Liam huffed as though he’d known all along. “Because it wasn’t from MI6. It was Nelson. He connects everything. He’s the dotted line that we’ve all ignored. He was the agent who took over for Ian after his wife died, and I’m starting to suspect that he was the one who killed her. He might have been the one to send her to Ian in the first place. I’m almost certain he was the one who killed my brother, and for some reason he saved me.”
“What does this have to do with us?” Avery asked, her head ringing with all the twists and turns. “Is this the man Thomas is meeting with?”
“We need to start walking. Let’s head to the Tube. Or do you have a driver meeting you?” Liam started down the street, but there was something wrong with his walk. He shuffled just a bit as though favoring his left leg.
“Sod off,” Weston shot back. “I don’t have a bloody driver. And I want to know what Nelson’s old op has to do with this, too. And what the hell’s wrong with your leg?”
Liam shrugged. “Just a couple of bullets. I’m fine. They just grazed me.”
Avery nearly stopped in the middle of the street. “Bullets?”
“Keep your voice down, love.” He chuckled a little and nodded toward the building they were walking past. “That’s Scotland Yard HQ. Let’s not talk about bullets or guns.”
He’d been shot. Liam had been shot and apparently more than once. Her heart threatened to pound out of her chest. He could have died, and it was very likely that no one would have told her. She would have waited outside the building for him. When he didn’t show up, she would have assumed he was done with her. The thought of never touching him again assaulted her. The idea of Liam, his big body cold and dead, was unthinkable.
She was in love with him. She’d spent the last twenty-four hours telling herself that she wasn’t, but it was a lie. She was trying to protect herself. There was no way Liam really loved her. He was feeling guilty. From what she could tell, this was maybe the first time he’d been forced to get really close to a woman in a way that didn’t involve bondage and video cameras. When things became normal again, he wouldn’t want her.
But she was worried that she would always want him.
They walked up Victoria Street and Westminster Abbey came into view. It wasn’t the way they would normally go, but Liam seemed intent on talking to Simon and perhaps it was better to do it in public.
“I’m going to take it you didn’t get your job finished,” Simon said, walking toward Westminster station.
Liam frowned, adjusting his baseball cap. “No. He didn’t show. He’s onto us, and he likely has been the whole bloody time. Something’s off. I don’t know if Molina knows, but Nelson is playing a deep game with the lot of us. That’s why I’m moving her out.”
“I can’t leave. I didn’t find the files.” Avery struggled to keep up. Even injured, Liam was faster than she was.
He slowed down, his hand tangling in hers. “Sorry, love. I’m anxious. And you will leave with me in the morning. The rest of the team will figure this mess out, but you’re done.”
The mission couldn’t be over. “I think the files are at his house. I can get in there.”
“Avery, do you know a man named Malcolm Glass?” Liam asked, ignoring her statement.
Why did he want to know about Malcolm? The files were the important thing here. “Yes, he works for Thomas. He’s Thomas’s driver.”
Simon snorted. Only he could make the sound elegant. “He’s Molina’s enforcer. He’s got quite the history. He’s done a couple of stints in prison, but lately he’s become smarter. I believe he’s Molina’s muscle.”
“He’s dead,” Liam said bluntly. “I put a bullet through his skull not two hours ago. He was sent to kill me because I’m sleeping with you. He was quite clear on the subject. Molina wants you, and he’s quite angry that I’ve had you. Do you understand what a man like that will do if he decides to take you?”
A shiver went up her spine. Thomas had sent Malcolm to kill her boyfriend? “It’s not like that.”
But now she wondered. Thomas liked to touch her. She’d thought it was just affection, but there had been times when he would hug her too long or his hands would slip. And he did seem to be deeply possessive.
“He’s the one who made sure you didn’t have friends at the office,” Simon pointed out. “He’s been isolating you. He’s actually quite odd, you know. I haven’t been able to spend much time with him. Every time I try, he puts me off.”
“Because he made you a long time ago.” Liam’s eyes strayed to the massive cathedral.
Simon stopped. “Bugger. How did he make me? I’ve been careful.”
Liam motioned for Simon to keep up. “Doesn’t matter, but if Nelson knew who to send Ian’s files to, then you better consider yourself compromised, and MI6 is going to need a new plan. You might talk to MI5 or Scotland Yard. See if you can legally search Molina’s town house. I think that might be your only shot or you’ll have to work this from another country. Either way, Avery’s out. She’s not going to be alone with the bastard again.”
“Don’t I have any say in this?” Avery asked. It was all happening too fast.
“No,” both men replied at the same time.