Page 27 of True Bastard

Chapter Twelve

Back at theapartment with his brother, Liam knew he had to keep his cool, because it was the only way to have a clear head and figure why Catriona had left. Not an easy task because it was the very first time since he’d regained control over his life that he’d been tempted to throw the table with the papers and laptop against the wall.

Where was she? The first thing Liam had done was call Gabrielle, but the woman hadn’t answered. No surprise because she’d told him she’d be unavailable over the next few days, so he doubted Catriona had gone to her.

Aleksei was on the phone, trying to find a way to access potential cameras around the church. Liam would’ve been able to do it with a warrant while his brother didn’t mind reaching out to less legal resources.

After picking up his phone, Liam opened the video of Catriona exiting the building. There was no sign of her being scared, but her body language told him she seemed troubled. He only saw her face a fraction of a second and could see a frown marring her forehead, which confirmed his suspicions.

He replayed the small snippet several times, and with each pass, he focused on her face, and somehow, it superposed itself over his last image of her when he’d stormed out of the apartment. Was that why she’d left?

“What the fuck happened?” No surprise to see his brother Archer Blackwood walk in. The powerful billionaire had always been one of the more influential brothers, a close second to Lazarus. Since Oz had been in the coma, Archer had taken up the role of rounding up everything and being their ringleader. “You lost the woman that’s supposed to help us?”

Irritated by his sarcastic British accent, Liam’s first impulse was to punch him in the face. “We didn’t lose her, she walked out.”

Archer frowned and unbuttoned the jacket of his tailored-cut blue three-piece suit before putting his hands in his pockets. “You can’t be serious! She’s just arrived! Don’t you know how much we need her? I’m good with numbers, but from what Gabrielle said, she could do in a week what it would take me months to accomplish. I’m trying to keep my business afloat and my wife and kids safe. Don’t you understand that?”

Something in Liam cracked. “You fucking moron! Do you think I forgot about that? That I don’t care?”

Probably sensing that his brother was about to snap, Archer shrugged his shoulders and lifted his hand in appeasement. “You said she left of her own free will. Why?”

Liam didn’t want to think about what happened the night before, her angel face still imprinted in his mind, the feel of her hands making his skin tingle at the memory. He’d rejected her, but only for her own good, she must have seen that. She must’ve seen how much he’d wanted her, the strength and resolve he’d had to summon to walk away from temptation.

“Deva told me she surprised them on the couch last night, and that Liam left soon after.”

Damned Aleksei for exposing him. Liam cringed. “Come on, nothing happened. Credit me with some restraint.”

“With your pants at your knees?”

The smirk on Aleksei’s face was worth a snarl, but it was Archer’s wince that almost set him off.

“For fuck’s sake! I was icing my knee after running away from an attack. Instead of assuming things, did you discover anything about the attack? I know the police were called, but I haven’t had a chance to reach out to anyone yet.”

Archer looked at Aleksei and back at him again. “You’re the one with the connections in the force. Until we find a trustworthy hacker, you’re on your own. Unless you go to the station and try to get information.”

Liam shook his head. “Man, I’m almost over on the dark side as it is. You’re asking me to deny everything I stood against for so long.” His eyes locked with Aleksei. “I know who you are, and I accept it, but...” Liam couldn’t continue. Each word was the truth. The brothers all the same goal, but despite having the will to bring down the man who fathered him, he could only do it within the limits of the law. Maybe Jamieson Finch would die in the end. However, Liam wanted to be sure he had done everything possible to follow the set lines that had allowed him to find peace in his life.

As a unit, Archer and Aleksei came close, reaching out in silent support. Liam still found it unbelievable to have discovered men who weren’t only bonded by blood, but by an unexpected kinship, one they all needed and accepted.

“Okay, man, first things first. We need to find Catriona. Let me call Kai. I know he’s on guard duty at the hospital, watching over Sasha and Oz, but he told me about a friend, a fellow surfer dude of his, who dabbles in computers. Maybe he’s better than a simple nerd. That would remove the responsibility off your shoulders and let you focus on what you’re supposed to do.”

A soft knock came from the door before Deva pushed it open. “Uh, sorry to disturb the knights of the round table, but a kid is playing with the security keypad outside, and as my understanding boyfriend forbids me to have a brain for the time being, I’m here to tell my caveman to go and check it out.”

If not caught in his own storm of emotions, Liam would’ve gladly made fun of his grumpy Russian brother, but now he knew where that protective feeling for a woman came from, as he now had the same urge with Catriona’s safety and well-being. One thing he vowed was as soon as she was back within reach, he wasn’t letting her out of his sight.

“Gimme a minute, guys, while I take care of that punk.”

As both Aleksei and Deva disappeared, Archer turned back to Liam. “Okay. I know you didn’t force yourself on the woman, that’s not you. So what happened?”

“I don’t know, man. I didn’t make a pass at her. I kissed her on the street the day before, but I promised myself I wouldn’t touch her anymore. Last night, after escaping the attack, we returned here, and my knee was hurting so I iced it. Catriona offered herself to me and I pushed her away.”

Archer whistled. “I saw a picture of her, and she’s an angel. You have amazing self-control, brother.”

Shoulders drooping, Liam gave another piece of information. “She’s a novitiate, a nun, Archer. Call me old fashioned, but I can’t touch a nun.”

With a nod, his brother considered his answer. “Well, she’s the one who offered herself. I guess that was her choice. And yours to reject her. After all, if you’re not attracted to her…”

Liam snarled. “She’s temptation incarnate. That’s why I had to leave.”

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