Page 81 of Taken With Trouble

Caleb shifts on the couch, the leather making a completely inappropriate noise for the moment.

“ButIdidn’t know that,” I say. “I knew your grandfather, though. I trusted him. He emailed me every week after my grandmother sent me away, so I knew he’d help me. He was a grandfather to me, too.”

Liam still looks like a petulant child, but he remains silent, clenching his jaw and folding his arms.

“So, you told him where you hid the evidence?” Caleb asks.

“I told him everything. Then he handed me fifty thousand dollars, erased my past, and reached out to a contact he had in the FBI.” I look at Liam. “He saved my life.”

Liam swallows, an even more heartbreaking expression shattering his face. “That’s what he does.”

I look at Caleb. “That’s why I have to save him.”

Caleb scrubs a hand over his face. “Areallthe secrets out of the bag now?”

“Let’s assume they are.”

He sends me a stern look, but it does nothing to make me give him more information.

“Okay, so we arrest Liam after we save his grandfather?” Caleb asks.

“We can’t.” I chew on my bottom lip.

“And why not?” Caleb nearly shouts.

“Because…” I can’t seem to come up with a reasonable excuse. “Because he’s changed.”

“You don’t seriously believe that,” Caleb deadpans. “He pulled a gun on my girlfriend.”

“About that—” Liam says, but he’s cut off when Caleb punches him square across the jaw. Liam falls out of his chair, and the two of them topple to the floor throwing punches. I could step in, but Liam brought this one on himself.

“The safety was on,” Liam says, crossing his arms over his face to protect himself. “And it wasn’t loaded. Or maybe it was, I can’t remember.”

“You terrified her,” Caleb growls.

“Which gave her a reason to keep you around as a bodyguard. You’re welcome.”

Another punch. Why does the man insist on irritating everyone? “Relax, little man.” Another punch. “I texted her last week, and we’re cool. She also sent me a picture of you sleeping with the dogs. Adorable.”

Caleb rears back. “You texted her?”

“Don’t worry. I won’t steal your girl. I’m into brunettes these days.” His eyes fly to mine, so he misses blocking the punch that hits his cheek.

“That’s for kidnapping my partner.” Caleb rears back to punch him again, but I jump in.

“Caleb!” I yell. “That’s enough!”

“A little unfair you get to protect my two favorite women,” Liam says, “but I’m grateful for it.”

Caleb looks stunned. He shakes out his hand and stands. Then walks out of the room.

“I like him.” Liam looks up at me with lazy, semi-swollen eyes. His cheek is bright red and bruised, but he doesn’t seem upset. “Do you really think I’ve changed?”

“Yes,” I say simply. “It helps that I’ve seen you give away at least five hundred thousand dollars in the last week.”

He rubs his shoulder. “Has it really been that much? I may have to slow down.”

I roll my eyes and help him stand, leading him into the kitchen. I grab a steak from the freezer and press it to his cheek. Liam’s hand covers mine as he holds me captive with a look in his eyes I long to decipher.