Chapter Eighteen
MADDIE
Liam
Got a lead on a fugitive and had to head out early. I would’ve locked you in your room and threw away the key, but decided against it since I didn’t want to come home to your wrath. Think you can handle yourself until I get back?
Turning on the shower, I smirk as I read the text message Liam sent five hours ago. After our encounter last night, I’m not sure what to think, but I also really enjoy this macho side of him.
Maddie
Arrogant, much? And screw you!
I also really enjoy messing with him.
Liam
Well good morning, my ray of sunshine.
Maddie
Thought it was pain in the ass? Did I get a nickname upgrade?
Liam
Only when you’re a good girl. So, be nice, and I’ll bring you a tasty biscuit.
Maddie
I am not a dog! What’s wrong with you?
Liam
Too bad. I really like doggy style.
Maddie
You’re an asshole, and I hate you.
Liam
Oh come on. I’m just messing with you. I’m running on two hours of sleep and this motherfucker is pissing me off. So just humor me.
Maddie
Are you really working or are you “working?”
Liam
I don’t know what you mean by “working,” but yes I am. Currently on a stakeout an hour away at an apartment complex, waiting to see if this bastard comes out soon since I can’t confirm which one he’s staying in. Though, I’m three seconds away from pulling the fire alarm so I can find him sooner.
Maddie
I don’t think you’re allowed to do that…
Liam
Well, I don’t follow the rules
Maddie
Oh hey, there’s Mr. Arrogant again.
Liam
He never left, baby.
Butterflies invade my stomach at his term of endearment. Liam has the sexiest voice I’ve ever heard, and it’s even hotter when he says things like that. The thought has me squeezing my legs together.
Maddie
Okay, go get the bad guy. I’m gonna do naked yoga and watch my shows.
Liam
Not laughing.
Maddie
But I’m hilarious.
Liam
Just stay home, okay? And keep your clothes on.
Maddie
No can do, bossy pants. I’m about to get into the shower. Taking off my clothes as I type…
I smile as I hit enter, knowing he’s groaning at my message.
Liam
Try not to think about me too much. Would hate for you to slip and hurt yourself.
Maddie
Don’t flatter yourself. Nicholas Galitzine gets all my shower fantasies.
Liam
Who?
Maddie
OMG
Liam
He one of your singing & tights-wearing losers?
I send him a middle finger emoji, then strip down before stepping under the hot water.
Once I finish getting ready for the day, I make a cup of my favorite Yogi tea. Sophie and Mason cook lunch and talk about the wedding. They’ve been dedicating all their spare time to planning.
“You two gonna make me an aunt again soon?” I tease, walking around the table that’s covered in magazines and fabric samples.
“Lennon has two. Isn’t that enough?” Mason asks dryly. “Plus, you’re kinda occupying the extra room.”
“What’re you trying to say? I’m the reason you’re not having babies?” I feign offense, dramatically pressing a hand to my chest.
“Stop it,” Sophie scolds, smacking his arm with a laugh. “We’re getting married first before any baby making happens.”
“But we can still practice, right?” Mason taunts, waggling his brows.
“Trust me, the entire house hears you doing that.” I walk out of the kitchen with my mug.
“I told you,” Sophie hisses. “You’re loud.”
“Me?” He gasps. “You’re the one who bought the vibrating cock ring. What’d you think was gonna happen?”
“Oh. My. God.” I loudly exaggerate each word. “The walls are thin and everything echoes. Stop talking please.”
“Why? Virgin ears can’t take it?” Sophie snickers, and Mason’s laughter follows.
“I hate you both and hope you have ugly children,” I shout in response, then turn on the TV to stop this awkward conversation.
After an old episode of Love After Lockup, which reminds me of Liam, I send him a text.
Maddie
Did you get the guy yet?
Liam
Fuck yeah, I did. On the way to the station now. Bastard’s real mouthy. Reminds me of you.
Maddie
Oh yeah? He have a great ass, too?
Liam
Definitely. But it doesn’t compare to yours.
Maddie
Keep dreaming, playboy.
Liam
You’re absolutely in my dreams, sweetheart.
Grinning, I roll my eyes at his relentless flirting. Arranged marriage or not, I still feel guilty about it. I can’t deny it’s nice having Liam’s attention, but I don’t want it if it’s only because he’s jealous that I’m trying to move on.
I want to trust him. I want to believe that he’s only married for convenience, but considering he can’t tell me why makes me suspicious.
For these past several months, he’s been all kinds of strange—the casino receipt and chip, the Mercedes he can’t afford, flying to Vegas more than usual.
I can’t quite put my finger on what’s going on, but I’m guessing a gambling addiction is to blame.
Liam would never marry someone he hardly knows, not without introducing us to her before they got hitched.
The whole situation sends up a plethora of red flags.
Maybe she needs health insurance or needs an expensive surgery.
Although she looks like she can afford to pay out of pocket for everything.
Or maybe she has a terminal illness and getting married is her last dying wish.
Or something her family pushed for. Realistically, it’s probably something else.
He agreed to this for a reason. Money? She could be paying him a salary and gifting him expensive things, which would explain the car.
Anything is possible at this point.
With my mind going crazy over the different scenarios, I decide to find the answers myself. He has to have something that’ll prove he’s being truthful. Once I do, I’ll keep it a secret so no one, including Liam, will ever know.
Setting my tea down, I head upstairs while the happy couple are still discussing wedding plans in the kitchen.
Liam keeps everything in his room, so if he’s hiding something, it’s bound to be up there.
When I find whatever I’m looking for, it’ll be the confirmation I need that he was genuine, and hopefully, the guilt of kissing a married man will disappear.
I shouldn’t sneak around, but that thought doesn’t stop me as I quietly enter his bedroom.
I scowl at how messy it is. Liam’s closet looks like a tornado blew through and half of his clothes are on his bed or the floor.
Considering it was clean while Victoria was here, it only took him three days to destroy his space.
However, his room being a disaster zone helps me since he won’t be able to tell I snooped.
I start with his dresser and move crumpled boxers and random socks that he’s haphazardly thrown in.
After searching through every drawer, I go to his desk, which is surprisingly the only clean part of the room.
It’s where he keeps his work files and research data when he’s tracking fugitives.
When I first learned what he did and the details the job entailed, it was amazing to learn how much time he puts into finding criminals.
Knowing it’s all organized, I carefully sift through his files, and when I don’t find anything there, I dig in his desk drawers.
“What the hell?” I lift a large photo of Liam and me in front of the house, walking toward his truck.
It was a day I had errands to run and needed him to drive me.
I must’ve been giving him shit or something because there’s a smirk on his lips, and I’m laughing.
However, it’s the big red target over my face that has me shaking with fear.
Who sent him this and why?
Flipping it over, there’s a handwritten note, and I gasp at the words. Whoever sent this to him is blackmailing him for money and using me to threaten him if he doesn’t come through.
This has to be why he’s been acting weird around me and has been overbearing.
The gambling. Money. Traveling. Fancy car. Arranged marriage.
There has to be a correlation, but what does it have to do with me?
“Maddie, what the fuck?” I jump at Liam’s booming voice, shocked he’s home already. I thought I had more time and hadn’t heard him coming upstairs.
“I should be asking you that,” I say, tears staining my cheeks at the realization of how big this is. Whatever this is. “Something’s going on, and I’m not leaving until you tell me everything. The truth.”
Liam walks toward me and eyes the photo in my hand. “Why are you going through my shit?” He bends down and swipes it from my grip.
Standing, I keep my stance firm and cross my arms. “Who sent that to you, Liam?”
“Maddie, it’s no—”
“Don’t lie to me!” I shout louder than I intended, but this isn’t just about him anymore. Someone has a target on me. “I deserve to know who’s gonna kill me, don’t you think?”
Liam’s jaw tenses as he blows out a frustrated breath and runs a hand through his hair. “No one’s gonna fuckin’ touch you, Maddie. It was a scare tactic to get me back to Vegas. I went and told them to leave you out of this.”
“Them who?”
“Maddie.” He steps around me and sits on the edge of his bed. “Protecting you means not getting you involved.”
I stand in front of him, taking in the hard angles of his face and defeated expression.
He’s exhausted. “I’m already involved, if that picture is any indication.
It’s obvious you’ve been holding this in for a while and it’s eating you alive.
” I kneel between his legs and take his hands.
“If you want me to trust you like you say you do, then tell me. Please.”
He contemplates my words, his chest rising and falling. When he finally nods, I blow out a relieved breath. Liam pulls me onto the bed next to him. Studying him, I notice his pale complexion and the dark bags under his eyes. He’s been holding on to this stress for months.