Chapter Forty-Four #2
Quickies with Maddie are better than a breakfast buffet. Knowing she wants me as much as I want her has me wishing I could stay home from work today. I’m half-tempted to roll in the sheets with her all morning, but her second alarm goes off, bringing us back to reality.
She lets out a huff before standing and grabbing her phone for the second time. “I guess I’ll go to class.”
I stand and pull her into my arms, grinning at her pouty face. “Only four more months until graduation and summer.”
“It can’t get here fast enough. Look how pale I am!” Maddie shows off her arms, and I grab her wrist and kiss it.
“You’re starting to look like a vampire,” I tease. “Do you feel like sucking…”
She playfully swats at me. “You’re terrible.”
“You created a monster,” I counter.
“You were already a monster,” she says with a laugh, walking to the closet and pulling out an oversized hoodie and jeans.
I get dressed as well, actually excited to be on a job, searching for a fugitive and feeling normal again.
It’s been too long, and while I’m rusty, I’m sure once I’m in the swing of things again, working will be like second nature.
Honestly, I’ve missed my life. I’ve missed how easygoing things were before I met the O’Learys and got caught up in a horrible situation.
I’d much rather have the adrenaline rush from stakeouts than playing poker. That part of me is dead for good.
Maddie and I walk hand in hand into the kitchen where there’s a box of a dozen donuts sitting on the counter with a note from Mason.
Sophie made me get you two lovebirds donuts. Apparently, I owe you one for breaking the shower. Don’t ask. The plumber is coming later today.
Maddie snorts and shoves a donut in her face while she shakes her head. “Probably having rough sex again. Thankfully, I don’t need to shower this morning. Geez,” she says around a mouthful, snagging another one.
“You’re probably right, but as long as donuts are involved, I kinda don’t care.” I shrug, snatching one and eating it in two large bites.
Maddie pulls a to-go cup from the cabinet and boils some water for tea. “You know what next week is, don’t you?”
“Nope,” I tease.
Her face falls as she grabs the milk from the fridge. “Seriously?”
“No idea.” I take another donut, knowing I could probably finish the rest of them on my own.
“Liam!” Maddie sticks out her bottom lip, and I go to her, laughing at her pathetic lip tremble.
I plant quick kisses on her cheek until I find her mouth. “Babe, of course, I know what it is. Your birthday. Number twenty-two.”
“You better have something awesome planned.” She taps her pointer finger into my chest with a smirk.
“I thought I’d just dick you down all night,” I quip.
Maddie rolls her eyes, but I don’t miss the smirk painted on her face.
“You were gonna do that anyway.”
She drops a tea bag in her cup to seep before glancing over her shoulder and biting her lip. That fucking taunts me, and if we both didn’t have to leave in a few minutes, I’d be bending her over the kitchen island.
“Don’t worry, it’ll blow your panties right off. Guaranteed.”
“Guess that means I better be wearing some?” She waggles her brows.
This time, I really am two seconds from throwing her over my shoulder caveman-style and returning to her bed. She has that look in her eye, the one that says she wants me right now.
I glance at the clock on the stove and groan, knowing I can’t. “Damn. There’s never enough time in the day to spend with you.”
Maddie steps toward me, closing the space between us, then wraps her arms around my neck, pulling my lips to hers. “We have forever, Liam.”
Lifting her chin, I brush my mouth against hers again and growl. “Forever isn’t enough. I want an eternity.”
She flashes me a bright smile, and reluctantly, we break apart and finish getting ready, then go our separate ways.
For the next eight hours, I stake outside of an empty warehouse on the other side of town waiting for a guy to deliver stolen vehicles. He’s been arrested and bailed out a handful of times but decided last month to skip his court date. All day, I wait and never run into the guy or really anyone.
By the time I make it home, I’m frustrated, but this sometimes happens when the people I’m tracking know they have a warrant out for their arrest. As soon as I grab a beer and sit on the couch, Maddie comes bolting through the door. She’s a golden ray of sunshine, and I perk up when I see her.
With a plop, she kicks off her shoes, tuckers her legs under her body and leans against me. “Missed you. How was work?”
“Sucked.” I shrug. “Tomorrow will be better, though. How was school?”
“I should’ve stayed home and fucked you all day,” she tells me, throwing her head back with a laugh.
“Seriously, though. Nothing monumental about it. We’ve started preparing for our senior recital, and I’m not as in it as I thought I would be.
Maybe after a few weeks when I have the choreography memorized. ”
Just as I’m about to respond, my phone vibrates in my pocket. It’s an unknown number, but I answer it anyway.
“Liam.” Tyler’s distraught.
“Hey man, what’s up?” The line is silent for a few seconds.
I’m about to ask why he’s calling me from a different number when Tyler lets out a ragged breath. “I got arrested. I’m in jail and completely fucked.”
My body goes into full alert, and Maddie notices my demeanor change. She stares at me, searching my face.
I put my phone on speaker. “What did they arrest you on?”
Maddie’s eyes widen. “What happened?”
“Victoria set me up. Loaded the bed of my truck with pounds of drugs, guns with the serial numbers scratched off, and bricks of money. It looks like I was hauling this shit across the US. They booked me for possession with intent to distribute and sell.”
“Fuck,” I bark out loudly, running my fingers through my hair.
“I thought this was over. She fucking promised she would stop and leave the people I love alone. She just unleashed the door to hell.” I’m seething, already planning what I’m going to say to her when I track her down and choke her.
I still have all those photos of her and Mickey, and even if she’s not afraid of what her dad will do, I imagine the DeFranco family won’t be as forgiving, especially after JJ’s stunt.
“Did she know Tyler was your friend?” Maddie asks me. “Or that he was the mole in getting me out?”
“She saw me at the fight with you, so she knows,” Tyler says. “Wouldn’t have taken her long to put everything together, especially with the people in her circle. Eric probably told her what I did too. She had more than one reason to get back at me,” he explains.
“Goddammit,” I hiss, balling my hands into fists. My heart races, and I’m seconds away from planning a full-on rage-revenge.
“I shouldn’t be as shocked as I am, but she went to the extreme, making sure I’ll be fighting like hell to prove I didn’t do it.”
“When do you see the judge? I can get you bailed out once it’s set. Are you in Vegas?” My legs shake anxiously, ready to go wherever he is, even if that means returning to a city I swore I’d never visit again.
“No, I’m in Sacramento. I was gonna surprise you and Maddie and was only fifteen minutes from your house.”
“I’ll figure out a way to get you bailed out at least until the court date,” I tell him confidently. There’s no way I’m letting him stay there.
Tyler blows out a frustrated breath. “It’s gonna be a lot.”
“I don’t care,” I tell him. “It’s your first offense. You’re a vet. You don’t have a record. I’ll call my lawyer friend, Serena, and see what she can do.”
“Well, unless she’s a miracle worker, I’m not holding my breath. The officer who put me in cuffs was a total dick. Before putting me in the back of his unmarked car, he whispered in my ear and said I should’ve never betrayed Victoria. Then he winked and pushed my ass inside.”
“Who the fuck was the officer?” I ask, my adrenaline spiraling out of control.
“I’m pretty sure his tag said Officer Ferguson. Now I’m convinced she has everyone on her goddamn payroll.”
“Blake. That motherfucking bastard.” Then I glance over at Maddie. “Told you he was bad news.”
Maddie tenses and shakes her head, frowning.
“Serena will know what to do. I’ll have her come down and be your counsel. At least that way, you have someone on your side,” I tell him, feeling helpless but wanting to save him the same way he saved Maddie and me.
“Even if I get out on bail or manage to somehow prove my innocence, she’ll come after me again, Liam.
I wouldn't doubt it if she planted shit at my house too. She’s like a black widow and will seek her revenge one way or another.
I have to play by her rules, and this is what she wants—to humiliate me and send my ass to prison.
I’m convinced it’s the only way out of this.
It’s the only way she’ll leave everyone alone. ”
“I’m not letting you rot in there without a fight,” I tell him.
“I appreciate that, man, but I’m afraid my destiny’s been set.” He sounds so damn defeated, and my guilt starts to weigh heavily on me.
“I’m sorry, Tyler. I’m so damn sorry.” All I can do is apologize as the reality of it all sinks in.
“Don’t apologize. I planned it, remember? I chose to go undercover, knowing the risks. It was worth it, Liam. I have no regrets and would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“I love you, man,” I tell him. “I’ll get Serena down there as soon as I can, okay?”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.” Without allowing me to say another word, Tyler ends the call, and I’m left standing there in shock. I turn to look at Maddie whose eyes are glassy with tears.
“I can’t believe this,” she says, wiping her cheeks.
“I don’t care that she’s about to pop out two babies, I’m tempted to fly my ass out there and give her a reminder of what I’m capable of,” I mutter.
“What would that solve?” she counters, crossing her arms. “That’d give her another reason to come after us again.”
“Maybe.” I shrug. “Maybe not.” Pulling out my phone, I scroll to Serena’s number. “I’m gonna call Serena and beg her to help. Pay her triple if I have to.”
Maddie frowns. “I hope he’ll be okay.”
“He’s one of the strongest people I know. If anyone can make it through this, Tyler can.”