Chapter Eighteen
“What are you thinking about so hard?” Cora asked half asleep. It may be the middle of the day, but after all the stress and fighting, and the past hour of making love, she was exhausted.
Liam gathered her close and just breathed her in. He never wanted to move. She fit him perfectly. In and out of bed. They both had a temper and could be stubborn, but they both alsoloved fiercely and protected their own. “Nothing important.” He said and kissed the top of her head. “Just go to sleep.” Tomorrow’s problems would come soon enough.
Cora wouldn’t be ignored. She sat up and looked down at him. “Tell me. No more secrets, remember?”
Shit, he had promised her. Maybe if she knew the truth, she wouldn’t try to leave tomorrow. “We couldn’t find Alejandro.”
He letthe words sit between them and allow her to absorb them. It didn’t take her long to understand their meaning. “So, this isn’t over yet. Does that mean we have to stay here?”
Liam would never want to force Cora to do something she didn’t want to. “I’d like to, but I leave the decision up to you.”
Cora flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. “What do you want to do?”
“I wouldlike us to stay. More eyes and better protection here.”
Cora remained quiet as if in thought. “I suppose we could stay a few more days,” Cora said slowly, as if unsure.
Liam turned to his side and faced Cora. “Are you sure? I don’t want you miserable.”
“I’ll be fine. I understand the whole safety in numbers. Aaron does have an insane security system here. I feel safe here. Besides, I haveyou to distract me.”
Liam liked the sounds of that. “I will make it my personal mission to see you properly distracted.”
Cora snuggled close to Liam, hoping sleep would claim her. She had been so on edge the past few days, but her mind refused to be silent. “What if I disable the security on Alejandro’s accounts?”
She felt Liam tense under her. “What do you mean?”
Cora sat up and proppedher head on his chest. “You said you can’t find him, but a lot of people are looking for him. Without security to protect his investments-”
“It would be easy for someone to hack him and rob.” Liam finished for her. “It’s risky.”
“But worth it if it pays off. I’m not working for him anymore, anyway.”
“He could have suspected you, a while ago. You have been ignoring his calls.”
It was true.“We know he’s here on the coast. He was trying to set up a business here. He can’t just walk away. But if his enemies are after him…” She allowed the thought to trail off.
“He’ll panic and go back to Panama.”
“Either way, we’ll know where he is. If his enemies are after him, he won’t have time to worry about coming after us.”
“It’s worth a shot.” Liam kissed her on the forehead. “Are yousure you’ll be okay working from here doing it? Everyone is staying here until Alejandro is found.
“I’m sure. I can still work from here,” Liam knew it was a big concession for Cora to stay at Hound’s longer, but he appreciated it.
“Get some sleep, Amazon.” His statement was met with silence. Liam looked over at Cora, but she was already passed out.
~
If Cora thought staying at Aaron’swould be easy she had been wrong. Cora had lived alone for over ten years, and now she was sharing a room with Liam, in a house full of six other men and Hannah. It was crowded, to say the least. At least Aaron’s house was large, and she only had to share a bathroom with Liam. The guys spend the next two days clearing out the bodies, and fixing the gate. Aaron had to contact a contractor to fixthe roof. Cora spent a majority of her time on her computer working, and disabling the security on Alejandro’s accounts. Cora felt bad for Hannah who didn’t seem to know what to do. Hannah didn’t want to interrupt Cora’s work, nor get underfoot for the guys, so she ended up spending a lot of time on her own.
By the end of the two days, Aaron’s computer alerted him of a facial match to Alejandrowas seen heading back to Panama. Cora’s plan had worked. After the defeat at Aaron’s house, and now Alejandro’s enemies after him, he was retreating. Cora told Liam that she was ready to go back home.
“I think it’s too soon.” He argued that night.
“Aaron said that Alejandro was seen going back to wherever it is that’s he’s from. He’s too weak to come after us anymore. This is what we discusseda few nights ago.” she argued, she was tired of living with so many people. She wanted her house back. She wanted her life back.
