Page 46 of Taken With Trouble

“I’d like to see you try.”

She gives absolutely no indication before she tips my head back and presses her lips to mine. My whole body goes numb. Her lips are on mine. I can’tbreathe. Can’t function. I need her kiss like I need the blood in my veins. More. All the worries fade to black. I’m floating free.Finally.

And then she pulls away. Note in her hands.

I blink. “You just used me.”

“Annoying, isn’t it?” She smirks over the paper at me.

“Hardly.” She can use me whenever. Use me again. Now please, so I don’t have to think of all the ways I’ve failed.

“Your grandfather?” Serena squeaks. The note slips from her fingers as horror fills her eyes.

“It appears so.” I scrub a hand over my face. I turn to my computer and search the security feeds I made him get years ago. For a man who taught me how to hack and code, I didn’t think I’d have to fight him on safety. But the feeds died last night and haven’t been back on. Why didn’t I check them sooner? I replay the video from the moments before the cameras went out over and over again, but there’s nothing except my innocent grandfather reading a book in his study. Why didn’t the system notify me when it went off? Now it’s too late.

Serena presses a hand to her stomach and paces back and forth in front of my computers. “They called me out in the note. I have to help you.”

I freeze. I forgot that part.Whywas she addressed in the note? Do they know who she is? They must want to hold her as a ransom to the bureau.

“No.” This is my mess. I don’t want to drag another person into it.

She stops pacing. “What do you meanno? This whole time you’ve been begging for my help and now when I offer, yourefuse? I don’t understand.”

“I’m a complicated person,” I say, leaning back in my seat. How did they know I was planning on attending the gala? They must have recognized one of my aliases on the guest list. It’s getting hard to remember who knows which one.

I shake my head. I have no choice. All that matters is getting my grandfather back. For that, I’ll walk right into a trap.

“Liam, you don’t understand. I have to help you find him.”

I raise a brow, waiting for more. “Why is that?”

“I—” She presses her palm to her forehead, her fingers shaking. “I just do, okay?”

I stand, marching around the computers and stop right in front of her. “Tell me why, Serena.”

She chews on her bottom lip; she’s so close to finally opening up to me. But she’s still hiding.

I reach for her hand, squeezing softly. “Tell me.”

Her eyes go wide, and she jumps out of my reach. “Because I’m a federal agent. I help people, Liam. It’s my job.”

I cross my arms. I want her to admit she wants to help me because she cares for me. I scrunch my nose. “Sorry, not good enough.”

“Fine. I won’t help. Have fun getting caught.” Cruz stomps away.

I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s going to happen.

Chapter 18

Serena

I stare daggers atLiam’s back as he continues to type furiously on the computer. I’m not sure if I’m more angry at him or myself. Why on earth did I kiss him? It was strictly strategic—to exploit his weakness. But the second my lips touched his, I forgot all time and reason. I stayed a second longer than I should have.

I press a hand to my lips where they still tingle. Why didn’t that kiss affect him enough to drop his defenses? He’s such an egotistical man, thinking he can do everything himself. I have resources to help—well, not currently, but I can get them. Though, if I bring in more agents, they’ll arrest Liam, probably before we can get his grandfather safe and insist on doing it their way, which admittedly isn’t always the best.

Icare though. Much more than I should. If I don’t help him, if I willingly let his grandfather die, I will never forgive myself.

I clutch my chest, constantly reminded of the deep ache residing there. When did this get so out of control?