Liam enteredthe facility to see Leo staring into his cup of coffee at the kitchen table.
“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked.
“Pull up a chair,” Leo said. “Taco gossiped like an old woman when he returned with Saint. Do you have googly eyes for Addyson Parker?”
“I don’t think I’d phrase it as it sounds, but I like her,” he admitted, appreciating Leo’s directness.
Leo nodded. “She’s a very nice woman, and Kassie and Catherine have nothing but good things to say about her.”
Waiting for the but in the statement, Liam kept quiet.
“Since you’re new, let me explain this to you in the only way I can without your head spinning. Kassie’s godparents are Joe and Maddie. They’re very nice folks and play the role of grandparents to Kassie and Doc’s children. Then you have Victoria and Ivan, who run the Irish and Russian mafia families.” Leo held his hand up. “Before you think I’ve slipped a little too much whiskey in my coffee, I assure you I have not. If you hurt anyone on this mountain, Victoria considers family, AKA anyone Kassie cares about, she’ll cut your balls into tiny little pieces, and Ivan will take them to Siberia to freeze the living shit out ofthem all because of his devotion to his wife. Addyson has kept to herself despite the fact, the Serenity women have tried to engage her. Don’t worry, they’re still plotting and planning. In the meantime, I must warn you if you have a little nurse/patient fantasy thing going on, you stifle your shit right now and call it a day. I can’t afford to lose you now. You have skills we need.”
Liam sat there stunned. “And you worried about my background check?”
“Trust me, the more you get to know them, you’ll know they’ll do whatever it takes for this family. And I don’t mean only Kassie’s,” Leo informed him. “What do you have in the box?”
“Ty’s apple crumble cobbler. Do you want some? I’m still stuffed from dinner,” he said, rising and fetching two bowls.
“I’ll take a bite,” Leo said. “It’s not like I’ll be sleeping much anyway.”
“Do you mind if I ask why you’re here instead of home? Didn’t you work today?” he asked, scooping the dessert into the bowls and sliding it over.
Leo sighed. “I figured you knew. My wife, Kit Kat, is pregnant again.”
“Oh, Congratulations,” Liam said before taking a bite of cobbler.
“Thanks. Unfortunately, my neglect in keeping an appointment to ensure I was neutered greatly upset my wife when she discovered her pregnancy. We’re having a failure-to-communicate moment, and she’s a redhead. Therefore, I’m sleeping here until she hopefully cools down,” Leo admitted. “It’s my fault, and I seem to bungle every effort to make this right.”
“And you still have your balls? Or did she have them shipped to Siberia?” he joked. “I’m sorry you’re in a tough situation.”
Leo eyed him speculatively. “I knew you’d fit right in here. Already an asshole, like the rest of the Team Hawk crew. They’vealready corrupted Sparky and Stormy. I hoped you might balance them out and I’d have one decent guy in the bunch.”
“You have an incredible group of assholes, and you know it,” Liam said, shaking his head and taking another bite. When his phone rang, he felt surprised to see Addy’s name appear.
“Hello, Addy,” Liam greeted her. Leo smiled and rose, giving him a thumbs up.
“Hi, Paul. A friend of yours came to visit me. He says you have one hour to come to my house with the drugs or he’ll hurt Zeus and me,” she said, her voice trembling.
Liam snapped his fingers to capture Leo’s attention and put her on speakerphone.
“Do you know my friend’s name?” he asked.
“Paul wants to know your name. You didn’t give it to me,” she explained calmly.
They heard a man’s voice in the background. “Tell him it’s Benny and I want it here within the hour,” the man roared.
“It’s Benny. He said to hurry,” she repeated.
“Listen to me, Addy. I’m on my way. Can you tell me if he’s the only one? Does he have a weapon?” Liam asked as Leo jumped into action, contacting the team.
“I told Benny you didn’t leave anything here with me. He doesn’t believe me and cut all my furniture. He wants you to bring the drugs before he shoots up the place,” she demanded, yet he heard the fear behind her words.
“We’re coming, Addy. Hang in there, you’re doing great,” he said as he climbed into Leo’s truck and raced down the mountain.
“Tell him, I’m picking up the drugs and I’ll be there soon.” They listened as Addy told Benny.
“Good job. I’m almost there. Do you know if Benny brought any friends?” he asked.
