I sighed. If the bastard left here tonight without another hole in his body, it would be a miracle. I led Amanda back to the kitchen table and our interrupted meal.
Liam plucked a chicken thigh off my plate, smelt it, and tore a piece off with his teeth.
Anger rumbled through me, but Amanda jumped in to play mediator. “Can I offer you a plate? Or something to drink?”
“Nah, I’m grand.” Liam sat heavily in one chair. He continued to gnaw pieces of meat off the bone.
The alcohol made his accent thicker tonight.
I pulled out a chair, thought better of it, and pulled Amanda onto my lap. Better to keep her at a safe distance on the opposite side of the table—with me.
“Vincenzo,” Amanda said with feigned pleasantness. “This is the part where you introduce your friend and explain what the hell is going on.”
“This is Liam McDonagh.”A man I should have let burn.“And since he’s here, I assume he’s taken me up on my offer.”
Liam tossed the bone back on the plate. “I’ve considered it.”
“Considered?” I drew out the word. Why was he wasting my time if this was a mere consideration?
“I have to interview her, first.” Liam smirked.
The effect was garish.
When Amanda stifled a short gasp and leaned back into me, I realized with a rush of horror that she didn’t understand the need for Liam’s mask. If I’d known he was coming, I could have explained. Hell, I thought the interview would happen elsewhere, which would have given me ample time to tell her the short history of our acquaintance.
But, not wanting to offend Liam and ruin what I hoped would be a good thing, I bit my tongue and didn’t reveal the reason half his face was concealed by a shiny plastic mask.
“Interview…me?” Amanda shifted back on my lap.
My dick was hard again. Not that it’d had the chance to go soft. It dug into her spine. Something she no doubt was taking advantage of.
“Yep.” Liam folded his hands on the table. One was covered in a black glove.
I almost felt bad for him.
Almost.
“For what?” Amanda’s voice dripped with annoyance.
“Liam runs a prominent construction company in the city,” I explained, jumping to end the back and forth. The sooner this farce was over, the better. I had plans for my flower that did not involve the Irishman. “He is looking to expand, but the company is always running into red tape.”
“V here said he had a lawyer lookin’ for work.” Liam cocked his head. “That’d be you, I take it?”
The words had a beautiful effect. Amanda sat up straighter. Leaned forward. “What do you need?”
They began to talk shop. Liam explained some of his more recent difficulties, and Amanda jumped in with clarifying questions. She understood perfectly the type of legal difficulties he faced.
Damn, but she was perfect. I ran my knuckles up and down her thigh. Long, lazy strokes. I wanted to keep her to myself, use her skills for the good of the famiglia or when my own empire needed legal counsel, but there wasn’t enough excitement to keep her busy. She needed purpose and stability. Keeping her with me meant giving her freedom. I couldn’t ask her to be mine, to stay with me, if she felt trapped and aimless.
This was good for her.
And I trusted Liam enough to keep his paws off her.
“I’ll be seein’ you Monday morning, then,” Liam concluded, pushing to his feet.
“I’m looking forward to it.” Amanda rose and put out her hand.
Liam smirked and shoved his hands in his pockets. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to keep my body parts, even if they are damaged.”
