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Pinging Rhys’ phone before the GPS was disabled put him near the private airport and there was only one place the Kolas crew was stupid enough to fly to in that personal little plane of theirs. They were nothing if not thorough and finding out about Hawk International meant that there was a chance Rhys was in France. I wasn’t sure what they thought they were going to accomplish but a little persuasion and we’d have another program back in my hands.
Maybe I could even convince Rhys to bring his ass back home and stop making rash decisions.
Something clicked and I immediately messaged a contact to dismiss my theory. If Rhys was in France, there was a slight possibility that Dad had run off to be with the one son whowasn’t part of the problem. It helped that we had a vacation home over there, a ‘safe’ place for them to disappear to.
Unfortunately, nothing turned up on my father’s passport which meant he hadn’t left the country. Him and Mom hadn’t used any credit cards or even passed through a toll. I had absolutely no idea where to start when it came to looking for them.
“Did you need anything else?” Ernest asked gruffly.
I forgot he was still on the phone. “I hope that’s code for you getting out of bed and doing some research. I’m serious. If Rhys gets a hold of Tia, I might never see her again.”
I treated Ernest like shit most days but he had to know how important Tia was to me. Hehadto.
“Pretty sure you use her like a bargaining chip so-”
“Finish that sentence, Ernest. She’s mydaughter. I swear to god, you better find Rhys before this shit goes any further. Do whatever you need to to bring him back before he makes a fool out of himself. Do not argue with me, Ernest. Not today.” Tired and frustrated, I chucked the phone and released my anger in a yell that echoed through the spacious living room.
No one could know that I was this vulnerable. If Tia fell into the wrong hands, they were about to have a bargaining chip I hadn’t planned for.
After all, I had just failed in acquiring the goddamn program and my boss wasn't going to be the only one trying to ensure that I successfully completed my task this go around.
Chapter three
LIAM
I hummed as I sliced another set of strawberries, grinning at my husband as he stood in the doorway. “Yes, Joey?”
“Any last-minute additions to the grocery list?” He held up his handwritten list and wiggled it, the sound of crinkling of paper rustling through the kitchen.
I shook my head as I closed the distance between us, angling the knife behind my back so that I didn’t accidentally nick him. His lips parted in anticipation as I slipped my other hand around the back of his neck, dragging him closer. Joey moaned into the kiss as I flitted my tongue across his bottom lip before slipping it into his mouth, tangling it with his. He leaned into the embrace, his hands fisted into my shirt at my waist.
“What was that for?” He whispered as I drew back. His eyes searched mine, Joey frowning as he failed to read my expression. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it? Is it Rhys? Is he okay?”
I bit back a scowl as he pestered me for answers, only the light squeeze of my fingers digging into his neck causing him to pause. “Rhys is fine,” I bit out. “Nothing’s wrong. We just need a few things for tonight and tomorrow and I thought you could run and pick them up while I finish the pie.” Joey looked like he was about to ask another question so I silenced him with a kiss, loving the way he melted against me.
Had I been a better man, I would let Joey go. I would tell him that he was too good for me and that the life I led would endanger him.
However, I wasn’t a good man and I never professed to be. Joey would be mine until the day I died but I would do my best to protect him from the hell I was destined to cast into.
Joey let out a little sigh before hopping down the two steps and heading to his beat-up blue Toyota Camry. It was several years old but my husband clung to it, saying that it held memories worth keeping. It was just one of many reasons I loved him, for how pure his heart was.
I watched him pull out of the driveway before shutting the door and returning to the strawberries. I knew Joey found this shopping trip odd but there was a reason for everything. The main one being that I wanted him as far away from this shit as possible. We might have both been lawyers but my work with Hawk International didn’t involve him. I wouldn’t let it.
Angry door slamming met my ears and I just shook my head, knowing who was behind the sounds but I waited patiently, continuing to put the pie together. It just needed the final crust and decoration. Maybe a dusting of cinnamon? Cinnamonandsugar.
A smile played on my lips as I grabbed the rest of the supplies I needed for my pie.
“What the fuck is going on?” Ada screamed as she stalked into my kitchen. Her hair was blown out around her shoulders,blood soaking into the front of her suit. I had never seen her so disheveled in my life, my lips quirking into a smile. This was going to be fun. Well,mostly.Her nose flared as she realized what I was doing, her gaze dropping down to the flattened dough I was readying for the top. “Are you making a fucking pie?”
“Glad you still have eyes, sis. Would you like to stay for dinner?” I kept my voice level, not wanting to share the rage currently flowing through me. One look at her and I remembered the disk that was ceremoniously dropped off a few hours ago. A disk that ended up being a piece of shit. I spared Chester his life, throwing a few extra bucks in for his trouble when I found that Owen was dead. I had no doubt Ada had killed that piece of trash, one less issue for me to worry about.
“Liam-”
“Ada,” I interrupted, not looking up again from my pastry. Everyone thought that Ada was the ruthless one and they’d be right. However, I was the unhinged one, the one that took a few risks. I acted first and asked questions later–there was no time for anything else. The one that everyone should have been terrified of was me–I enjoyed playing with people until I broke them. After perfectly laying the top across the pie, I cut off the scraps, dusted the top with cinnamon sugar, and then slid it into the oven. “Did you need something a call couldn’t have fixed?”
A growl tore from her throat and I couldn’t hide the smile at how easy it was to round her up. “Where’s my brother-in-law?” She asked, impatiently. I bit my tongue before I said something I regretted. She knew I didn’t want him involved with this shit.
“Went to the store before you happened.” I knew for a fact that she was going to show up and had Joey stayed any longer, they would have crossed paths. Thank the heavens for small miracles.
