Page 10 of Beckoning Liam

"Stay sharp," Liam whispered again, and Becks nodded; she seemed to be focusing on the task at hand.

The rustle of leaves and the quiet of footsteps on gravel were the only sounds as Liam guided Becks through the maze of greenery that was theJardin des Tuileries. The press of tourists and Parisians alike provided a cover that Liam used to their advantage, his senses alert to any sign of danger lurking around them.

They were almost at the rendezvous point, anticipation coiling tight within them both. Then, a shadow detached itself from the surrounding greenery and moved toward a secludedbench—Rovena, their lifeline to information that could turn the tide in their favor.

"Stick with me," he murmured, allowing his hand to linger at the small of her back, guiding her with a touch that was both protective and possessive. His thumb brushed ever so slightly against the curve of her spine.

Becks nodded. They approached Rovena, her gaze sharp beneath the brim of a nondescript hat. As they approached, she stood, her movements swift and discreet.

"DrStefani Umbrais the key," Rovena said without preamble, her voice low and urgent.

"DrStefani Umbra..." Liam repeated the name, tasting the weight of it on his tongue. It was a shadow they needed to chase into the light, and he felt the burden of what they were doing pressing down upon him.

"Yes,” Rovena said, nodding. “The Wanderers of the Shadow are planning something big—disruptive, catastrophic. I’ve heard things in my community—those who know who they are. They move like wraiths, undetected until it's too late. You must be careful." Her eyes darted to Becks with a blend of concern and camaraderie. "They're closer than you think."

“What about you?” asked Becks. “Liam, shouldn’t we take her with us?”

Before he could answer, Rovena laid a hand on Becks’ arm. “You’ll be safer if it’s just the two of you. I had some vacation time coming from the university. I am of Romani heritage, and I have many reliable friends in the community. One of them will give me refuge.”

“You know how to get hold of me,” said Becks.

Rovena nodded again and the two women embraced quickly. “Take care of her,” said Rovena.

“That’s the plan. We need to move,” said Liam.

The sun shifted behind a cloud, casting a shadow over them, and in that momentary darkness, danger materialized. Andrei Sokolov stepped out from behind the greenery, his lean frame a specter of the past that Liam had hoped he had left behind in Venice.

"O'Shea," Sokolov greeted, his Russian accent curling around Liam's name like a taunt. The scar running along his jaw seemed to twitch with anticipation.

"Sokolov," Liam acknowledged, his body tensing for the conflict he knew was inevitable. He subtly moved Becks and Rovena to his left, angling them away from the immediate line of danger. Rovena kept moving and slipped through the bushes out of harm’s way. Becks stayed by his side.

"Did you miss me?" Sokolov asked, a cruel smile playing on his lips as he casually adjusted the cuffs of his dark jacket before pulling a gun.

"Like a bullet misses its target," Liam retorted, his hand inching toward the weapon concealed beneath his jacket.

"Ah, but this time, I was not your intended target, was I?" Sokolov's eyes flicked towards Becks, and Liam felt a surge of protective fury.

"Back off, Sokolov. She is not your concern."

Sokolov shrugged. "Everything is connected, O'Shea. You of all people should know that." Sokolov's tone was deceptively light, but his posture was coiled, ready to strike.

In the blink of an eye, the serenity of the garden erupted into chaos as Liam proactively launched himself at Sokolov with lethal intent. Before Liam could knock the gun from Sokolov’s hand, the assassin managed to get off a shot, inflicting a minor wound on Liam in the process. The two men became locked in a deadly embrace—predator versus predator. Fists flew, each blow evidence to their history, to the countless battles waged in the shadows of espionage.

"Becks, run!" Liam commanded.

The two men struggled violently, each landing more than one vicious punch. The sounds of struggle were lost amidst the clamor of approaching sirens, and Liam knew someone had seen the fight and called the police.

"Get down!" Liam shouted when he noticed Sokolov reaching for a hidden blade.

Becks dropped to the ground just as the assassin lunged, knife glinting with deadly intent. But Liam was faster, sidestepping the attack and delivering a punishing blow that sent Sokolov staggering back. For a moment, the assassin's gray eyes widened in surprise, and Liam seized the opportunity, disarming him with a swift, practiced motion.

Before they could recover, the wail of police sirens pierced the air, growing louder with each passing second. Their time was up.

"Go!" Liam grabbed Becks by the arm, pulling her to her feet. "We need to leave now!"

Disengaging from Sokolov, he shoved Becks and followed her, his footsteps pounding after her in a frantic rhythm as they put distance between the assassin and themselves. With an agility that belied his muscular build, Liam skirted along the edge of theJardin des Tuileries, each step a calculated measure between discretion and speed.

They slowed their speed as the iconic Louvre pyramid appeared in the distance, its glass facets gleaming under the Parisian sun like a beacon of civilization. But for Liam, it was just another structure to use for cover, another angle to consider in their dangerous game of cat-and-mouse.

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