Page 68 of Cosmo

Liam looked around the room at the paling faces, drawn tightly at the thought of anything bad happening to Katie and Little Mick, and he saw their fear.

Liam’s mind, however, thought of his own childhood. How no one protected him, and that it was by chance that he wasn’t lying in that house, his insides swelling and foam escaping cold lips. His little brother’s stomach had been distended, like he’d eaten an entire Christmas ham all on his own.

Thinking of Katie and Little Mick…he was envious and happy for them at once. They had not only parents, but an aunt, grandfather, and a bunch of honorary uncles that would kill or die for them.

And Liam knew he was becoming one of those uncles.

He said, “Keep your enemies closer. Taran…he’s an enemy, but I believe him. I think we should believe the both. Frankly, if they end up busting us anyway, if they take these assholes down too, I’m weirdly okay with it.”

Abs’ hand lay over his across the table. “Me too.”

“I don’t like jail,” Mims said, “But, yeah, I’m in too.”

Murphy looked over his crew with such love, he was teary-eyed. “I think we’re all gonna be okay, guys. I have a feeling we’re gonna be okay.”

“Shit, I have a date,” Mims squeaked. “Are we done?”

“How old is this one, Mims?” Hippy asked.

“Only fifty, thank you!”

“Married?”

Mims got up and blew Hippy a kiss. “For now.”

Groaning was heard all around while Mims left the room, and Liam waited until the door was closed to ask, “Really? Always?”

Haze shrugged. “We all have our ways of dealing with the shit from our pasts. His is looking for a daddy to love him.”

“And I’m not good enough,” Murphy said. “He even calls me Paps,” he said while he blanched.

“Easy, Murph,” Goldie told him. “You could deny him one day, too. He needs a backup this time.”

“Damn that kid. Alright. Everyone be ready for tomorrow night. Rest, do what all you need to do.”

When Taran called an hour later, Liam told him to come to the pub. Taran was afraid to do it, but he did anyway, and Liam let him in the backdoor, leading him up the two flights of stairs to his floor.

In his overly red room, Taran’s eyes went right to the cat, who was curled on the bed sleeping peacefully. “He already looks better.”

“He’s very spoiled already.”

Taran reached for his hand and Liam let him take it. “Did they tell you?”

“That you’re on a human trafficking task force? Yeah. You had no interest in busting a bunch of thieves. Thing is, I already knew that.”

“I believe you all did. I didn’t want to lie to you, Liam. I swear it.”

Liam pulled him close and moved so he stood right in front of Taran. “I know. I get that you all want this to stop. Not that your little Taskforce can stop something that’s been happening for centuries, but saving even one kid from it? One woman, one man, it’s worth it.”

“And here I thought you never wanted to care about anyone.”

Liam’s eyes never left his. “Kids…kids should be spoiled, like Daiq over there, like the two kids in this building. Kids and animals are the only living beings still worth protecting in this world.”

Taran’s hands moved to Liam’s face, cupping both cheeks as he whispered, “Like you were supposed to be protected. Like…like they were supposed to be protected.”

“Yes.”

“You’re making me…question everything I’ve ever believed, Liam, except one thing.”

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