CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Piper glanced around the gas station on the outskirts of Amaretto. From here, the rest of Bravo would travel to the lodge and unload their luggage while she and Liam continued to Hartman.
Seeing Liam’s teammates in the rearview mirror the past few hours had been a comfort. The team would still be near, but not close enough to dispel her fear for Liam’s safety.
Liam walked from the convenience store with bottles of water in one hand and snack food in the other. He climbed into the driver’s seat, deposited drinks in the cup holders and handed Piper the snacks. “I bought several things. Hopefully, one of them will appeal to you.” He slid her a pointed look. “You aren’t eating enough.”
She seized a pack of salted peanuts. “This is perfect. Thank you, Liam.”
He squeezed her knee and started the engine. “You ready?”
“Would it matter if I said I wasn’t?”
He glanced at her, concern in the depths of his eyes. “Your uncle isn’t expecting us today. We could go with Bravo to the lodge for tonight. I’ll introduce you to Brody and his team.”
Delaying the inevitable was tempting. But she wanted an end to this nightmare. The only way to accomplish that goal was to locate Gavin’s information and go straight to the feds. Liam and his friends must know government agents who would take the information and use it against Barone. The part of her wanting to end this and move on to the next phase in her life was stronger than the part hoping to hide for a few more hours.
“I wish. I have to know who’s behind the attempts to kidnap and kill me. The attacks won’t stop until we bring the person to justice.” What if Barone’s henchmen wanted revenge? This nightmare might never end.
Piper shoved that thought behind a thick wall in her mind. She and Liam would find a way to end the threat. No other outcome was acceptable. Piper wanted a life with Liam in Otter Creek. She didn’t want to look over her shoulder the rest of her life, expecting a hit man with orders to snuff out her life or those of her children.
Grim determination filled her. No one had the right to threaten her or her family. Going to Hartman was the next step in shutting down the danger to her, Liam, and their future children.
He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “All right. Let’s do this.” After a short conversation with Trent and a promise to report in two hours, Liam drove from the gas station and traveled the final few miles to Hartman.
The closer they drove to her hometown, the more Piper’s stomach knotted.
“We’ll be okay, Sunshine.” Liam threaded his fingers through hers. “I won’t let anyone hurt you again.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
He glanced at her, skepticism in his eyes.
“Okay, that’s not my only concern. I’m more concerned for your safety than mine. You will step into the line of fire to protect me.”
“We have backup, but we can’t mention that my teammates are near to anyone. We have to act as though we’re alone. Otherwise, Bravo and Texas lose the advantage. Act as though you have all the confidence in the world. After all, you’re here because at your uncle’s request. At the moment, no one knows Gavin’s clue led you here.”
“They’ll figure it out.”
“The trick is to stay several steps ahead of them and be out of their reach by the time they figure out what we’re doing.”
“Sounds simple. Why do I think achieving that goal will be harder than it sounds?”
Laughter rumbled from his chest. “Probably Because you’re as smart as you are beautiful. Remember what I told you about mission planning?”
“Have backup plans. A lot of them.”
“Right. The reason is things always go wrong.”
She hoped the mission went according to plan this time.
Fifteen minutes later, Liam stopped at the black wrought-iron gates. A security guard swaggered up and motioned for Liam to roll down his window.
“Got an appointment?” The guard’s eyes narrowed when he saw Piper. “Do I know you?”
“We’ve never met.” Of that, she was sure. This man’s eyes were as cold as a snake’s.
“Mr. Romano is expecting us,” Liam said. “I’m Liam and this is his niece, Piper.”
A grunt. “Wait here.” He lumbered off a few feet and pressed his cell phone to his ear, gaze locked on Liam and Piper.
“Uncle Gino won’t be happy we didn’t give him some warning.”
“Why? He ordered you to come home.”
“He doesn’t like surprises, including surprise visits.”
“To have you here, Gino will deal.”
What did her uncle want? He’d maintained silence for three years, displeased with her for refusing to marry Gavin. Did the attempts on her life have anything to do with why he wanted her in Hartman now?
Her heart skipped a beat. Maybe she and Liam had looked for the culprit behind her problems in the wrong place. Was Gino to blame? He had the money. Motivation? When he realized Gavin was dead, his motivation would disappear.
If her uncle set up the attacks, she was taking Liam into the heart of danger by staying in Gino’s home.
The guard returned. “You’ll be met at the front door and escorted inside.”
“If I park in front of the house, my SUV will stay there. No one drives my vehicle except me.”
Another narrow-eyed look. “Drive to the front door.” He retraced his steps to the guard shack and pressed a button. The black gates opened inward.
“I’m not impressed with the security.”
She frowned. “Why not?” When she was growing up, the guards were everywhere, watching each move she made. Her uncle had bragged to his friends about his top-notch security team.
“The guard didn’t ask for identification or demand to search us and the vehicle for weapons.”
“Would you have let him search us?”
“Not a chance. The point is he didn’t insist. If your uncle is innocent of wrong doing, he needs better security to keep him safe.”
Piper smiled. “Should be an interesting conversation. He thinks he knows best about everything.”
“That’s what I wanted to see.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Your beautiful smile.” Liam parked at the front steps, turned off the engine, and came around to open Piper’s door. Leaning in, Liam kissed her.
When he eased back, Liam tucked her hair behind one ear. “Remember that we’re on stage.”
“Even in our rooms?”
“Until I determine if cameras or bugs are in the rooms, yes. No matter what happens, know that I love you, Piper.”
Tears stung her eyes. “I love you, too.”
Liam hugged her, muscular body shielding her from the view of others interested in their arrival. “Don’t cry. Your uncle will think the tears are my fault.”
His gentle teasing brought a smile to her lips. She wrapped her arms around him and leaned in to nuzzle his neck. “How do we approach this?” Her uncle’s security cameras were positioned to track visitors approaching the house. Although Piper didn’t remember the security people having the ability to read lips, Gino’s had new guards now. One of them might have the lip-reading skill.
“You’re here because Romano asked you to come home. When we search for Gavin’s information, we’ll tell people you want to show me your hometown and introduce me to your friends.” He kissed her temple. “We have an audience.”
Piper looked toward the front door. Two guards watched them, their jackets open to reveal guns in holsters at their hips. Her uncle waited at the top of the stairs, a frown marring his handsome face. Uncle Gino was not happy with her. Nothing had changed.
“We should go before Uncle Gino grows more irritated.” She released her hold on his neck. “Thank you for coming with me.”
“I wouldn’t let you do this without me.” He helped her from the SUV. After locking his vehicle, Liam laid his hand at the small of her back.
They walked up the stairs under the watchful eyes of her uncle’s security detail. As she and Liam drew closer, Piper realized Gino Romano had aged and lost a lot of weight. He didn’t look healthy, his skin sallow. Gino’s wrist bones protruded and his fingers resembled thin sticks.
An invisible band squeezed Piper’s heart. Was her uncle sick? “Uncle Gino.”
“I’m glad you’re here, Piper.” He held out a hand to Liam. “Gino Romano.”
“Liam McCoy. Thanks for opening your home to me.”
A small smile curved Gino’s lips. “Piper didn’t leave me a choice.”
“Still, I appreciate the hospitality, sir.”
After a short nod, he turned his attention to Piper. “Come. We have much to discuss. Your friend can bring luggage to your rooms while we talk.”
Liam stiffened.
Piper shook her head. “I don’t have secrets from Liam. No offense, Uncle Gino, but after the past two days, I don’t trust anyone except Liam.”
Gino’s brows beetled. “You’re perfectly safe in your own home, Piper. I have more security than ever.”
“He comes with me.”
“I suppose the luggage can be dealt with later. Follow me.” He turned on his heel and led the way into the house.
As they passed through the lobby and headed toward Gino’s office, Piper caught glimpses of various rooms and realized nothing had changed since she left.
When Gino entered his office, one of the security guards barred the way before Liam and Piper crossed the threshold. “You armed?” he asked Liam.
“I’m in private security. What do you think?”
The guard snorted and held out his hand, palm up. “No one goes armed into a closed-door meeting with Mr. Romano. Hand them over.”
“No.” Liam cupped Piper’s arm and turned her away from the office.
“Wait.” Gino laid a hand on the guard’s arm although his gaze remained fixed on Liam. “You don’t plan to harm me, do you, young man?”
“As long as you aren’t a threat to Piper.”
“There. You see?” The older man motioned for the security guard to step aside. “I’ll be fine. If it makes you feel better, wait in the hall.”
With an unspoken warning, the guard moved enough for Piper and Liam to pass.
Once he closed the door, Gino waved them to chairs in front of his desk. “Have a seat. Who do you work for, McCoy?”
“Fortress Security.”
Gino’s eyes widened in surprise. “That’s an elite group. How long have you worked for them?”
“A few years.”
“I understand why you’re hypervigilant. It’s not necessary here.”
“Piper was kidnapped twice and had shots fired at her. I don’t trust anyone with her safety.”
“Kidnapped? Why would anyone kidnap my niece?”
“That’s what I plan to find out.”
“Uncle Gino, we haven’t spoken in years. Why insist that I come home now?”
After a lingering speculative look at Liam, Gino shifted his focus to Piper. “There’s no easy way to tell you this, child.”
Piper’s nails dug into her palm. “Just say it.”
“I’m dying.”