76. Chapter Seventy-Six
Chapter seventy-six
Adair
And there was the confirmation I’d been waiting for.
To the team’s credit, no one physically reacted to his snarky question. Not a muscle twitch, a sideways glance, nothing. Hearing his voice had made my chest hurt a little, but my curiosity overrode every logical and rational thought in my brain.
I went to take a step forward, but Peter’s hold on my hand stopped me. “Where are you going?”
“I have to look.”
He sighed. “Can you at least stand behind me so I can still protect you?”
There was a lot of concern in those storm-grey eyes, and as much as I hated him literally acting like a shield, I understood why and nodded. “Fine.”
We slowly moved toward the open entryway leading from the living room into the foyer. Liam had his hands cuffed behind his back, and all the Agosti crew’s guns were drawn and trained on him, William, and Nolan.
William didn’t look all the different from the last time I saw him.
He still had his muscular military build, including the high and tight haircut and arrogant smirk to go with it.
Liam had aged a lot more than I expected to see.
While he still looked as in-shape as before, his hair had more grey in it now but was still mostly that light brown I knew.
It was the wrinkles and bag around his eyes that surprised me.
For a man as vain as he was, and married to an equally vain woman, I expected more youth and vitality in his features.
The whirlwind of emotions that crashed into me had me taking several deep breaths and gripping the sides of Peter’s shirt.
He shifted slightly and reached his left hand behind to hold mine.
I rested my forehead against his back and leaned into the strength and comfort he provided me. Liam can’t hurt me here.
“What? No comment, Don Agosti?”
I bristled at how mockingly he said her name but held my place as I glanced in her direction.
Lianne arched her eyebrow slightly at her oldest brother’s comment. “Why would I know how Victoria is doing? She’s allegedly dead, unless you know something I don't?”
He rolled his eyes. “Cut the shit, Lianne. Susan heard from her lawyer. Victoria not only proved her existence recently, but she also relocated all her liquid assets. There’s no way she was able to pull all that off on her own. Not without being seen. This has you and Mom written all over it.”
Lianne maintained her air of indifference. “She was your fiance, Liam. Why would she come here and not go straight to you?” There was a pause. “Unless there’s a reason she wouldn’t want to?”
His nose twitched slightly, the only tell his bravado wavered for a moment, but it was enough that I caught it. “We weren’t on the best terms before she disappeared.”
Are you fucking kidding me right now?
I stepped around Peter, no longer able to stand by quietly. “Are you really going to stand there and tell Lianne that you attempting to murder me was us not being on the best of terms?”
Liam gasped as his attention snapped to where I stood, his eyes going wide as all the color drained from his face. “Victoria? You… You’re alive… and here. But—”
“I am alive and here. No thanks to you or your wife.”
He looked like I smacked him. “What are you talking about?”
“Really? Really? Liam Douglas, are you seriously going to stand there and lie to my face? Do not insult me and everyone in this room by acting like you didn't let your precious wife shoot me. That the two of you weren’t backstabbing, traitorous, selfish, assholes who were so desperate for power that when you realized there was no getting me out of that contract alive, you chose your livelihood and happiness over mine.” I took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“But this is how you are when you want something. This is how you’ve always been.
You never stop. There is no going too far for you.
All you do is take and destroy until all there’s left to rule is a pile of rubble of everything you’ve ruined.
" A dry laugh came out as I shook my head.
“Though, from what I have heard of your recent exploits, I was just the first in a line of obstacles you tried to remove.
I was never more disappointed in you than when I heard you took out your own father.
Susan can fucking have you, and this time with my blessing.
I may not have dodged her bullet, but I dodged a much bigger one by getting away from you.
" I let out a tense breath, grateful to feel Peter’s hand gently rest on my back.
He had my back, just like he always said he would.
Liam swallowed hard as he took in every inch of me.
I saw a flash of recognition in his eyes, and then shock, quickly followed by pain.
Part of me wanted to know if it was from the ring, the gun, the fact I spilled his darkest secret in front of everyone, or a combination, but I no longer cared.
All that mattered was he finally heard and saw me.
The fact that he had to stare down the barrel of a family gun to do it was icing on the cake.
He moved toward me, and I immediately pulled my gun and trained it on his forehead. “Don’t get any closer.”
“Victoria, I—”
“Enough.” I cut him off and then glanced at William, narrowing my eyes at him. I was on a roll. "And then there’s you."
“Bailey?” William’s mouth hung open. He was paler than before and looked like he’d seen a ghost. “Bailey… I… How are you standing here? The house in Indiana was destroyed. Blown to pieces. No bodies were ever found… but here you are.”
“I know, even despite your best efforts. Sorry for ruining your plans by being so resilient and protected.”
Liam glanced at the man standing to his right. “Why are you calling her Bailey? Her name is Victoria.”
William looked confused as he glanced at Liam. “She was always Bailey with me.”
Lukas cleared his throat. “She goes by Adair these days.”
“Sweetheart, why all the name changes?”
Hearing William use his pet name for me made my skin crawl.
I made an obvious show of disengaging the safety as I stared at the man I’d dreamed of taking out.
“Never call me sweetheart again. I was Bailey with you because I couldn't be Victoria anymore.” I glared at Liam.
“I had to stop being Victoria when you and Susan tried to kill me. Bailey died when he betrayed me, forcing me to call in reinforcements and blow up my favorite safe house, and Tori died most recently.”
William’s jaw dropped in shock. “Wait, you called in that strike team? How? Communication lines to and from the house had been cut or jammed.”
A humorless laugh bubbled out. That’s what you fixated on? “And who do you think did that, William?”
His eyebrows shot up. “I… But… How?”
I rolled my eyes. “For allegedly being a security specialist, you’re a bigger idiot than Liam is.
Let me explain this in little words even my niece could understand.
I did it from the fire and blast-proof safe room I built into my closet.
The one I never told you about because I couldn’t trust you as far as I could throw you.
The same safe room I pulled Captain Collins into to keep him alive. ”
William’s eyes somehow went wider, and I didn’t miss how Liam’s mouth dropped open.
Yeah. There’s a piece of information for you. I had my Derek back for a bit.
“Speaking of Captain Collins, whatever happened to him? We never found his body, either.”
Nolan cleared his throat. “Liam, wasn’t there a Collins involved with the accident that killed Redman?”
“There was.” Liam looked to the side as his thoughts raced. I’d seen the face often enough to be able to spot it a mile away. After a moment his eyes went wide. “Wait, Victoria—”
“That’s. Not. My. Name.” I practically growled the words.
He let out a heavy sigh. “Adair, this Captain Collins you saved. Would he happen to be Derek Collins?”
“Oh, good. You figured it out without me having to hold your hand and walk you to that epiphany. Quick question, though, if you weren’t keeping tabs on Derek, how did you know about the accident?”
“Eric Redman worked for Susan. How did you find out about that accident?”
He knew? Of course, he knew. I hated being right. After letting out a disappointed sigh, I shook my head. “That was always your problem, Liam. Yours and William’s.”
“What’s that?” Liam once again looked like someone had slapped him.
“You always assume you’re the smartest, most connected, most informed person in the room. I knew about the accident the day after it happened.”
“How?”
I stared at him, blinking back the few tears that stubbornly sprung to my eyes. “Your mother called me to let me know my husband died.”
A collective gasp echoed around the room. The sound startled me, as I’d temporarily forgotten we were in the Agosti foyer surrounded by nearly a dozen people.
There were three people who knew about the marriage.
It wasn’t legal by any means, but there was no way we could have filed the appropriate paperwork unless we wanted our cover blown.
It didn’t matter, though. To us, it was real.
Derek and I had a private wedding ceremony not long after settling into the safe house in Colorado, and it was one of the best days of my life.
Liam’s nose twitched as irritation filled his eyes. “You… You married Derek, after all.”
“I did.” I smiled widely. “After your failed attempt at ending my life, you went off and married the woman who pulled the trigger. Derek went on a three-year mission, searching high and low until he found me again. Being married to the love of my life was the best thing ever. But then, I was never the love of your life. She was. So, I guess we both got our happy endings, in a way. Well, except for the part where I’m still alive, and you willingly and knowingly broke a very dangerous contract. ”
His jaw tensed as he stared at me, emotions swirling in his eyes, panic being the most prevalent.
A smirk appeared on my face as I realized I had him exactly where I wanted him.
“Neither one of us wanted to marry each other, but then, neither of us wanted a mafia war to break out, either. You and I both spent weeks poring over it, trying to find a way out. When I refused to accept you fucking my sister after we announced our engagement, you and Susan decided I was the problem that needed to be removed. But that’s the thing about you and Susan.
You don’t have what it takes to finish the job. You’re both weak.”
Liam was practically vibrating with rage now.
Good.
I wasn’t done raking this man over the coals yet. “Also, I know how long and hard you looked for me and the exact date you stopped. Just because I was recovering and in hiding didn’t mean I wasn’t keeping tabs on you two.” I was exaggerating slightly on the details, but he didn’t need to know that.
At one point in my life, I would have pitied the pain in his eyes. Hell, I might have even tried to comfort him. Not anymore. He might as well be dead.
I was to him until today.
“So, I’m the enemy, then?”
I rolled my eyes. This man. “Yes, Liam. Attempted murder makes you the enemy. Marrying the woman who pulled the trigger on me and then letting her send her goons after me makes you the enemy. If it hadn’t been for Derek confirming what I already knew, she may have succeeded the second time.
If Derek hadn’t also given his life to keep my last location secret, she could have actually succeeded on the third try.
And if it hadn’t been for Edith, Lynette, Ryan, Peter, and Lukas, your very tenacious wife would have gotten me on her most recent try.
You know what the common theme is for all of this?
You were standing by her side through all of it.
Hell, you were the one who made some of those threats on me.
Do you know how much it hurt to hear you actively threatening Hummingbird? ”
Liam had the gall to look distraught. “I didn’t know you were Hummingbird. I thought it was one of mom’s little projects she’s so fond of.”
“Oh, bullshit.” I went to step forward, but Peter’s hand on my shoulder stopped me. “Let me go.”
“It’s not going to change anything, Adair.
He’s still going to be a pompous idiot, even after you kick his ass.
” Peter’s firm voice pushed through my rage and stopped me for a moment.
“If his own family threatening his life hasn’t changed his mind, you won’t, either.
He would have to actually care about something other than himself. He’s not worth your effort or time.”
“You don’t get to speak for her.”
William’s response, while in my defense, had me seething. I didn’t need him speaking up for me now. I didn’t want it.
“Oh, and you do?” I returned my attention to him.
“I loved you, you know.”
I scoffed, disgusted by his audacity. “Cut the shit, William. Love? Hardly. Obsessed? Now that I can potentially get behind.”
He went to take another step toward me but froze when I trained my gun on him. “You have to believe me when I tell you I never wanted you to get hurt. I was doing everything I could to keep you safe. I truly loved you, Bailey.”
I racked the gun and shook my head. “Yes, you did everything to keep me needing you, everything including handing over all my security codes to Fitz so he could distribute them to your goon squad, who broke into my house with the intention of killing me.” I sighed sarcastically.
“Nothing says love like attempted murder. You and Liam sure have that in common. It makes sense, though, seeing you two work together. Well, since you both seem to have a problem grasping the concept of how to take out a target, let me show you how it’s done. ”
I glanced at Lianne, who gave me a subtle nod, and then looked William square in the eyes as I squeezed the trigger, not even blinking when the shot went off.
Shock flickered across his face right before he dropped to the ground. The metallic ping of the bouncing brass casing hitting the tile floor was the only sound anyone heard for a moment.