Page 85 of Begin Again, Part 2

NOTHING LEFT OF THEIR HEARTS

"What the fuck?" Julian cussed when he opened the box. "Liam, you've received threats before, but nothing so—"

"Definite?" Matthew finished off. "I believe 'definite' is the word you're looking for."

"No wonder Eden's shaken up," Julian said. "She's terrified. You just found her and Aiden, and now the mob is sending you death threats. I warned you to stay away from the LUSSO deal."

"Well, it's bloody too late to back out now," Liam shrugged. "Besides, Aleksei won't do shit. He's just trying to scare us off."

They knew he was talking horse shit, so they nodded and said nothing. Just as well, Liam thought as he stared outside the window. The longer he spent on the issue, the more restless he grew. He'd downplayed Eden's run-in with Ivanov for her sake, but his cousins were right. All the threats he'd received in the past were vague emails and letters, and maybe one or two phone calls. Some were from people he knew didn't have the balls to follow through with their plans. But this was the first time anyone so close to him, in proximity, had ever sent him something so definite, so sinister.

The Ivanovs never made idle threats. The trucks were a prime example, and they didn't even give them a warning for that. So to say he was terrified was an understatement. But he couldn't let his fear get the better of him. He had to keep it together for Eden and their son.

"Is this the place?" Matthew asked, pulling Liam out of his thoughts when they stopped in front of Eden's house.

Jace, the man assigned to Eden, was already parked in the driveway.

A moment later, two other cars pulled up behind him, and Liam watched his head of security and his team hold an impromptu briefing meeting on Eden and his son.

"It's so—" Julian began as he scanned the bungalow, his voice trailing off when he caught the warning look in Liam's eyes.

"Don't say a word. Eden is crazy about her place," he said as he jumped out of the car and strolled up the short driveway. He spent a few minutes with Jace, discussing Eden's security over the next few weeks before he handed the box with the bullet to James.

"When did he send this?"

"At the benefit," Liam replied. "He fucking got close to Eden. You know what this means, right? You failed to do your job. I can't have that while I'm away."

"My apologies, Mr Anderson," James bowed his head. "But Ms McBride was not our assignment tonight."

"Eden is your assignment every day from now on," Liam retorted. "I can't have rabid dogs like Ivanov anywhere close to her and my son."

James nodded. "It won't happen again."

"Make sure it doesn't," Liam called over his shoulder and strolled to the front door.

The bell went unanswered for a few minutes, and then a light in the entrance hall came on. Moments later, Brenda's large frame filled the doorway as the door creaked open. She yawned and pulled her pink nightgown closer. "Mr Anderson? Is everything okay? Eden's not home."

"I know. She's in the car."

The nanny rubbed her eyes, a small smile lighting up her sleepy face as she asked, "would you like to come in?"

"Sure," Liam replied and followed her into her bedroom, where he spent a few minutes watching Aiden sleep before he plucked up the courage to pick him up. His son fussed a little as he nestled close to his chest, trying to get into a comfortable position. Within seconds, he was out again.

"He's a good sleeper," Brenda said. "Once you put him down for the night, he's out like a light."

Liam nodded and kissed his hair, breathing in his baby smell.

Like he was afraid, the thought of being away from his son for three weeks, after holding him so closely and breathing in his baby smell, sent him into a mini-crisis.

"Where's his passport and Eden's?" he asked, making a snap decision. He'd take them with him if he couldn't postpone his trip. But leaving them behind wasn't an option. "I need their passports."

Brenda was dumbfounded by his request, and she stared blankly at him. Liam waved his hand in front of her face to snap her out of her trance. "I'm taking Eden and our son on the trip tomorrow. I need you to find their passports."

"Okay, but I don't think Aiden has one," she replied, dashing his hopes.

Even with all his connections, Liam knew there was no way he'd get an emergency passport for Aiden overnight. So he sighed in defeat and held him closer as he turned the Brenda again. "I need you to grab a few things and lock up the house when you're done. James and his guys will bring you to the penthouse."

"I don't think that's a good idea." Brenda shook her head.

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