Page 46 of Liam

Tension leaked from the room, and everyone went about what they were doing, but Taamira continued to watch Jack until he hung up quickly. “Is everything okay?”

Jack looked at her, his face wearing an irritated expression that she had not seen on him before. “Yeah, Astrid is Zenobi and a huge pain in the ass. She called to prove she could get through our security.”

Lopez laughed. “She likes winding Jack up because she wants his trouser snake.”

Jack glared at Lopez. “Watch your mouth, Lopez.”

Lopez just laughed harder, but he did shut up. Jack and Liam then set about helping Lopez set up the computers to show the hallways, and the rooms either side.

“Mitch setting up the platform?” Liam asked.

Jack inclined his head from where he was typing furiously on the laptop. “He’s finding a spot for tomorrow night so he can give us overwatch.”

“This all seems a lot?” Taamira said as more of a question than a statement.

Liam moved towards her and dropped to his haunches, resting his hand on her knee. She ignored the shiver of awareness his touch gave her.

“It is a lot, but with your brother here, and knowing the last threat came from the Palace, we can’t take any chances.”

“I understand.” And she did, it was just a lot, almost too much for one person. Taamira kissed Liam lightly and stood. “I think I will go over my speech again.”

Liam smirked. “That speech is perfect. You’ve practised it a thousand times.”

“I know, but it is missing something essential.”

“Okay, treacle.”

Liam’s watch buzzed then, and at the same time, Jack’s phone rang. The two men looked at each other, then Lopez.

“It’s an amber alert from Mitch,” Lopez said looking at his watch as Jack answered the call, putting it on speakerphone so the other two men could hear.

Her heart leapt to her throat as she waited again, hating this constant state of low-level anxiety she found herself in.

“Talk to me, Mitch.”

“Just caught Scott Porter hanging around the service entrance to the kitchen. Where do you want me to take him?”

Taamira drew in a breath as she recognised the name of one of her original guards. Was he the one who had taken the picture of her working out? He had seemed the friendliest of the men, and that was sad. It seemed her instincts about people had let her down again.

“Take him to the guardhouse on the grounds. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Jack hit end on the call and immediately called someone else. “Zack, it’s me. I need you and Zin to meet Mitch at the guardhouse at the back of the hotel. He has one of Princess Taamira’s old guards there. Caught the fucker sneaking around.”

She did not hear the rest but guessed Zack agreed.

“I’m coming with you,” Liam said.

Jack nodded and turned to Lopez. “Do not leave this room. Nobody goes in or out unless it’s one of us.”

Liam moved towards her, the banging of her heart in her chest the only sign of fear. She did not want him to leave. She liked and trusted Lopez, but nobody made her feel safe like Liam did. Internally she pulled herself together and took a calming breath.

“I need to question him. Will you be okay with Lopez? I can stay if you prefer.”

That was her Liam, always putting her first. “No, go. I will be fine here with Lopez.”

“Are you sure?” He looked concerned his brows drawn into a frown.

“Go, find out what Scott is up to so that we can put this behind us.”

He nodded and leaned in to take her mouth in a kiss that had her toes curling as she leaned in close before he pulled away with a grin. “Later.”