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“I’ll be fine with whatever she’s comfortable with.”
When I look back, I see Grant’s pointing to something in the distance. His face is relaxed for the first time in days, and his body is angled toward Liv. It’s about time that he starts opening up to her.
The flight is only about an hour. I tune into the same channel as everyone else after chatting with Jared for a while. He’s a vet who’s been with me since I started my organization after my honorable discharge. That’s the reason I trust him with seeing Liv; I know he would never sell her out. Unfortunately, I can’t say that with any certainty for some of my employees.
Nolan is holding Liv’s hand, and her head is on his shoulder. They always had the most effortless connection among the five of us. He often felt like the black sheep, being a scholarship student when the rest of us came from wealthy families. But then she came along, with her completely apathetic attitude about money and her desire to follow in her parents’ footsteps. Maybe not as a doctor but to lead a humanitarian life.
That desire probably led her to believe in Tripp more than she should have. He leads a charity for human trafficking awareness, but there was always something about him that set me on edge. I could never place my finger on it, but now that she’s free from him we’re digging into every fucking facet of his disgusting life. By the time we’re done, we’re going to know everything down to his daily shit schedule.
Snow is covering the ground as Jared brings the chopper down to the landing pad. I scan the property, and everyone listens, they’re all tucked away in the buildings scattered around. I notice Liv looking at a squat metal building with one door and no windows. It’s the worst part of the grounds to ask about. The door leads to a stairwell to an underground bunker we use for physical interrogations.
Grant notices her interest and redirects her attention to the house behind us. It was built and designed as a log cabin but on a larger scale. The center of the house soars over the open living area with two wings for four bedrooms. The property extends about a mile in each direction from the house and is surrounded by woods on all four sides. There’s a large pond a short walk from the patio. A lot of locals don’t even know it’s here which is exactly how it needs to be.
I open the door for Liv and follow her in. Her head tilts back as she looks at the wood beam ceiling of the great room with appreciation.
“This is gorgeous.” She looks over at the stacked stone fireplace as tall as her, mesmerized by the crackling fire within.
“Thank you,” I say as Grant carries her bag down the hall. “Want the tour?”
“Yes, please.” She looks at me with the first real smile I’ve seen from her since she’s been back with us, and my chest warms. I forgot how absolutely beautiful her eyes are lit up with joy like this. It makes me want to do anything to keep it there.
I show her through the great room to the kitchen and dining room, all of which share the same view of the pond and pool deck. Then I walk her down the hall to the bedrooms. There’s only four because we designed this house for us and each room has an en suite bathroom designed to suit the person occupying the room. Mine has deep green walls and teak furniture, the bathroom features natural river rock and a shower steam room combination. Nolan’s room is painted black, which should be weird but oddly works. Sawyer’s room is navy and white with gold accents, his bathroom is probably the most female friendly with a large freestanding soaking tub. Grant’s room is gray and white, with dark furniture. We have a home library here and a media room on the second floor.
“I’ll never leave this room,” she says as she turns a circle in the library. “This whole place is beautiful. It’s definitely not the cabin I was expecting.”
“It’s a cabin,” Nolan says from where he’s leaning on the door jam. “Just a big one. I’ll show the house systems, too.” He walks over to her and grabs one of the tablets that controls everything in the house from blinds and lights to music. He starts showing her what button does what while her eyes glaze over.
“I’m gonna head out. Jared needs to get back to the city before it gets too late.” Grant slaps my shoulder as he passes me in the hall.
“Are you going to say goodbye first?”
“No.” He looks into the library. “She’s busy. I’ll be back at the end of the week.”
I give him a look that says I’m disappointed in him but don’t argue. It won’t do any good.
* * *
Liv ended up staying with Nolan last night. I wasn’t surprised by her decision, nor was I upset. I used the time to run over to the building that some of my employed mercenaries use as a home base when they’re not out on missions. I laid out the ground rules for them while Olivia is on the property, expressly stating they should stay out of sight. I also gave them all the intel we’ve gathered on Tripp and his last known whereabouts. I doubt he could find this compound, but I’m not taking any chances.
I’m standing at the oven making breakfast when they walk out into the kitchen. It’s comforting to see her in my house wearing sweatpants and an undershirt that I know must belong to Sawyer. She’s got it tied in a little knot at her tiny waist. Her hair is back in a braid with a few flyaways framing her face. She looks relaxed and happy as she and Nolan joke about the time we all crashed at her uncle’s house and she set breakfast on fire.
Nolan starts making them coffee in the French press, grumbling about me being a coffee snob. It’s a running joke about me, obviously I’m going to be picky about coffee when my family owns the number one coffee farm and export business in Costa Rica. He finishes and hands Liv her coffee, a wisp of steam rising.
“Oh my God.” Her eyes close as she moans in pleasure after the first sip. She takes another sip, closes her eyes, and sighs. “I forgot how delicious your coffee is, Lake.”
“I made it.” Nolan pouts.
“Set the table,” I order, snapping a towel at him.
“Fucking bossy jarhead,” he jokes.
I give him a sideways glance before turning my attention back to Liv. “I have a few ideas for what we can do today.”
“I’m open to whatever.”
“I think we should probably start training as soon as possible. I don’t want you defenseless ever again. I know you can’t do anything physical, but I thought we could try your hand at the gun range. There’s one here on the property.”
She thinks it over for a minute. She was always very anti-gun, but I think I can sway her to understand that knowing how to operate one will only ensure her safety going forward. She looks between Nolan and me, biting her lip while she considers it.
