The woman purses her lips, then shrugs. “What the heck, it’s Christmas. Come on, kid. Wanna tell me what happened here?”
“Oh, do I have a story for you,” Bella says, latching onto the super agent. “But first, you’re going to want to arrest Mrs. Morrison.”
Bella got to watch Mrs. Morrison be arrested—through her telescope of course—and of all the things that have happened in the last two days,thatmade her giggle like the child she is.
For the next solid hour, Bella tells her story. In great detail. Leaving nothing out. Not even the kissing in the closet, which she saw via the security system.
Soren meets my eye, a smile in his even as Liam stitches his shoulder with a rudimentary kit that’s making me gag to watch. Bella, however, is enthralled, watching the entire operation with alarming intensity.
My leg bounces impatiently while I wait for a moment alone with Soren to discuss things.
Liam finishes, and Soren slips his shirt back on, to my utter disappointment. I will definitely have to find a way to get him out of that soon. Water, slime, baking ingredients… the options are limitless.
“You said the painting was for two girls?” Bella asks Soren, but it’s Liam who answers.
He washes his hands and then holds out his phone to her. On the screen is a picture of two little girls with long dark hair, hugging each other. “This is Lila and Lexi.”
Bella takes the phone, studying the picture as if she can see more there than the rest of us. “I hope they get some Christmas presents too.”
“I think they will be very happy,” Liam says gently. “Thank you for being brave and saving their painting.”
The little girl blushes. “I’m going to be an FBI agent when I grow up. Or a surgeon.”
“You’ll be utterly marvelous in whichever path you choose.”
The grin on her face is so big it’s almost scary. I’ve never seen her smile like that. And after last night, I feared I’d never see her smile again.
After today, I surely won’t, because I won’t be allowed anywhere near her. My stomach clenches with dread of what's to come.
“Well, we better get out of here,” Liam says with a yawn, picking up the painting next to Soren's seat. “Looks like I no longer need to pay you sinceIcompleted this job.”
“Funny.” Soren crosses his arms across his chest with a half scowl. “I was thinking I needed extra compensation for my troubles.”
“Seems like you got your bonus in the closet,” Liam says with a wink in my direction. “I’ve wondered when someone would finally catch up with him.”
My cheeks burn, and I bite down on my bottom lip.
Soren chuckles. “Sorry for bothering you on Christmas.”
“No bother. I got to take the new chopper for a spin. Worth it.” Liam grins and snakes an arm around his wife. “And now I’m going to treat this lady to the best day in the city she has ever had.”
“I used to live here,” she retorts. “There’s nothing I haven’t seen.”
“Fine. I’ll let you show me around then.” He looks at her with the real-life expression of heart eyes and presses a kiss to her cheek.
Bella sighs beside me. “He’s beautiful.”
Liam suppresses a smile and walks over to the little girl, reaching for her hand. She eagerly gives it to him, and he presses a kiss to her knuckles. “And so are you, darling.”
Bella falls into me, and I catch her.
Liam heads back to his wife, but I hear Bella whisper, “I love you.”
She's got it bad. Poor girl.
Liam and Serena head toward the stairs, and I find my voice after hours of remaining mute. “Liam, wait. I have somet—”
“What happened here?” The voice booms through the penthouse.
