you use a people ambulance to transport a dog?” she called out.
“Didn’t ask.” When Grady hollered back, she heard the wry smile in his voice. “I never met a rule I didn’t bend ... or break.”
A fast, wild ride later, the ambulance screeched to a halt at the animal hospital entrance. Grady wanted to stay, but dispatch said they needed the vehicle because the others were tied up transporting wounded firefighters. Grady quickly hugged Kate, then hugged his brother hard as several vet techs in blue scrubs rushed out. He promised to have someone drop off Liam’s Mustang before he sped away, tires squealing.
Liam and the techs wheeled in the stretcher bearing the unconscious dog. The techs tried to convince Liam to wait outside, but nothing deterred him from accompanying his wounded partner.
He’d warned Kate in the ambulance that Con and Aidan would be busy at the crime scene, and couldn’t be there to support them. She dropped into a seat in the empty waiting area, wrapped her arms around herself and prayed.
After an endless, lonely vigil, the inner door finally opened. Liam slumped against the door frame. His face was bone-white and tears glittered on his cheeks. Kate gasped. “Oh, no!” She rushed over and embraced him. “I’m so sorry.”
He clung to her. “Murph—no—Murph made it through the surgery.” He swallowed hard. “He needs to be kept sedated for the next twenty-four hours. It’ll take a while, but the doc thinks he’ll recover.”
She caressed his damp cheek. “Ah, you’re crying in relief. It’s okay, Liam.”
“It’s not ... that. I ... Back at the fire site, when I thought I’d lost you, I—it tore me to pieces.” He inhaled a trembling breath. “I never want to feel that way again.” He dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Nobody has ever put you first. Not your parents, not your sister, not your so-called fiancé.” He hugged her tight. “If you can’t bear to be around Murphy, then I—” He choked, swallowed again. “I’ll send him to live with Grady. He loves Grady and Grady loves him. I can visit him whenever I want. I need you, Kate. And you deserve to always be first.”
The oxygen evaporated from the atmosphere. Her knees went weak. Her vision blurred. Nobody had ever made allowances for her, much less the supreme sacrifice he offered. “That’s the most generous, selfless offer I’ve ever received. But I can’t accept.”
Taut with anguish, he slowly rose to his feet. “I know what I’m giving up.”
She shook her head. “I can’t allow you to send Murphy away.”
The outer door crashed open and two little girls rushed inside the clinic, followed by a man carrying a chubby beagle. “Our doggie is having puppies!” the smallest girl announced breathlessly.
Kate managed a tremulous smile. “How exciting!” She slid her arm around Liam’s waist. He was shaking. “If you’re ready to go, let’s continue this conversation in private.”
Chapter 16
7:00 a.m.
Liam was too fucking done to be grateful the local cops had delivered his car. When Kate somberly passed him the keys, he opened the passenger door for her, then slid into the driver’s seat. He started the engine and she looked at him, her expression sad and vulnerable. “I can’t believe it’s finally over.”
He merged into traffic, and déjà vu whammed him back to the night they’d met. Then, it had been dark and rainy, but fiery anticipation had burned inside him. Today, it was sunny and mild, but apprehension chilled him to the bone. His worst nightmare would soon become reality.
Kate was about to walk away from him. Again.
His heart lurched. Watching helplessly as the casino had burned with her and Murphy inside,
he’d wanted to die too. Losing Pop was the only thing that’d come close to the agony. He stopped the car at a red light, idling in morning rush hour traffic. He couldn’t bear to lose her. He’d offered to board Murph with Grady so they could be together. Standing over his unconscious partner in recovery, the decision had shredded his guts.
Yet he’d had no choice.
He gritted his teeth. She’d said no. His life was gridlocked, his hopes and dreams at a standstill like the dozens of cars backed up behind this never-ending stoplight. The signal finally flashed green, and he drove the Mustang forward. His future remained stalled.
He was about to lose her forever.
The sun blazed mercilessly, stinging his still sensitive corneas. He flipped down the visor. He’d always loved sunrise. Each day brought a new beginning, a fresh start. Fucking irony—at the start of a new day, his life was set to crash and burn.
“Things didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped.” Her voice quavered. “And now I have to deliver bad news.”
He bore down against the pain.
“Everything is ruined. Gone.” She brushed a stray lock of hair from her face. “I can’t pay for Aubrey’s transplant.”
His breath whooshed out. Fucking hell. His fingers clenched on the wheel. He was a bloody selfish bastard. Kate had run the devil’s obstacle course, with more family fallout to come. Reaching over the console, he took her hand. “We still have another day. We’ll think of a way, I promise. Try to put it aside so you can rest. You won’t be any good to her if you’re out on your feet.”
Hope flickered in her eyes. “If we can’t make it happen, nobody can.” She rotated her hand so they were palm to palm, and linked her fingers with his. “Thank you. For everything.”
Her hand felt so small. Fragile and trusting. Thoughts of what Daniel had nearly done to her clawed his insides and he swallowed bile. He would die to protect her. He almost had. “I’d do it all again, Kate.”
Everything.
Even the searing hurt.
“How did you know about Daniel? How did you find me?”
“During interrogation, Etienne told me Daniel was your former fiancé. He was on the initial suspect list, and it plugged in the motive. Why didn’t you tell me the douchebag who cheated on you was your brother-in-law?”
“What happened was mortifying enough without adding extra humiliation. Not in my wildest imagination would I have thought he was my stalker.”
Frowning, he changed lanes. “Sorry I had to arrest Etienne. The evidence was solid.”
“I’m sure it was.” Her voice was low, her body taut. “Daniel manufactured it.”
“And did a damn thorough job.” He headed toward the Strip. She’d need a hotel. “When Alex put you into my custody, he warned me the bomber might be involved with Les Hommes de la Mort. I couldn’t take any chances. I had to lock up a viable suspect.”
She gasped. “The notorious Men of Death? Apparently you held back information, too.”
“I couldn’t say anything. Classified intel.”
“What does a terrorist group have to do with Etienne?”
How much should he divulge? Junior had had the guts to disown terrorists, and his current record was as spotless as Granny O’Rourke’s parlor. Liam released her hand to shift. “Ask him.”
She nodded. “Etienne has traveled a rough road. When you look into his eyes, an old soul stares back. Whatever’s in his past, there’s no way he would knowingly hurt anyone.”
“He’s lucky to have you on his side.” Her loyalty was no surprise. If only she was willing to offer it to him. “Etienne said you’d been engaged to Daniel. Besides motive, Daniel had the means and opportunity to stalk you. My instincts hit red alert. Then Zoe phoned with buried intel. Daniel is the grandson of Phillipe Marché, the infamous bomber. Everything morphed into a nasty picture.”
She gulped. “Daniel claimed he killed his parents, foster parents, and grandfather.”
“I don’t doubt it. Interpol thought Marché’s final hit was a suicide bombing—but it was more of Tyler’s handiwork.”
“He would’ve killed me.” She tugged at her singed hem. “After he raped me.”
“We beat him at his own game.” Luckily for the bastard. Liam snarled. He’d been serious as a major myocardial infarction about the twist and cram. “I phoned to warn you, but the nurse told me you’d left with him. I freaked. I was afraid I’d never make it in time.” The excruciating interval counted among the worst of his life. “I arrived as you left the parking garage.”
“The second time today a mocha saved me.” Her smile wobbled. “I drank one earlier and had to stop in the ladies’ room. I grabbed a few minutes to freshen up. I was determined to rescue Etienne, and didn’t think I’d be very intimidating if I looked like something the cat dragged in.”
He returned her smile. “Hallelujah for chocoholics.”
“And for bomb techs. You disarmed Daniel’s booby-traps.”
“As much as I could. It was a piece of work.” And he’d been in a bit of a rush.
“Talk about nerves of cold steel and bravery under fire.” Her look glowed with admiration. “I was totally impressed. You were amazing when you called his bluff.”
“Who was bluffing?” He hadn’t felt cool or steely. He’d wanted to tear the fuckhead apart with his teeth. But Tyler had been prepared for him to attack. “The only way to defeat sociopaths is to force them to deviate from their script.” He glanced at her. Would she hate him for the truth? He gripped the wheel harder. He could never be less than honest with her. “He was determined to kill us, no matter what. Instead of getting in that cage and letting him rape you, I gambled on forcing him to accept my terms. I can’t apologize for that.”
“I don’t want you to. You saved my life.” She reached for him, but changed her mind. Withdrew her hand. He cornered a tight left. So, they were back to acting like polite strangers. She was already leaving him. She stared down at her lap. “I’m sorry. Because of me, Daniel almost killed you and Murphy. I feel so stupid. I was engaged to him, spent years with him, and never saw the evil. How could I have been so clueless?”
“No way you could’ve known. Sociopaths are brilliant, and the ultimate actors. Hell, women who are married to them for years don’t even realize they’re cold-blooded killers until too late. We never see their true natures until they take off their masks.” He was nearly to the Strip. Nearly at the end of the line. “Don’t apologize for what he did. It’s not your fault.”
“You’re a very forgiving man, St. Michael.”
“Not so much.” He turned onto Vegas Boulevard and tensed. Precious time was ticking away. “I don’t regret that he’s dead. He’ll never hurt you again.”
“No regrets here, either.” She jutted her chin. “Not just because of us. Janine and Aubrey are safe from him, too.”
“I got to you as fast as I could. While I was disarming the bombs, I heard him tormenting you.” He braced himself. Be straight with me. Even if it incinerates my heart.
She paled. “Then you heard me say the only reason I slept with you was to get back at him.” She rested her hand on his forearm. “During the fire, you yelled that I was a liability to you.”
He hit the brakes a tad too hard. “I said it to make you leave. To save your life. I didn’t mean it.”
She squeezed his arm. “Yes, I got that.”
He did a mental head slap. “You were buying time, to pacify Daniel.” Liam slowly accelerated, thankful for perpetually snarled Vegas traffic. The all-night gamblers were just going to bed. He needed to finish this before he dropped her off. The final showdown had been two years coming, and he had no idea if he’d ever see her again. “I have something I need to tell you.”
“Liam, take me home.”
Finished.
Over.
His throat felt as raw as if he’d swallowed ground glass. Pain graveled his voice. “Your apartment isn’t livable. It’ll have to be a hotel.”
“Take me to your home. I want to discover the rest of the story.”
Sounds faded, colors paled, and the world lurched into slow motion.
Hope soared. He’d been given a second shot at winning her heart.
* * *
Liam supported Kate with a hand on the small of her back as they walked into the lobby of the Bellagio. Her taut muscles quivered beneath his palm. She’d claimed to be sure, but was as edgy as the point man in a minefield.
She stared up at the rainbow-hued ceiling. “No matter how many times I’ve seen these Chihuly glass flowers, I’m always awed at his talent. It’s like walking around inside a kaleidoscope.”
He was a mess of hopefulness, uncertainty, and desperation as the elevator let them out on the tenth floor. He unlocked the door and followed her inside his suite. She checked out the elegant decor in muted shades of mocha and cream with splashes of burgundy. The drapes were open, the famous fountains visible from both the living area and bedroom. “A big, peaceful space.”
“Murph needs lots of room.” Murphy’s leash was draped over a chair near the door. Liam’s guts cramped. He missed his best friend with every fiber of his being. He picked it up and stroked the worn leather through his fingers.
He sucked in a fortifying breath and turned to face her. “In the car, I told you I needed to tell you something.” His charm arsenal hadn’t swayed Kate. All he had left to gamble was his heart. So for the first time in his life, he opened his heart.
“When I was at the bottom of the bay, and thought I was about to die, reality smacked me upside the head. Ma and Pop, they had all these plans for after Pop retired. They were gonna go on cruises, travel the world, sleep in late, drink coffee on the patio every morning, take walks in the park, and just, you know, enjoy being together. But they never got the chance to do any of that. Death cheated them. Cheated our entire family. Ever since Pop died, I’ve been the jokester, the party guy. I figured hey, anybody’s number can be up any time, so better relish life now.”
He let everything pour out. “I’d convinced myself that commitments were way too limiting, and then I met you. Our night together changed everything for me. Then Jesus, talk about karma, you left me. You might think I can’t possibly know you well enough for you to have changed my life, but these past twenty-four hours have sealed the deal. I do know you, Kate. I know you’re strong and brave, smart and funny. You’re loyal literally to the point of death, and have so much love to give. And even though you’re scared and have been badly hurt in so many ways, damn ... you just keep on keeping on. I used to be all about the love-’em-and-leave-’em, and yeah, that was easy for me. Because none of those women were you.”