CHAPTER EIGHT
Liam’s mind filled with ugly possibilities wrapped in those few words. He didn’t have a problem taking on Barone’s crime syndicate but didn’t want Piper caught in the crossfire. “Did he set up another meet?”
“Gavin said he left information for me at our ski lodge. About twenty of us stayed at the Copper Ridge Ski Resort a month after Gavin and I became a couple. He called it our resort.”
Liam frowned, not liking the thought of Piper dating Gavin. “Isn’t that near Gatlinburg?”
She nodded. “It’s two hours outside of Knoxville.”
Still too close to Barone’s stronghold to suit Liam, especially considering he’d killed two of Barone’s henchmen. Were the two men in the morgue the only ones the syndicate boss sent after Gavin and Piper? “Gavin left the information and bolted?”
“That’s what his voice-mail message said.”
“Do you mind playing it for me?”
Piper tapped her phone screen and a man’s voice came from the speaker.
“Piper, why didn’t you meet me? Look, I know we didn’t part on good terms, but I need to get this information into the hands of someone I trust to do the right thing. I’m leaving everything I have on M in the crevice at the ski resort. You know the one. Do what you want with it. If you’re smart, you’ll burn it and run. Disappear and take on a new identity. I’m going underground to do that. I stashed money in a Swiss bank account. I’ll be fine. I won’t be breathing if I don’t disappear. I found out too much and now I’m a liability. I will always love you, Piper. Don’t forget me.”
Liam tightened his hold on Piper. “Do you know what he meant about leaving the information in the crevice at the resort?”
She nodded. “On one of the hikes we took around the resort, Gavin and I found a cave in the mountainside. Inside the cave was a deep crevice. He joked about it being deep enough to hide a body inside.” Piper shivered. “I told him that was a ghoulish thought. He just laughed and called me melodramatic. That cave was dank and creepy.”
“I’m not a fan of dank and creepy myself.” He eased her away enough to look into her eyes. “Can you describe where you found the cave?”
“Why?”
“Could be dangerous going to retrieve this information. I don’t want you exposed to more danger. Tell me where it is and I’ll go after it myself.”
“I appreciate you trying to protect me, Liam, but I have to go with you. I don’t remember enough details to describe where the cave is. There was more than one in the area. I have to do this. If there’s any chance to take down Barone and my uncle, I have to try.”
He’d been afraid of that. “We’ll find another way, one that doesn’t involve putting you at risk again. Fortress is in the information business. People owe us favors and I know two men who can hack into any database and mine for information. I want you safe.”
Piper cupped his face between her soft palms. “I’m already involved. Rock and his buddy came after me because they thought I had the information. If you’re right and Matteo sent them to retrieve it, the minions won’t quit until they have the information in their hands.”
He pressed his forehead against hers. “The only way to stop them is turn the information over to law enforcement.” He needed to talk to Maddox about going after Matteo’s organization.
“It won’t be enough.”
“I know.” If Matteo sent goons after Piper, he assumed she knew too much. Even if she gave the information to Barone, thugs would come after Piper until she was dead. Liam wouldn’t let that happen. If he had to take on the mob by himself, so be it. “I won’t let them hurt you again, Sunshine.”
He trailed the backs of his fingers down her unbruised cheek. “Are we driving to Copper Ridge Ski Resort today?”
“I’m going. I’m sure you have a ton of work waiting for you at PSI.”
Piper Reece was a stubborn woman. Despite her fear, she was still trying to protect him. “My teammates will cover the workload for me.”
“What if your team is deployed?”
Liam shook his head. “We’re off rotation for a month unless there’s an emergency. Besides, we’ll only be an hour away from Otter Creek.” He tapped her nose. “Give up. You aren’t doing this on your own. I’m trained to handle dangerous situations like this one. Trust me.”
Piper laid her hand over his heart, her touch possessive. Liam liked that. A lot. “All right. When do we leave?”
“Two hours. We need to stop at the police station first, then pack overnight bags.”
“The resort isn’t that far. We’ll be gone a few hours at most.”
“That’s the best-case scenario. In my line of work, we expect the worst. Pack enough for a couple of days.”
Liam escorted her from the hospital, Matt and Trent flanking them.
The medic tossed Liam a set of keys and indicated the black SUV to his right. “That’s your replacement ride. Bear had this one ready to go. When he heard what happened on the highway, he and his wife brought this SUV to Otter Creek for you.”
“Great.” He helped Piper into the passenger seat and stashed her bag in the cargo area. His Go bag and equipment bag were already in the back.
He looked at Trent, eyebrows raised. “How did you get my gear? I thought the Cherry Hill cops would confiscate it.”
His team leader shrugged. “Ethan’s handiwork.”
Wow. The Otter Creek police chief had serious pull.
“Need backup?”
“Doubtful but I won’t rule it out.”
“We’ll be ready.”
“Forget going by yourself,” Matt said. “Simon has his bag packed. He’s waiting for a direction to drive. Call him, Liam. Otherwise, he’ll have Zane track you down.”
Yeah, he would. Liam would do the same if Simon was in danger. “I’ll talk to him.”
“Where are you headed?” Trent asked.
“Copper Ridge Ski Resort.”
“We’ll study schematics and maps of the area in case you need a hand. Watch your back.” He turned to Piper. “Be careful. Do exactly what Liam and Simon tell you to do. They’ll keep you safe.”
“I don’t want Liam in trouble for skipping work.”
Liam wrapped his hand around hers. “I’ll talk to my boss. I’ll be fine.”
“Brent Maddox is fiercely protective of women who are in trouble,” Matt agreed. “He won’t have a problem with Liam protecting the woman he’s dating.”
Trent clapped Liam on the shoulder. “Check in every two hours. If you run into trouble, I want to know.”
“Yes, sir.”
He shut Piper’s door, circled the hood, and slid behind the steering wheel. On the drive to the police station, Liam called Simon.
After his detailed explanation, Simon said, “I’ll drive to the resort and do reconnaissance. Want me to see if two rooms are available?”
Liam glanced at Piper. Would she like to spend time at the resort? He didn’t think Delilah would protest Piper taking another day off. “A suite.” After almost losing her to thugs, Liam preferred having Piper close.
“Let me know when you arrive.”
“Copy that.” He ended the call and glanced at the silent woman by his side. “Are you hungry?”
Piper twisted in her seat. “I’m starving. The food at Memorial is less than stellar.”
Liam chuckled. “Not surprising.”
“Have you been admitted to a hospital?” She rolled her eyes and held up a hand to stop him from answering. “Never mind. Of course you have. Perhaps a better question is how long were you admitted?”
“A few months. I was injured on a mission with my Marine unit.”
“How long were you enlisted?”
“Ten years.”
“Good experience?”
“Aside from the sand, heat, and terrorists, joining the Marines was the best decision I ever made. Those men and women became my family.”
“Did you do the same job in the military that you do now?”
His grip tightened around the steering wheel. “Yes.”
“Tough job. Thank you for your service, Liam.”
“Serving was an honor,” he said, throat tight. Thank God Piper hadn’t turned away from him after learning of his specialty. “My job doesn’t bother you?”
“You protect your teammates.”
“More than one person called me a murderer for hire.”
Her jaw dropped. “That’s ridiculous. You’re do a job most people can’t or won’t do. You’re one of the bravest men I’ve ever met. You don’t shrink from gut-wrenching work and find a way to get the job done.”
Liam didn’t say anything until he parked in the lot beside the Otter Creek police department. He turned off the engine and came around to open Piper’s door. Instead of giving her room to exit the vehicle, he cupped her cheek. “Are you sure you want to be with me, Sunshine?”
“Positive.” She twined her arms around his neck. “I haven’t been interested in dating anyone in a long time. I count myself lucky you noticed me among the scores of women who flock around you in town.”
The ice flowing through his veins from the moment he’d discovered her missing melted away. “What other women? The only one I’ve noticed in years is you. I’m the one who is lucky. Thank you for giving me a chance.”
She smiled, her eyes twinkling. “Will you kiss me now?”
Liam’s lips curved. “Do you want me to?”
“Very much. I almost initiated a real kiss last month, but Fortress sent you to unknown parts of the world for weeks.”
His gaze dipped to her mouth. “You don’t know how hard it’s been to hold off and let you learn to trust me. I’d love to kiss you.”
“But?”
“I don’t want to be concerned about your safety when I kiss you. You’re too exposed out here and I guarantee I’ll be distracted. Much as it pains me to say this, we have to wait a little longer.”
“Today, though?”
“Oh, yeah. Today.” He’d been wanting to kiss Piper from the first moment he saw her. Years of discipline drilled into him by the Corp and Fortress kept his lips from hers at this moment.
Liam found the grit somewhere to step back. Watching for anything suspicious, he escorted her into the police station, hand pressed to her lower back.
The desk sergeant nodded at Liam. “McCoy. Glad you’re back. How can I help you?”
“Detective Santana left statements for us to sign.”
“You’ll need to see Detective Armstrong. Santana is off shift. He went to breakfast with his wife.” He picked up the handset. “I’ll tell Armstrong you’re here.”
Two minutes later, Stella Armstrong opened the double doors and motioned for Liam and Piper to follow her. They walked through the bullpen and into an office where Stella closed the door and shut out the noise of ringing phones and raised voices.
“Sorry. It’s crazy out there today.” The dark-haired detective motioned to the seats in front of the desk. “I heard what happened last night. How are you, Piper?”
“I’m fine. Liam rescued me before the kidnappers did too much damage.” She covered the bruised cheek with her palm. “This is the worst of the injuries.”
Liam frowned. “You have more?” Why hadn’t he heard about them?
“A scraped knee. It’s nothing.”
“I read the police report.” Stella crossed her arms over her chest. “Nice work, Liam. No repercussions from Fortress?”
“Haven’t had time to call Maddox yet. Trent talked to him. I have to report in soon.” He tilted his head, studying the detective’s solemn expression. He’d spent time with Stella and her husband, Nate, a fellow Fortress operative, enough to know she was worried. “What’s wrong?”
“We got an ID on the two men you shot. They’re connected to organized crime, Liam.”