Page 77 of Taken With Trouble

“If you’re here, that means you need…” Her voice trails off, and I nod.

She steps up to the display, nodding as well. “I couldn’t get all the cameras off,” she says pointedly, as she types a code into the back of the case. “But I’ve kept it safe.”

“Thank you. I-I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’re safe,” she whispers.

I swallow. “I will be.”

And then the lights go out.

Chapter 32

Liam

Well, this is apleasant turn of events. I watch the feeds as Serena enters the room, Agent Harris guiding her. They might be fooling other people in the vicinity, but the two of them have the chemistry of goldfish. I’m not jealous. But Iamhighly entertained.

They stop right next to the Spartan box in the display.

What in the blazes?

Serena speaks to a woman, and then the woman leaves… only to return a few minutes later. The security guard clears the room and the three of them convene at the case.

This won’t do. I sigh. I knew it couldn’t be that easy. But the real question iswhydo they want the very thing I need?

The clock hits 1:03, and I stand. Time to go.

I count in my head as I make my way to the room. I only have four minutes, but I’ve got three more people in there than planned. I slip in through the back entrance to the room just as the lights go off. It takes point-two seconds for my night vision glasses to solve my problem and I tiptoe toward the center of the room.

“Liam?” Serena asks. I hate how worried she sounds, but soon she will have no reason to fear.

“What’s going on?” Agent Harris asks. He’s got his gun out, aiming it pointlessly in every direction.

“I’m not sure,” the woman with them says. “Wait, I’ve got a light.”

Better hurry. The case is open, and I reach for the box, right as Serena’s hand comes down on mine. She gasps, and in her momentary hesitation, I snatch the box and run. I don’t look over my shoulder, I don’t slow. I rush from the room and tear through the brightly lit hallway, straight for the service entrance, ripping off my glasses as I go. I know from previous experience there is a secret tunnel under this museum. Halfway toward the service entrance, I pop out a grate in the wall that will lead me right to it. But before I can go through, someone yanks me backward.

“That’s mine,” Serena says.

“Sorry, sweetheart. I need it.” I should run fast, but instead, my eyes rake over her to make sure she’s okay. Did she get enough sleep? Is she still cold?

“So do I.”

“Finders keepers.”

“This is not a game, Liam,” she says through clenched teeth. “How do you always do this? How do you show up in the worst places every time?”

“It’s a gift.”

Her eyes flash with anger, and it’s the only indication I get before her fist flies at my face. I dodge it. Barely.

I stand straight and shoot her a frown. “I thought we were making progress.”

“I thought so, too.” Another fist at my shoulder. This time I let her hit me. Maybe. “And then you left to go be a hero without even talking to me.”

“You missed me. You should have just said that.”

“I didn’t miss you.” She throws another fist, backing me into the wall. I grimace when my bad arm hits the brick. Her eyes widen in concern.