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He took a swallow of his drink and then grabbed her hand, his fingers entwining with hers. “We haven’t talked about where we’re going with this. But I need to know. Are you with me?”
Her heart soared with happiness. “I’m one hundred percent with you. I fell in love with a strong, honorable, golden-voiced man named Lion. My love hasn’t changed just because his real name is Liam.”
His chair scooted back, and he was up in an instant, pulling her up with him. Cupping her face, he roamed his eyes over her. “And I fell in love with a sweet, spirited, courageous woman named Cat. Nothing’s changed to make me feel any differently.”
“Are we crazy?” she whispered. “Other people would say we don’t really know each other.”
“Other people don’t matter. We know each other in the most basic way possible. The other stuff we’ll learn along the way.”
He kissed her then, the way she’d been longing for him to kiss her from the beginning. His mouth moved over hers tenderly, persistently. His tongue entwining with hers promised delicious delights and pleasure untold.
She moaned against him, wanting more. Wanting everything.
The ringing doorbell reminded her that not only did they have company coming, Liam had to leave.
They pulled away, breathless. The heat in Liam’s eyes matched the fire burning in her body.
“When I get home, we’re going to spend days and nights together, exploring all those things we don’t know about each other. Okay?”
“It’s a date.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Cartagena, Colombia
Sweat poured down Liam’s body. The air was so thick and wet, one could almost imagine rain poured from the sky, except that bright blue sky held a blazing sun that baked everything within seconds of exposure. He’d honestly never been this hot, and if hell was hotter than this, he was going to do his dead-level best not to end up there.
“I swear, Stryker. I ain’t got no notion where Drury could be.”
Tightening his grip on the creep’s shirt collar, Liam couldn’t prevent a laugh. When scared, Ronnie Wiggins lost his fake Spanish accent in a hurry. Hailing from somewhere in the southern US, Ronnie did his best to bring an international flair to his criminal activities. But when he figured he was seconds from losing his life, the Southern came out.
Liam much preferred him this way.
Pulling Ronnie closer, he spoke softly. “You used to be partners. Even though you parted ways, I’m willing to wager you keep tabs on each other.”
“Then you gotta know if I give him up, he’ll come after me.”
“Not if I take him out of circulation. He won’t be around to bother you, Ronnie. Just think, you won’t have to compete with him anymore.”
A gleam entered Ronnie’s bloodshot eyes. Yeah, he liked the idea of having to compete with one less slimeball. But fear overcame greed, and Ronnie shook his head. “He’d find out. He always finds out stuff. Even if he’s not around, he’ll get somebody to do the deed for him.”
“I can protect you.”
“I can’t risk it, Stryker.”
“You’re risking more if you don’t.”
“What’s that mean?”
“It means I’ve got a network of people who’d be glad to send out some information. Maybe spill that Ronnie Wiggins was behind the leak that got Drury locked up last year.”
“But that ain’t true!” Ronnie whined.
“Don’t you keep up with the news? Truth is in the eye of the beholder these days. Drury trusts you about as far as he can throw that tree over there. When he hears that news, no way he won’t believe it. That’ll tip him over the edge, and he’ll be after you for the rest of your life. You won’t be able to rest, won’t be able to sleep. You’ll be looking over your shoulder forever. You really want to live like that?”
“But…but…”
“Up to you, man.”