Chapter 13 #2
She nods. “But he’s not the sort of bad news you necessarily need to avoid. Do you know what I mean? Some guys, they’re black holes. They suck everyone in and crush them. But Liam’s not that way.”
I hold my mug in both hands, not sure what to make of this. “How do you know him so well?”
“He did some work for my boss a while back. Yeah, I know, everyone’s shady in this town, right?
But he scared some guys off that were bugging my boss about some debt he owed.
Saved the diner. Risked himself to do it too and never asked for anything extra.
He was always polite when he was around.
And then he kept coming back and I guess he became a regular.
I never forgot the way he handled himself though.
Very professional. Anyway, if he shows up, I’ll send him over. Figured you’d want to know that.”
She drifts off and I’m left alone. The envelope at my elbow feels like a ticking bomb. What am I supposed to do with all this? My future husband is a thug, but he’s very polite and professional, so that’s fine. He was covered in blood the other night, but that’s not weird at all.
Now Max Baranov is paying me visits.
All thanks to Kieren and his stupid dick.
Did he steal from us before he fucked Vera or after?
Not that it matters.
I sit and drink coffee for a few hours. The dinner rush comes and goes. Darkness falls on New York and I should get home before Mom notices I’ve been out all night again. I’m not even sure why I’m here.
This is exactly what Max warned me against.
But what else am I supposed to do?
I’m about to give up when Liam sits down heavily across from me. He looks up gratefully when Hal fills his mug. “I’m off for the night. You two be good.” She gives him a meaningful glare and pats my shoulder.
When she’s gone, Liam turns to me. “She likes you.”
“She called you, didn’t she?”
“Not exactly. Got word to me though. How long have you been here?”
“Since I got out of work.”
“Jesus, Regan. You could call me next time. I get texting too, believe it or not.”
“I know. I know. I just—“ I drop my eyes to the envelope before nudging it toward him. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this.”
He considers it, head cocked. “What’s this?”
“I had a visitor earlier today. Max Baranov.”
His chin snaps up. His eyes meet mine, sharp and serious. “Are you sure? Max Baranov? Where were you? What did he say? Did he fucking touch you?”
“No, no, he just talked to me and gave me that envelope.” I’m surprised by the sudden intensity of his anger. I didn’t expect that at all.
“Max is fucking dangerous, Regan. I’m serious, if you ever see him again, you get up and you run. I don’t care if it seems wild. You see him, you run, do you understand?”
I bite my thumb hard to keep myself from whimpering. Terror strikes me like an icepick between my eyes. “It’s fine. I’m fine. Nothing happened.”
“Jesus fuck. Max Baranov.” Liam turns the envelope toward him. “What did that psychopath want?”
“He told me to give that to my dad. And he told me not to go to the Whelans with it.”
Liam’s frown deepens. “You know he meant me, right?”
“I had a feeling.”
“Shit.”
“I think… I’m pretty sure… that’s what Kieren stole.”
He holds my eyes and says nothing. I wish I could read what he’s thinking right now.
My heart hammers and I don’t know where I stand with this man, my future husband, a total stranger I slept with twice in a fit of near-insanity, the exact kind of man I grew up all my life staying far away from, and now it feels like my life’s in his hands. Or maybe the life of my family.
Then he tucks the documents under his arm. “I’ll hold on to these.”
“What are you going to do with them?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Shouldn’t your boss see it?”
“He will.” He weighs something in his head. “But if I do that and Finn reacts the way I think he’s going to react, our Russian friends will be very unhappy with you.”
I shiver and look down at the table, thinking about that cold, creepy asshole Max. “Pretty sure that doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
He puts the folder down and reaches across the table. It’s fast and firm. He grabs my wrist hard, tugging me forward, the table edge pressing into my midsection. My mouth opens in surprise and my heart staggers as he meets me halfway, his mouth crushing into mine.
I’m too surprised to pull away. His lips taste exactly like I remember. I stay there, edge painfully jutting into my ribs, his fingers digging into my wrist bones, his tongue in my mouth, and I’m thinking, I don’t want this to stop, and that’s terrifying. That’s worse than not wanting it at all.
It’s over too soon. He releases me and sweeps from the table, the folder shoved under his arm. I watch him go, dazed, not sure what the hell happened.
What am I doing, risking everything on a man like Liam?
I don’t know the guy. He could easily sell me out and destroy my father, all to further some agenda I don’t even know about.
But for some reason, a nagging part of me trusts him. Maybe it’s his unflinching honesty.
Maybe it’s the way he kisses me.
Can’t change anything now.