Page 19 of Liam

“Whore. You are a traitor to your country,” the man spat at Taamira as Liam lifted her from the ground, his body between her and the man.

Mitch shook him. “Shut your fucking mouth before I do it for you.”

The man glared at Mitch but did as he was told, seeming to sense it wasn’t a threat but a promise.

“Get him out of here and secured.”

Waggs nodded at Taamira. “You good?”

“Yes,” Liam grunted and ushered Taamira into the elevator.

He was silent as Taamira tucked in closer to his body, hers pressed down his side as he held his arm around her shoulder. Her body quaked as adrenalin left her and shock and fear took over.

Anger roared through him, and he had the urge to hit something hard, and once he had the Princess secure and knew she was okay, he knew just who it would be.

Liam got Taamira to the suite and after checking the room was clear, he led her to the bar where he poured her some water, wishing he could give her something more substantial but knowing she didn’t drink alcohol.

She took the glass with a tremor in her hand, and he cupped it with his as she drank the cool liquid.

“That man wanted to hurt me.”

He took the glass from her and looked into her huge brown eyes that were filled with fear and lost his distance. With one hand, he pulled her into his arms, holding her close, stroking her back as she buried her head in his neck, holding on tight to the back of his shirt.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, treacle.” It was a vow he would keep.

CHAPTER NINE

WHEN LIAM HAD PUT IN THE CALL TO J ACK EARLIER, HE’ D BEEN SURPRISED THAT HIS BOSS HAD BEEN SO willing to send his second in command to support them. They were fighting their own personal war on home soil against an unknown enemy, but Jack had a soft spot for the Princess. Now Alex was here and watching Taamira in the suite where she was resting after taking a sleeping pill.

He’d been proud of the way she’d pulled herself together so quickly, but also thankful. His fury at the attempt on her life was simmering, growing worse with every shiver that ran through her as his arms tightened around her. Her control and calm had soothed the beast that was roaring to be released to do serious damage to the attacker.

Liam had stayed with her until Alex got there to watch her, then he’d driven to this tiny house on the outskirts of the city, away from any form of civility. He knew the people on the streets weren’t the type to call the police if they heard a scream. For his current purpose that suited him just perfectly.

Unlatching the back door, he found Mitch waiting for him, a gun resting in his hand at his side. Relaxed but ready should anyone they hadn’t been expecting arrive. Liam lifted his chin in greeting, and Mitch lifted his head to indicate Liam should follow him. Twisting, he secured the lock and headed down the steps to the cellar in the tatty building.

Mitch threw him a balaclava which he donned as Mitch donned his own. While the man may realise the men questioning him were the same ones who had guarded the Princess, the uncertainty would add to the fear.

His jaw tightened, and anger flexed inside him at the sight of the man who had tried to attack the Princess—his Princess. He remained silent as he watched the man who was tied to the wooden chair with rope track his almost silent movements with his ears. His eyes were covered, his mouth gagged. The lack of senses was a common interrogation tactic and leaving him in silence and alone to wait was clearly getting to this man if the sweat running down his face was any indication.

Mitch had snapped a picture and sent it to Lopez, who was running his face through recognition software, seeing if they got any hits. Until they did, Liam would use his own techniques to get information taught to him by the best of the best.

Waggs was leaning on the opposite side of the room, the camera they’d been monitoring the man with catching every twitch he made. Stepping closer, he could smell the man’s stale sweat, see the grease in his dark hair. Liam leaned in slowly towards the man’s ear, and the stranger tensed, his back snapping straighter as he recognised someone was there, but he had no clue how close Liam was.

“What is your name?” he bellowed and almost smiled at the way the man jumped.

The man remained silent, and Liam quirked a brow at Waggs, who grinned. Liam walked behind the man and watched as he turned his head to try and track the threat his hindbrain recognised.

“Who do you work for?” Liam pulled the fabric bag from the man’s head and removed his gag as Waggs directed the light directly into his eyes.

He blinked widely, the pockmarks on his face partially covered by the dark hair of his beard. The man had a similar skin tone to Taamira, and Liam had his suspicions on who this man worked for but had been taught not to jump to conclusions.

Liam brought the large K-Bar from the sheath at his back and toyed with it as he circled the man. “Don’t make me ask again, motherfucker?” Liam growled.

“Long live the King.”

The words had barely left the man’s lips before Liam had the chair tipped on its back with the man still sitting in it, the blade of his knife pressed to his throat.

“Fucking name.”