Page 28 of Liam
Liam fought every fucking instinct demanding he leave the shelter of darkness at the side of the condo. He wanted to attack the assholes—hurt them for breaking into her place and demand to know who they were.
He could hear two distinct heartbeats inside the apartment, another outside, near the door, and like he’d told Nylah, there could be more in the parking lot. Accomplices in cars, ready to shoot.
There was no way he was leaving her alone.
When she trembled, he quietly set down the blanket and basket to smooth his hand down her arm. He lowered his head and whispered, “You’re safe with me, Ny. I’m gonna take my hand away from your mouth, but I need you to not make a sound, okay?”
She nodded, and he slowly removed his hand but didn’t move back an inch. His entire front pressed her against the wall, covering her. If someone saw them, if someone fired a bullet, he wanted her protected.
Quickly, he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone. He sent a text to his team, alerting them to what was happening. They’d be here within minutes. Then he heard more movement from the door of the condo.
“No one’s fucking here,” a man growled.
“It doesn’t make sense. The car’s in the lot.”
Then a third voice. “Let’s go before the others get tired of waiting and leave without us.”
Others…thereweremore. Thank fuck he hadn’t left her side.
Liam listened as the last two men stepped outside and closed the door. When they started moving across the lot, his legs once again twitched to go. Give chase and capture the fuckers. He needed to know who they were, why they were here. But if he left Nylah and she was attacked, he’d never forgive himself.
Everything in Liam told him that protecting this woman was his main priority.
He and Nylah watched as two cars left the parking lot. The interior light flicked on in the second vehicle, and he could just see the driver. Dark hair and eyes. That was as good as the description got.
But the plate was clearly lit as the car passed. He committed those numbers to memory.
They stayed exactly where they were for another few minutes. Then, slowly, he pushed back from the wall, still watching the lot.
“Are they all gone?” she whispered.
“Yeah.”
She wet her lips and went to step away, but he grabbed her arm and tucked her into his side. He wanted her as close as possible. Fortunately, she sank against him. They headed toward her condo.
Callum’s car pulled into the parking lot before they reached the door. He climbed out and unholstered his weapon. “You guys okay?”
Liam nodded, tipping his head toward the apartment. Callum understood. His friend moved into the condo, gun raised. Liam couldn’t hear anyone in there, but then, they could have left something. He needed confirmation that it was safe before she stepped inside.
A couple minutes later, Callum returned. “Clear. The place is trashed, but other than that, looks safe.”
Nylah’s lips turned down. “I hope nothing of Paisley’s is broken.”
Liam touched a hand to the small of her back. “Let’s have a look. But be careful not to touch anything. Police will dust for prints.”
She nodded, and they stepped inside. Liam’s chest constricted at the sight of her couch tipped over, the cupboard doors open, and things pulled out and broken.
It was the bedroom, though, that had the worst of the damage. Every drawer was open. Clothes lay on the floor.
Liam’s hands fisted. He wanted to fucking catch those assholes. When they hadn’t found anyone here, had they tried to stage it to look like a break-in, to cover the fact the lock was broken?
By the time they went back outside, Logan, Jason, and the police were all pulling up.
“I called them,” Callum said under his breath, as two officers climbed out. Liam recognized them from the night of the shooting.
They’d call the FBI too, because he was certain those assholes tonight were connected to the attack on the engagement party.
Gently, he curved an arm around Nylah’s waist and once again tugged her into his side. She’d been quiet the entire apartment walk-through.
