“Liam, it’s not like that. I…” Sara starts and I shake my head when she comes closer, she looks so hurt, but I need a minute to breathe.
“Joe, who did you find out is responsible for the poker games? I need this chase to stop.” I look back and forth between him and Sara to drive my point home. Hopefully, they catch on that I'm calling out whatever is going on between the two of them, too.
Joe sits back down and leans against the desk, looking at the computer screen. While Sara hesitantly walks over to me.
“Did you see the name of the company?” he asks.
“I did the other day but got distracted. Lakemore Chica, right?” I gesture her closer, unable to stop myself from wanting her near me. I sit on the chair, taking her onto my lap.
In unison, Joe and I say, “It’s mom’s maiden name.”
We both look at each other, and the thought lingers of what sick joke this all could mean.
“Which one is her maiden name?” Sara asks, drawing circles on my thigh.
Joe watches the movement of her hand on me, and my dick hardens.Mine.
“Chica,” I reply, kissing her temple.
“There’s only two people who know that name, if they meant to use it for her…” Joe crosses his arms. “And one of them is dead.”
“There’s plenty more people who know that name, Joe. Mom grew up here. It’s a coincidence, that’s all that is.” I grunt, growing irritated.
I push Sara’s hair to the side and trail kisses down her neck. She squeezes her thighs and I love how I affect her.
“It is a common word. it’s girl in Spanish.” Sara adds, a little breathless.
“Yes gracias, I knew that.” Joe winks at her.
“Alright, next question. What the fuck do they want, Joe?” I drop my head in my free hand, while my other holds Sara to my chest.
“They want… They want Sara and they want you dead for blowing up the Velastra.”
Sara freezes in my arms, barely managing a, “No…”
“They’re not going to do shit, baby,” I reassure her. She stares up at Joe. “Why do they want me, Joe?”
“You’ve caught their interest, that’s my fault—”
I cut him off. “Fuck, man! Fuck!” I shout. “I need this shit over like yesterday!”
Sara’s arm comes around my neck. “Liam, maybe if I…”
“You’re not doing anything.” I grab her throat and urgently pull her to my lips, kissing her, biting her lower lip.
“I need you to go back to bed. I have to talk to Joe. I’ll be beside you when we’re done,” I say against her lips. Joe watches us, leaning back in his chair, something like anger running through him.
She nods kissing me one more time and looks over to Joe before walking out of the office, leaving him and I alone.
“You could be a little more gentle with her,” Joe rasps.
I chuckle at that. “She likes it rough.” I smile, and he shakes his head, his eyes darkening to a somber shade that's close to regret.
“Some things are meant to stay in your head, Liam,” he grits out.
“Why did you keep this from me, Joe? It doesn’t make sense.”
“It made little sense to me too, Liam, but I had a lot of time to think—I just wanted to make you proud. I didn’t want you to come to my rescue. Not again. You had with Dad, I saw whatit did to us, to me. I just didn’t want to be saved.” He rubs his eyes with his fingers, and my anger is turning into guilt as Joe continues, “I found a lead which I didn’t expect with the games. I suspected it was connected to the trafficking, and they caught me when I rescued a few girls. It all unraveled quickly from there and I found myself with threats up to my fucking throat. You hated Sara and I had to protect her.”
