Page 157 of Waiting For A Girl Like You
“Your father said that,” Michael pointed out almost fondly. “In that book about the guy who went on a murder spree after his daughter was raped in Minnesota. He killed everyone. The gang. Their families. Their pets.” He grinned. “I’m a big fan of Dr. Cohen and was pleased to discover that he was the one who worked up my profile during those domestic jobs.”
“Jobs,” Liam repeated, daring to step in her direction. Michael didn’t stop him, and he risked another. “Interesting word.”
“Hell, man. I don’t do anything for free. Sure, killing those fuckers was the right thing to do, but I’ve got to pay the bills like everyone else and needed funds to build this place.” Michael turned to face the house. “She's gorgeous, isn’t she? Cecilia wanted something like Haven but more rustic, like a mountain home. When we talked about it in front of Bruce, he suggested the area, and it was perfect.”
Jamison couldn’t hold still. The need to touch Liam and know he was real was too strong. Her body trembled so violently that she bent at the waist, struggling to breathe.
“Go to her, but make it quick,” Michael ordered, even though Liam wasn’t waiting for permission. Already there, he caught her before she dropped to the ground.
“I’m here,” Liam whispered, wrapping her in his arms. “I’m here, baby.”
She pressed her face to his neck, inhaling deeply as if her body knew only his scent would calm her. “I love you. I love you,” she kept repeating, unable to stop. “I love you. I knew you would come. I knew it. I never doubted.”
He didn’t hush her. He just held on while she broke—shattered entirely in his embrace.
“That’s enough,” Michael said once Madison, along with Claudia and Emily, rejoined them. “It’s time to get this show started.”
“Comfortable?”
Handcuffed to a bedpost and sitting on the floor of Michael’s room, Liam rested back on the mattress. “No.”
“Excellent.” Michael pointed at Jamison. “You need to eat, and Liam, do you want anything?”
“I’m not eating any fucking food here.”
Forced to sit on the reading chair in the corner, her handcuff securing her to its arm, Jamison tried to find a comfortable position. She was only a few feet from Liam, but it felt like miles.
“Yes, please get him some food,” she said.
Michael burst out laughing. “Trust me, Cohen. You’re gonna need your strength. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure whatever I bring is pre-packaged, so you know it’s not tampered with.”
Liam’s eyes didn’t leave him. “Why are we not being kept with Emily and Claudia? And why is Damon chained to a bed?”
Madison had been taken from them when they reentered the house, ushered away by the women preparing breakfast. Claudia tried to follow, only to be blocked by Emmett. Michael handed the man a gun and ordered him to take rear guard.
As they crossed through the lower level, people stared. Most wore next to nothing, and several of the men had reached out to pet Emily or Claudia’s hair. Liam had smacked one hand away from Claudia and nearly caused a full riot. Yet, all it took to calm the crowd was a sharp order from Michael to disperse.
Once things were settled, Emily and Claudia were herded back to their room. Michael told Emmett to stand guard at the door, but made it clear that he was to remain outside in the hall.
“I guess you’ve never noticed how damn big Damon is,” Michael answered Liam, pausing in the doorway as he left. “It takes both me and Bruce to handle him. Restraint is a must. So is sedation.”
“I get it, but totally knocking him out? That’s pathetic,” Liam taunted, his gaze roaming around the room. He hadn’t stopped absorbing details since they started back for the house. “I thought you were some kind of super soldier.”
Michael’s mouth twitched. “Sedation keeps his muscles relaxed. That thing downstairs, with the crowd trying to touch the women? That wasn’t normal. The men are usually on a short leash, so I’m guessing word got out that I said we were tapering Damon off his meds. The women think their chance is coming, and the men probably think the same thing.”
Jamison’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Their chance for what?”
“I’ll let Liam explain exactly which one of Damon’s muscles those women and Taylor want to use.”
And with that, Michael left them.
Immediately, Liam was twisting around to work on getting free. “Top to bottom, Jamison. Give me everything.”
It all came spilling out. Every observation. Every overheard conversation. The weird shadows. The strange women. Parker appearing from nowhere. Taylor’s unhinged confession. Bruce keeping her safe. Michael’s connection to CeCe. His hate for Zanmi. His nightly medication routine.
Liam froze at the mention of the medicine. “Where are these pills?”
“In the nightstand next to you.”
