Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
Bristol
I overhear Jaxson discussing with Dante that the mission is complete and everyone is heading back to the compound. Relief should flood through me, but Jaxson is tense, to say the least.
He ends the call, tilting his head up at the ceiling, grumbling rather loudly.
This is my cue to leave, but I’m a glutton for punishment. I knock on his open door and he gestures me inside.
“Anything you need from me?” I ask, hopeful that I can bail and see Liam. I’ve been worried about him this whole damn time. And knowing that I can’t text him because his phone was likely fried in the EMP sucks a million times worse.
He laughs under his breath. “I’d love a reset, but I don’t imagine you can do that.” His stare sends a shiver down my spine, and I force a smile.
“Sorry.”
“It’s—nothing.” He waves his hand dismissively.
It’s obviously not nothing. An EMP took down part of the city-grid of Las Vegas. It could have been a lot worse; the entire downtown area and Las Vegas Strip could have been affected.
“Do us both a favor: don’t mention what we did here today to anyone.” Jaxson’s intense stare makes me momentarily forget to breathe. “Can you do that?”
He’s waiting for affirmation.
I offer a faint nod. “Of course.”
“I mean it, Bristol. You can discuss it with Liam because he’s aware of the situation, but that’s it. No friends at school, no one outside of the little circle who saved Harper.”
“Don’t worry. It’s not like I have a bunch of friends.”
Jaxson watches me and seems satisfied with my answer. “Where are you off to?”
“I was hoping to see Liam. Any chance you know where they’re headed?”
His eyes widen and he shakes his head in dismay. “Yeah, Dante Ricci’s home. I have the address, but I’m not sure I should give it to you.”
I step farther into his office, tilting my head, confused. It’s not like I don’t know what just happened. I helped with Jaxson’s involvement.
Dante should consider me an ally, if not a friend.
“Why not?” I ask.
“He’s dangerous, but I suppose you’re old enough to make your own decisions,” he muses.
“That’s right. Can you get me that address?”
Jaxson isn’t thrilled with sending me to Dante’s, but it’s at my own insistence, not his orders, and he relents, handing over the address to me.
I rideshare my way to Dante’s, because there aren’t buses that go through Breckenridge, only in and out of town. Which leaves me to either walk, hitchhike, or rideshare. Asking Mom or Jaxson for a ride is not an option.
My mother would never agree to drop me off at Dante’s and, well, Jaxson was already less than pleased to give me the address. Almost like it was a betrayal to the mafia boss.
Don’t worry, Dante, I’m not showing up to rob you or take over your empire. I want nothing to do with your seedy business dealings.
When I arrive at the Ricci residence, there’s a wrought-iron gate. It’s not as though I can waltz up to the front door.
Shit.
I press the buzzer, hoping that Liam is already there so he can vouch for me and let me in.
“Can I help you?”
There’s not only an intercom but also a small camera that shows who is requesting entrance.
“Hi,” I say awkwardly. “I’m here to see Liam Moretti. He’s my boyfriend. I’m friends with Dante’s son, Luca and his wife, Harper.” I name drop as quickly as I can, hoping they won’t turn off the intercom and ignore me.
“What’s your name?”
“Bristol Greyson,” I croak and clear my throat.
There’s silence for several long seconds, and I glance at the house.
Another minute passes, and finally the gate buzzes. I take it as acceptance, and I hurry inside through the metal iron gates and along the driveway up to the front door.
There are several vehicles parked in front of the house on the driveway, including one police vehicle.
The front door opens widely and Liam steps out, an eyebrow raised, glancing me over. “Hey, Firebreather,” he teases and a rush of relief washes over me.
He’s alive.
He’s safe.
And he’s here.
I hurry toward him, and the minute I reach him, his arms are out, pulling me into his embrace, lifting me off my feet and spinning me around. His lips crush mine, his breath warm and fiery as he pulls me tighter, firmer.
If I wasn’t whirling in his arms, the world would be turning wildly. Somehow, the movement steadies me. Which makes no sense, but that’s our relationship—control and chaos, all at once.
“I’ve never been so happy to see you,” I whisper, my forehead pressed against his, drinking in his scent, his breath, even the smile on his face, all of it is mine.
“Likewise.” Liam chuckles and kisses me again; this time my feet are firmly planted on the ground, but he still holds me tight against his chest, steadying me.
“Everything okay?” I ask, glancing at the police cruiser parked outside.
“As good as it’s going to be. Harper is giving her written statement to the officer. They’re asking quite a few questions.” Liam glances back at the house, the front door shut behind him, offering us a veil of privacy.
I can’t help but wonder what she’s going to tell them. Will she mention the EMP or the help that Jaxson’s team provided? Any mention of it could get him put behind bars. All of us are accomplices, which weighs heavily on me.
It doesn’t help that I asked for Jaxson’s involvement.
I’m as much to blame.
Liam reaches out, his thumb brushing against my cheek, and it glides down to my lip that is tugged between my teeth. “Everything will be fine.” He pins me with his stare. “Do you trust me?”
“Always,” I whisper, staring up at him.
“Good girl.” His lips meet mine in another searing kiss, and I melt into his touch, his breath, his warm, strong arms wrapping around me. “What do you say we get out of here?”
“Can we go home?” I ask, stealing another kiss as my fingers intertwine on his lower back, keeping him against me. His heat, his body, having him so close right now makes me feel safe. Makes me feel like everything is finally all right.
Liam raises an eyebrow at me. “Your house or mine?”
“Your house is mine.” I grin wickedly up at him. “At least until I start next semester and move into the dorms.”
“Promise me you’ll get a single.” He leans in closer, dropping the softest and lightest of kisses over my eyes, nose, cheeks. He’s taking forever to actually kiss my lips, but I don’t entirely hate it.
The teasing is making my body tingle all over.
“Why? Worried we’ll get interrupted at your place?” I steal a kiss from him, and he chuckles and grabs a fistful of my hair, bringing my lips back up to him.
“More concerned with everyone hearing you scream my name when you come,” he whispers and covers my mouth with his.
The feel of his fingers in my hair, keeping me against him, his firm grip excites something deep within me. My heart quickens and my hand grips his forearm, steadying myself.
“You okay, Firebreather?” he asks, pulling back slightly and tilting his head, studying my features.
My cheeks flush, but it’s entirely his doing. His fingers loosen their grip, his hand caressing my scalp, my neck, and I inadvertently lean into his touch.
“You like that,” he says with a smile, realizing what he’s doing and seemingly proud of the response. His lips lean toward my ear, his breath a mere whisper that excites me. “You’re flushed, all because of me.”
He’s right, and as much as I’d hate to give him the satisfaction, I also don’t want him to stop. “Think we can find somewhere quiet?” I ask, and he chuckles.
“No, Firebreather. Not until we get home. Making you wait is hot.” He kisses my nose and opens the front door.
I’m absolutely breathless, staring at him, watching him stalk inside like we weren’t just making out, and he didn’t just rev up my engine.
The cool air outside isn’t enough to calm me down.
Liam glances behind himself when I don’t follow and he grabs my hand, laughing as he pulls me inside the Ricci home.
My breath catches in my throat, my nerves entirely alive, and it feels like wild electricity, sparking and sizzling just beneath my fingertips, like right before you shock someone from a simple touch.
“Come on,” Liam says, seemingly without a care in the world.
How does he do it? Feel so unburdened after everything that just happened?
I want to ask him about what happened, see how he’s doing, but knowing there’s a police officer nearby, I don’t want to do anything that might interfere with Harper’s story.
Because I have no idea what she’s telling the officer in her statement.
There’s no way to know how much is true and how much are kernels of the truth.
He drags me through the house; it’s massive in size and I’ve stepped foot in some pretty fancy digs since I grew up around professional hockey players. The place reeks of royalty.
Liam pulls Luca aside while Harper is still going over what happened. “We’re heading back,” he says, nodding toward me.
“We should be done soon if you want to ride back with us.”
Liam glances back at me, and I nod in agreement, “Sure, that’s fine.”
I’m okay with waiting, as long as I’m with Liam. I wouldn’t want to wander into anything sinister or untoward, but I can’t imagine anything bad is happening under Dante’s roof while the police interview Harper.
Luca leads us into a small library. “You guys can wait here. As soon as we’re done, we’ll let you know.”
“Okay. Thanks,” I say and peruse the titles on the shelves.
“Anything interesting?” Liam asks, coming up from behind, his arms encircling my waist, and his breath teases my neck, pushing my hair to one side.
I slink back into his embrace, the titles blurring together, making it difficult to read as he steals away my attention.
“Tell me what you did while we were away,” Liam whispers into my ear, his teeth tugging the lobe.
My body instantly freezes, the tension roiling over me, and I’m not sure if he senses it, but his hold on me tightens.
“I went to Jaxson for help,” I whisper, glad that I’m facing away from him right now.
His breath hovers, his lips no longer teasing me as he pulls back. When I don’t spin around to face him, I hear the heat of his words at my back. “Turn around, Bristol.”
I don’t want to.
Facing him, knowing of my betrayal will hurt a thousand times worse, even if I did it to help him.
“Turn. Around.” His voice is laced with anger, and his hold on me loosens to nothing as he pulls away from my touch.
That hurts worse than anything else.
I shut my eyes and turn around, facing him but not having to look at him. It’s childish, but I don’t care. I refuse to see the anger because while I know I shouldn’t have gone to Jaxson, I also would do it all over again if it meant helping my friends.
“Look at me,” Liam growls. His touch startles me as he caresses my cheek, his touch featherlight, gentle, not at all in tune with his voice and tone.
My eyelids flutter open, staring up into his pale blue eyes.
His lips are on mine before I realize what’s happening, his fingers tangling in my long, dark locks, pulling me closer, tighter against him.
He drinks me in like it might be the last time we’re together, and I pull him tighter, crushing his body against mine. My fingers tangle in the nape of his neck, playing with his golden hair, my fingernails trailing over his skin, gripping him to me.
Liam walks me backward against the bookshelf, and I gasp when I feel his hard-on poking me through his pants. His tongue is in my mouth, his breath stealing mine away, and my fingers grip his arms, my body at a moment’s notice ready to betray me.
Perhaps he senses it, or maybe he feels me trembling, because he lifts me and I wrap my legs around his waist and my arms around his neck. He pins me against the stack of books, and the room swelters as his mouth moves from my lips to my neck.
Heat floods all of my senses, my hips grinding against him as my pussy flutters along with my heart.
A throaty laugh emits from the opposite side of the room. I bury my face in Liam’s neck as he gently places my feet back down on the ground, leaning me against the bookshelf to steady me.
He doesn’t turn around. He doesn’t have to, to know that we’ve been caught.
Liam’s twin, Sophia, caught us making out in the library.
And ever since, she’s been giving me a look, a silent warning, but why?
Luca drives and Harper sits up front with him. Liam and I take the backseat, with Zeke crammed between us in his car seat.
There is a third row of seats, and Sophia is in the back behind us. She can stare at me all she wants. The only thing she’s going to see is the back of my head.
Liam shifts to give his attention to both me and his sister.
“Still enjoying your first week on the job?” Liam chuckles with a wry grin, raising an eyebrow, waiting for Sophia to answer.
“I’d enjoy it better if I didn’t have to walk in on my brother fucking—”
“Language!” Harper snaps from the front seat.
“Sorry,” Sophia apologizes, “canoodling with one of my friends.”
“Would you rather I shag a stranger?” Liam asks, laughing at the absurdity of her statement, and I shoot him a warning glance.
“You do that and you’re a dead man,” I say. The mere thought of him putting his hands on another woman makes my stomach turn.
Liam reaches over the car seat, and I offer him my hand. “Believe me when I say, I can’t handle more than one woman at a time.”
I glare at Liam, unsure that it’s a worthy apology.
Luca snorts from the front seat. “Nice save.”