The UOF had both money a plenty and a way to distribute through their relief shipments. And it had a man at its helm who no one had seen for years before he’d decided to take back over his charity.
Thomas Molina wore contacts when he didn’t need them. Unless he was trying to cover green eyes with brown. His brother had always been a good actor, and his accents were impeccable. It was one of the reasons G2 had considered him for training. The magnitude of his brother’s betrayal washed over him. He’d suspected it when Avery had told him about the contacts, but now he knew it was true.
The shower started up, and he could hear Avery hum. It was funny how the universe worked. It was even funnier that he was contemplating the bloody universe. If he’d figured it out before, he would have been bitter and cold, and he very likely would have walked out on his own team.
But he’d met Avery. His love. His wife.
He would never forgive Rory for what he’d done, but he could finally forgive himself for letting it happen.
Liam sighed, shoving the past behind him as he went to join his future.
Chapter Twenty
Avery buttoned her sweater while internally debating the wisdom of engaging in first time anal sex before going on the run from a potential killer. On the plus side, she was so madly in love with Liam O’Donnell that she was probably glowing.
On the minus, she really kind of wanted to stay home and sit on a bag of frozen peas.
“Come on, baby.” Liam stood at the door. They seemed to have hit some magical time at which he became a serious worrywart. He’d hurried her through the shower that ended with her actually being clean. He’d rushed her through getting dressed. Every moment seemed to be filled with an anxiety to be gone from this place.
She would miss it. Sure it was the place where her creepy ex-boss had listened in on her having sex, but it was also the place where she’d found some peace and love. Liam seemed to think it would be the place where she would be horrifically killed if they didn’t get a move on.
“I’m coming,” she said, grabbing her purse. She’d selected her big purse. She had her pictures and medications and a single change of clothes. She’d left the undies behind because bossy guy wasn’t so into underwear.
What was wrong with her? She was leaving everything she knew behind, and she was making mental jokes. Avery knew it was deadly serious, but somehow it felt like an adventure. Taking Liam’s hand, she walked out the door and rapidly discovered that her adventure began in Adam and Jake’s apartment. Very exotic.
Adam held the door open as Liam ushered her across the hall. Jake stood beside the bar, a grim look on his face. Avery glanced around the formerly cheery apartment. Now it looked like a war room. Maps were laid out and two separate computers were running. Worse, there were a whole lot of weapons on display.
“What is it?” Liam asked after Adam closed the door. “We need to get out of here. We’re running late.”
“Yeah, we got that. I don’t know if that was Ian meant by acting normal,” Adam said with a little snort.
Avery felt her skin flush. She’d totally forgotten that more than one set of ears could be listening in. She’d sort of lost herself in the moment. “Can’t you stop listening in on that stuff?”
Liam shook his head. “They can now. Up until now, it’s been necessary. They’ve been our backup if something went wrong.”
“Yes, we had to make sure Li there didn’t slip up during sex. Apparently when he’s making love he forgets his accent,” Jake said. “Though you did a damn fine job today. Not a single lilt.”
Liam shrugged. “Only because you couldn’t hear me in the shower.”
“Yeah, well, we heard everything else. I think it’s safe to say whoever was listening in doesn’t think you’ve been tipped off. Poor girl. She’s going to be sore, and you’re going to make her run all over London. Do you need some ibuprofen?” Adam asked.
Or maybe they would just be on the run forever, and she would never have to see Jake and Adam again.
“Stop embarrassing me girl, Adam. Now, if that’s all, we’ll head out. Tell Evie to text me if plans change.” Liam started toward the door. “And tell Ian I need to have a talk with him. I think I might know who we’re up against, but it’s complicated. Tell him it all goes back to the Irish operation.”
“That’s going to have to wait. The plan has changed. Ian got a call from Nelson.” Jake pulled on a shoulder holster, settling a nasty-looking gun into the side.
“The bastard just called his cell?” Liam asked, his jaw dropping slightly.
Jake shrugged. “Yeah. He called about thirty minutes ago and asked to meet with Ian. According to him, he has information that could help us out.”
Liam shook his head. “He can’t think that Ian isn’t going to take him down. He put a couple of bullets into Ian’s brother and damn near killed Ian’s sister-in-law. Nelson isn’t an idiot. He’s got to know Ian wants revenge.”
Adam’s mouth was a flat, grim line. “He seems to think that whatever he has is going to convince Ian not to kill him.”