CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Liam’s grip tightened around his cell phone. “What can you tell me about the explosion?” he asked Zane.
“Professional job. The bomb was simple but effective. A blasting cap and C-4. The interesting thing is the explosion was just powerful enough to take out her car.”
Beside him, Piper shuddered. “I’m glad my car was parked in the lot a block away from Wicks. Was anyone else’s vehicle damaged?”
“No vehicles were parked next to yours. The damage to two other vehicles was limited to cracked windows.”
Liam kissed her temple. “Spencer was EOD, one of the best bomb technicians I know. It had to be him. No way the clowns who tossed Piper’s place could blow up her car with such precision. They would have used a Molotov cocktail.”
“Why did Spencer destroy my car?” Piper asked.
“He hopes you go back to Otter Creek to deal with the aftermath.”
“You wouldn’t let me go back alone.”
“That’s what he wants. At the moment, he doesn’t know where I am. If he’s impatient to finish this, he’ll use any means necessary to draw me out. Z, are we sure the other women are covered?”
“Don’t worry. With this latest volley, the women will be double covered. You just worry about Piper.”
“What about Stella?” Piper edged closer to Liam. “She travels all over town. If she’s sent on a call, Stella will be vulnerable. We have to warn her.”
“Don’t worry,” Zane said. “Stella Armstrong is one tough cookie. She was a US Marshal and dealt with the worst criminals. Anyone who comes after her will wish he hadn’t. Aside from that, Stella has company anytime she leaves the station until Spencer is behind bars.”
Liam frowned. “A partner?”
“Her husband. Since this case involves an explosives expert, Ethan thinks having Nate, an EOD expert, ride with the investigating detective is a wise precaution.”
Otter Creek’s police chief knew the value of good assets in the community and didn’t mind utilizing them. The news of Spencer’s escalation made Liam want to take Piper to a remote location until the former Marine had been run to ground. Unfortunately, Spencer would simply wait him out. If Liam wanted to smoke out Spencer, he couldn’t stay off the grid.
“What about the contract on my life?” Piper asked. “Is Spencer behind that, too?”
“I’m afraid not. I’ve been looking for connections to the Marine since I caught wind of it. I can’t find any indication he’s connected to the hit.”
Not surprising. He wouldn’t use a third party to do his dirty work. Spencer would want to make Liam suffer by taking the life of the woman he loved. “Barone?”
“I’m still checking that possibility. So far, I can’t find a connection there, either. However, Barone’s financial empire is extensive and buried behind multiple firewalls.”
“Have you updated Maddox?”
“As soon as I end this call. Watch your back, Liam. This situation has many layers.”
“Copy that.” When he ended the call, Liam set aside his computer and wrapped his arms around Piper. “Are you all right?”
She turned toward him.
Liam expected fear and maybe reprisal in the depths of her beautiful eyes. Instead, he saw anger. At him? Man, he hoped not although her ire would be understandable. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, cupping the nape of her neck. “I never meant to bring danger to your doorstep.”
“This isn’t your fault, Liam. The blame falls to your demented former co-worker.” She dropped her head against his chest and growled. “He has stellar timing. I just paid off my car. I doubt my insurance will cover bomb damage.”
“I’ll arrange for another vehicle through Fortress.”
She leaned back to look at him. “Why?”
“Our vehicles are reinforced and have bullet-resistant glass. For my peace of mind, I need you in a safer vehicle.”
“I don’t know, Liam. That sounds expensive.”
“You driving one of our SUVs is the only way I’ll be able to concentrate on my job when I’m on missions. If I’m worried about your safety while deployed, I’ll be distracted. That’s not safe for me or my unit. Besides, in a few months, you’ll be the owner of a multimillion-dollar company. That will make you more attractive to those who are looking for a soft target.”
Piper frowned. “Dirty pool, McCoy.”
“Get used to it, Reece, soon-to-be McCoy. I want you and our family to be safe. Let me do this for both of us, Sunshine.”
She kissed him. “All right. Thank you for taking care of me.”
“You are and always will be my top priority. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you safe, legal or not.”
After sharing another kiss, Piper inclined her head toward the laptop. “What did you find out? Anything you can tell me?”
“Barone is the power behind Bluefield Industries. The mysterious warehouse belongs to him. The question is what he’s doing with it.”
“Maybe the feds know.”
He considered that possibility. “I have a few contacts I can ask to see if they know anything. In the meantime, we need to sleep. Tomorrow will be interesting and you didn’t sleep much last night.”
“Neither did you.”
“I don’t need much sleep.”
She frowned. “How much do you sleep each night?”
“Four or five hours. It’s a leftover from my years in the military. I’ll be fine. Focus on yourself. I want you a hundred percent when you meet my family.”
“When will that be?”
“As soon as we return to Otter Creek, I’ll call Mom and tell her we’re coming to visit her and Marissa for a few days. I’ll arrange to take a few days off. Shouldn’t be a problem since Bravo just returned from a mission.” He tugged Piper to her feet. “Get ready for bed.”
“What will you do?”
“Grab my gear and move into the sitting room. I want to be close overnight.” After a thorough kiss that pushed the boundaries of his control, Liam nudged her toward the bedroom. “I’ll be here if you need me. Lock the door to the hallway but leave your door to the sitting room open.”
“I feel guilty about you sleeping on the couch.”
“This is luxurious compared to the nights I’ve spent in a tree, on a stone slab, or on the dirt.”
With one last lingering look over her shoulder, Piper walked into her bedroom and closed the door.
Minutes later, Liam had transferred his Go bag and his duffel into the sitting room and was on the phone with Maddox. “Thanks for taking care of the SUV, boss.”
“I need your head in the game when you’re deployed. Arranging for Bear to prepare an SUV for Piper is a small price to pay to have you in top form. How is she holding up?”
“Better than I’d hoped. She was shocked at first by the news about her car. Now, she’s furious. I don’t know what I did to deserve a woman like her, but I won’t take the gift for granted.”
“I understand, my friend. I feel the same way about Rowan and Alexa.”
Liam grinned, hearing the love in his boss’s voice for his wife and daughter.
“Keep me posted, Liam. We’ve prepared the papers you need for Piper, your mother, and sister. The safe houses are also ready. You can access the locations with the link I sent to your email. You’ll have to input your security code to see the file.”
Liam doubted anyone could break Zane’s encryption program. He appreciated the extra precaution anyway. “Thanks.”
After ending the call to his boss, he texted Simon who was still on watch, giving him an update. He touched based with Trent, then decided to call it a night. Although he didn’t want to admit as much to Piper, the short nights of sleep since he’d returned from deployment were catching up with him.
Once Piper opened her bedroom door and crawled into bed, Liam stretched out on the couch with his Sig close at hand. If anyone tried to break into her room tonight, he would take them down.
The night passed peacefully, and Liam was awake two hours before Piper. While he waited for her to wake, he pulled up everything he could find on her uncle’s company.
Galactic Games was a powerhouse in the video game industry and rumors were flying around the market about the company launching a new game soon. His eyebrows rose at the estimated value of the game. Piper would have her hands full when her uncle passed away.
Movement in the bedroom doorway drew Liam’s attention. He smiled. “Good morning, Sunshine. Sleep well?”
She nodded, the damp strands of her hair clinging to her shirt. “Turns out all I need to fall asleep is knowing you’re close.”
Satisfaction filled him. “You ready for breakfast?”
“Actually, I am. How about a breakfast date?”
“Have a place in mind?”
“A diner on Main Street. They serve the best eggs I’ve ever eaten.”
“Sold.” Liam grabbed his gear and slung it over one shoulder.
“Are we relocating to a hotel?”
He shook his head. “I don’t trust anyone in this house. It’s safer to store my gear inside the SUV.”
After breakfast, he drove Piper to Galactic Games for a meeting with her uncle. He’d called during their meal to schedule the appointment.
As soon as they walked through the front doors, Liam knew the employees were aware of who their new boss would be. The deference Piper was shown made her uncomfortable.
“Ms. Reece.” The receptionist beamed at her. “Welcome back to Hartman and Galactic Games. How may I help you?”
“I have an appointment with my uncle. Tell him I’m here, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” She activated her headset and made the call. After speaking quietly to the person on the other end of the line for a moment, the woman ended the call. “Mr. Romano is on a long-distance phone call. He’ll be available in about fifteen minutes. Would you like coffee or tea while you wait?”
Footsteps drew near as the receptionist asked her last question. “I’ll take them to the executive floor,” a woman said.
Liam turned to face Brandy. The woman’s earlier hostility seemed to have disappeared. In its place was a stoic resolve. Interesting. Did she plan to make nice in order to keep her job?
Brandy motioned for them to follow her and walked toward the elevator.
“Your choice,” Liam murmured to Piper.
She squared her shoulders and trailed the other woman.
All right, then. Looked like Piper was going to take on the other woman. They rode to the third floor in silence.
Brandy led them to her office. “Have a seat. Would you like coffee or tea?”
“Water for me,” Piper said.
“Coffee for you, Liam?” Brandy asked.
“Thanks.”
“Cream, sugar?”
“Black.”
She nodded. “I’ll be right back. Make yourselves comfortable.”
He stared at the door she’d closed behind herself.
“Brandy is up to something.”
Liam turned to Piper. “Oh, yeah. But what?” Was she protecting her job or was something more at stake?