45. Liam
The past few weeks have been a blur of missions, spending time with Emily, and barking orders at the other men. Declan and Paige are set to return sometime next week, and he wants to throw an engagement party for Paige.
So, now we’re working to make sure all the preparations are set for that. Declan wants it to be a surprise, so we’ve been ordered to keep it from both Emily and Sarah.
Clearly, Declan overestimates my and Rhys’s will to keep secrets from them. Even something that is supposed to be a surprise.
Sarah is already suspicious. She’s like a damn bloodhound. She figured something was up before we even started to prep. Emily also knows something is going on but she doesn’t seem inclined to figured it out.
I walk up to Rhys who stands outside by one of the SUVs.
“Where you headed?” I ask, slapping him on the back in greeting.
“I gotta check out the newest shipment from Ireland at the docks. Wanna come?”
“I need to head to Manhattan for a second to head lead the unloading of the shipment that was hauled there this morning.”
He nods. “Oh right.” He slaps my back and moves to open the driver-side door of the SUV. “I’ll see you when I get back, yeah?”
“Aye.” I agree.
He climbs in and closes the door. I watch as he drives down the driveway and out of sight.
I spin on my heel and walk up the steps to head inside and find Emily.
Emily sits at her window, watching the men do what they were assigned. She’s wrapped in a fluffy blue blanket.
Sensing my presence, she peeks over her shoulder. Offering me a warm smile, she turns all the way around.
“Hi,” she whispers.
I grin and walk over to her. She tips her head up and meets my lips without hesitation.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, pulling away.
She shrugs. “I’ll be okay.”
My hand cups the side of her face and she leans into my touch, eyes fluttering closed.
“Anything you need or want to talk about?” my thumb gently caresses her soft skin.
Her turquoise blue eyes open and meet mine. For a moment I get lost in them. Each day, they seem to brighten more and more. It brings a sort of peace in my heart that I’ve missed.
“Just be with me?” she says, standing.
I wrap my arms around her and she circles hers around my middle. I set my head atop her head and breathe her scent in.
I smile when the scent of wildflowers and berries flows through my nose.
Feck, I’ve missed this smell.
“Are you smelling me?” She asks, voice full of humor.
“Aye,” I say, taking another deep breath.
She chuckles and pulls away. “Why?”
I kiss her forehead, refusing to release her from my arms. “You smell like wildflowers and berries. It’s a smell that I will never tire of. It’s a smell that soothes my soul in ways I can’t explain.”
She hums and smiles up at me.
“I need to go to Manhattan. I’ll be gone for a few hours. Will you be alright?” My eyes roam over her face, studying every beautiful freckle.
“I think so. I want to hang out in the garden again today.”
My heart expands every time she says she wants to go out in the garden. I’m getting my Emily back.
I plant a kiss on her cheek. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, okay?”
She nods, stroking my jaw with her fingers.
“Be careful.” She whispers and then stands on her toes and kisses my lips.
I step away and exit the room.
Me and a couple of other men pull up to our Manhattan warehouse. It’s in the heart of one of the lower industrial areas so it’s easy to keep our dealings discreet.
“Liam, how goes it?” James, the one overseeing the operations while we’re gone, asks.
“Grand. How goes it here?” I ask, taking his offered hand in mine and shaking it.
“The weapons we received this morning all appear great. No damages were noted, and the ammunition is all accounted for.”
I nod as we make our way inside.
“Good. We have an MC in Arizona that needs a shipment in the next two weeks or so.” I scan the warehouse. Boxes are loaded and unloaded in different vans and trucks.
“Right. Right. I’ll have everything ready to go in a few days.”
I bring my attention back to him. He’s a stout man with a bald head. He smells of cigarettes and gunpowder.
“Show me the books,” I say, turning on my heel and striding toward the office at the back of the building.
James’s strides are quick as he tries to keep up with mine. I’m not as tall as Declan or Rhys but he still has to make an effort to match my steps.
“Payments to Cormac were made for the next two months. The men have received their payments for the month, and we are stocked on all shipping supplies.” He says, huffing and puffing.
I step into the office and round the desk, taking a seat. James pulls the folders that hold our documents – we don’t want to risk the Feds or rivals hacking into our system, so we document with pen and paper.
For the next few hours, James and I go over the books. It’s tedious but it’s safer than getting caught. Everything is stored in a fireproof safe that only Declan, Rhys, James, and I know the code to.
Once we finish going through everything, we exit the office and I assess the weapons and ammunition. We have a small, private shooting range in the warehouse where I personally test the weapons.
After ensuring the gun isn’t loaded and flicking the safety on, I set the rifle down on the table in front of me.
“Excellent.” I nod in approval.
James steps next to me and picks up the weapon, handing it off the one of the men who accompanied me. He leaves the room to clean it and load it into one of the many boxes we have here.
I slap James on the back, and he tenses. Despite working with us and being around us regularly, Declan, Rhys, and I make him uneasy.
“I’ll be back in a few days to check on everything. Good job, James.”
He nods quickly. “Thank you, sir. I’ll see you then.”
I leave and make my way toward the SUV. Climbing in, I order the driver to take me back to the estate and return for the other two men who will be staying here.
I need my woman.