Page 35 of Liv Parrish

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I’m not sure what I expected from Aaron’s home. Maybe some high-end apartment like Heath’s in the city, but I should have known better. For one, it’s an actual double story house in the suburbs, a family home with a wraparound porch, white picket fence, the works. There’s even a bike on a kickstand next to the driveway and a hoop fixed over the garage. If I had to guess, I’d say he must have chosen it for the school district, because it was definitely not for the commute to Fortress. And for another, Aaron and Heath couldn’t be more different if they tried. Besides their careers in the Navy, they would appear to have nothing in common, but that’s probably why their friendship works so well. Each of Heath’s friends brings something different to the mix and their bond is as tight as any I’ve witnessed, and now I get to be a part of that. Before, it was just Ren and Evan, and they are still my closest friends. They’ve accepted Heath with open arms, although it did take Evan a bit longer to warm up to him, and we’ve even shared a couple of meals together since Heath has started spending more time at my place than at his own. This feels different though. Maybe because Aaron is the unofficial leader of this pack and his acceptance of me feels more significant. I don’t know. I could just be blowing this out of proportion because I want to belong here, with these people.

It's early evening now. Jacob and I spent just over an hour going through some exercises, for me to assess him and see what he’s struggling with and decided now would be a good time to take a break and go shoot some hoops outside while there’s still enough light out. The guys are sitting in the farm style kitchen chatting while they wait for the takeout they ordered to arrive and apparently Melissa will be joining us later as well. She’s currently staying in one of Aaron’s spare bedrooms, but I doubt that arrangement will last long. Just thinking about sharing a place with Luke makes me cringe, but maybe they’re different. God, I hope they’re different.

Anyway, it doesn’t take me long to realize Jacob’s confidence shooting hoops far exceed his confidence when doing math and I’m about to tease him about this when there is suddenly a screeching of tires in the driveway. I check that Jacob is out of harm’s way and then prepare to lay into the delivery guy for driving so recklessly in a residential area, but … it’s not the delivery guy. Or Melissa returning from yet another briefing with her boss. Or anyone else who’s not Russian and carrying what looks like a machine gun and a black hood. Before I can even process these details of the thug rushing towards me, he punches me in the gut so hard all the breath in my body leaves in a loud oof, slips the hood over my head and carries me towards the van blocking the driveway. One solid knock to the head and everything goes black.

Chapter 11

~ Heath ~

I can’t breathe.

Fuck, I can’t breathe! How did this happen? One minute everything was fine, Liv and Jacob were taking some time out after spending the afternoon in a tutoring session and then– I don’t even know. Ten little words succeeded in ripping my world apart more effectively than any IED.

You took something of mine.

I took something of yours.

A note! A fucking note left to taunt me. I turn to Melissa, unable to keep my warring emotions from the glare directed at her.

“Start talking, Melissa.” She visibly shrinks back, then straightens her spine before looking me in the eye.

“It’s not what you think.”

“I don’t know what to think! Sergei Reznikov thinks you’re his. Obviously, there is more to this than we know, and you’re wasting time. So. Start. Talking.”

Aaron steps up next to her and places an arm around her shoulders, a protective stance to go with his own warning glare, directed at me.

“Easy man, this is a shock to all of us. Let’s just take a breath and sort this out,” he tries to placate, but I’m not in the mood.

I want to argue. I want to punch something, hard. I feel like screaming out my frustrations. I need Liv back in my arms. It’s all too much. Years of training and facing down the literal scum of the earth does not prepare you for this feeling. Hopeless frustration. Dread. Fear. God, if they hurt her. Blinding rage. Melissa takes a cautious step forward, and then another, until she’s standing right in front of me. She’s braver than I gave her credit for.

“I swear, I had no idea he would do this. His father employed me as an accountant for their business, but I reported to Sergei on a day-to-day basis. He made it clear pretty early on that he was interested in a relationship with me, but I never encouraged him. I swear, Heath, there was never anything– “

“So, how do we get from that to this? Why would he go to such extreme measures so soon after the raid? Why would he take the risk?”

“He became obsessive, his behavior erratic, but I avoided him as much as I could. It became more difficult when he had me move to the compound. According to him it was safer for me there and Crisden pushed for me to do it as well. According to him, the more access I had, and the more people saw me around, the less my presence would be questioned.”

Aaron lets out a soft growl at the mention of the special agent in charge.

“That fucker. I knew he had something to do with this.” His jaw as well as both fists are tightly clenched and if I had to guess, he’s just as close to punching someone as I am.

“So, what now?” I question. “Do you have any idea where Sergei might be? Or where he would have taken Liv?” She seems to consider this for a moment, or maybe it’s the answer that follows, because it’s definitely not something anyone wants to hear about the person keeping their loved one from them.

“I think he’s still here, in the city. He’s one of those perverse kinds of people who want to see everything, be a part of everything that’s going on. Women being raped, men being tortured, if he wasn’t doing the raping or torturing, he wanted to see it happen. Despite being a businessman to his core, he’s a mean, vindictive monster.”

“Fuck, Melissa, how the hell could you be part of this?” There is so much pain and frustration in Aaron’s eyes, but the concern for his sister overrules everything else. Unfortunately, she doesn’t see it.

“Don’t you dare judge me, Aaron! I had a job to do just like you. There was literally no-one else. With the time restrictions and requirements it had to be me. I did what needed to be done.”

“Okay, calm down. I think we’re losing sight of what’s important right now. We need to get Liv back. The arguments can wait till later.” I’d almost forgotten that Riley showed up shortly after Aaron called him and Melissa, but he manages to insert himself between us now, forcing me back slightly while turning his attention to Melissa. “Emmie, we need to know where to start looking. A specific location, anything. You know better than anyone where they used to operate, all their little hidey-holes. I need you to think, okay? If you need to go somewhere quiet for a moment, go ahead.”

I open my mouth to protest, but he throws me a warning glare. Then Mike is next to me, taking me by the shoulder and leading me into the kitchen where Jacob is watching while Kate makes him a snack. His eyes meet mine and then immediately look away. I know that look but seeing it on an eleven-year-old boy who is as blameless in this situation as only a child can be, tears me wide open.

“Hey Jacob, can we talk for a minute?” He steals a look at Kate who gives him a reassuring smile before nodding at me. We take a seat at the kitchen table and once Kate and Mike leave, I focus my attention on him. “Hey bud, are you doing okay? There’s been a lot going on here lately.” He stares at me for a moment, as if trying to decipher if I’m being sincere or not, before he answers.

“This is my fault. I was the one who wanted to play outside. I challenged Liv to a game of hoops even though I could see she was tired.”

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