CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Liam prayed the pervasive weakness would leave his body fast. He knew from experience, however, it wouldn’t be fast enough to spare himself or Piper from a lot of pain.
He dragged in a few deep breaths, forcing oxygen into his bloodstream. His head cleared a little more. Couldn’t do that too often or he’d make himself dizzy. “If you get a chance, run.”
Piper scowled. “I’m not leaving you here.”
“I’ll be okay.” Maybe. “Need you safe.”
“Tough. We go or stay together.”
Liam hated being helpless, especially when Piper’s life was in danger. He hoped his team was close. As soon as Piper sent the emergency signal to Fortress, Zane would have notified Bravo and Texas that he and Piper were in trouble and where they were located.
Even as he the thoughts surfaced in his mind, Liam felt the GPS tracker under his right shoulder blade radiate heat. Good. Trent and the others would come. All he and Piper had to do was hang on until help arrived or his muscles responded to commands for Liam to free himself and the woman he loved from the hands of their captors.
A key was shoved into the lock on the door. The knob turned and Moe walked inside the room, followed by the second guard. What did Piper call him? Oh, yeah. Billy.
The two traitors eyed Liam. Billy looked twitchy and had an ugly gleam in his eyes. Liam could guess which guard was going to volunteer first to work on Liam in an effort to force the secrets they wanted from Piper.
More footsteps, these lighter than those of the two guards.
Liam’s gaze shifted toward the door again to see Brandy Strickland enter. His suspicions were right. Brandy was in this up to her pretty neck. His only question was whether she worked for Gino in this matter, herself, or Barone? If Barone called the shots, more thugs were at Brandy’s disposal. At the moment, Liam couldn’t defend himself or Piper against a kitten much less the two guards across the room. No way could he take on more of Barone’s crew. Even if he freed himself, he’d end up in a heap on the ground. His fingers were starting to respond to commands. Not his legs, though.
Piper released Liam and stood, placing her body between him and the other three people in the room. Thankfully, she’d moved aside enough for him to see what was happening.
“Surprised to see me, Piper?” Brandy smiled, her eyes cold and hard. “You’ve always been gullible.”
“Why did you kidnap us and bring us here, Brandy?”
“You know why.”
“Spell it out for me.”
Liam wiggled his fingers, mentally cheering as Piper stalled for more time. While Liam’s teammates were minutes away, they still had to assess the situation and come up with a plan. Breaching a building without intel was beyond stupid. As much as Liam wanted Piper out of danger, he didn’t want to cost a fellow operative his life.
Brandy’s smile morphed into a frown. “Don’t play dumb. I want the information Gavin left you.”
“Why?”
A harsh laugh rang out in the empty room. “It’s worth a boatload of money. That’s why.”
“You’re selling the information to the highest bidder?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m giving it back to Gavin’s father. Gavin stole the information. His father wants it back. I’m delivering it to him.”
“Why would you do that? You’re betraying Gavin’s memory by returning information he gave his life for.”
“It’s worth everything to me.”
“I thought you loved Gavin. How could you betray him for money?”
“He believed I loved him.”
“But you didn’t.”
“He was weak with a wandering eye. When I found out what he’d been doing while you were dating, I knew I couldn’t trust him.”
“You stayed with him for three years after I left. Why do that if you didn’t trust him?”
“He’s not the real power in the Barone family. I stayed with Gavin until I could secure my place in his world.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You wouldn’t understand the way the real world works. You’re short-sighted and naive, old friend.”
“You want Barone,” Liam said. His words came out clearer. Excellent. Another thirty minutes and he should be almost back to normal. Too bad he didn’t think Billy and Moe would wait that long. Their mistress would demand answers soon. Impatience brewed in her gaze.
“Ding, ding, ding. Very good, Liam. Matteo is everything I’ve ever wanted. Money, power, fame, distinguished looks, generosity to those he loves.”
“And you think he loves you?” Piper shook her head. “Gavin was the son of Barone’s mistress. Father and son are exactly alike.”
Fury lit Brandy’s gaze. “Shut up, Piper. It’s different with me. Matteo loves me.”
“When did he tell you that?”
“Not long before you returned to Hartman.”
“And you believed him? Come on, Brandy. He says he loves you yet he’s still married to Gavin’s mother. How does that make him different than his cheating son?”
Brandy crossed the few feet between them and slapped Piper. His woman stumbled back and partially fell against Liam.
Helpless rage filled him. He was trussed up like a turkey and he couldn’t protect her. Distracting Barone’s mistress was his only hope to prevent her from hurting Piper and give him a few more precious minutes to throw off the effects of the stun gun.
“What’s your end game?” Liam asked her.
“Take over Galactic Games and use it to further Matteo’s important activities. Soon, I’ll take my place at his side as his wife. I’ll help him run his empire.” She laughed. “Brandy Strickland, the first lady of Hartman. What a kick that will be.”
“You’re already helping Barone, aren’t you?” Piper asked. “That’s why you wanted to be the CEO of Galactic Games. What are you hiding, Brandy?”
A shrug from the other woman. “I suppose it doesn’t matter if you know the truth. Once you give me what I want, I won’t have further use for you.”
Moe’s eyes widened as he stared at Brandy. Guess he hadn’t expected to murder someone when he took on this job for her.
“One of the management team is sure to recommend you have the company’s accounts audited. I can’t allow that to happen.”
Piper’s hands fisted. “Because you’re laundering money for Barone. You’re the reason Uncle Gino is being watched by the feds.”
“It’s called creative financing,” Brandy corrected. “Galactic Games wouldn’t exist if not for Matteo’s generosity. The company is his anyway.” An ugly smile curved her mouth. “Galactic Games will be mine in the end. Matteo promised me the company. I’m not worried about the feds. Gino makes the perfect scapegoat. He’s dying. If they prosecute him for laundering money, he won’t live long enough for his case to go to trial. Besides, I have things lined up so the accountant takes the fall. Nothing will point to me. Now, you’ve stalled enough, Piper. It’s time to give me what I want.”
Piper straightened. “I can’t do that.”
“Wrong answer.” Brandy glanced over her shoulder. “Moe.” She inclined her head toward Piper.
Liam strained against the zip ties. Not recovering fast enough. “Don’t, Moe. Don’t hurt her.”
The big guard gripped Piper’s arms. “Sorry, man,” he murmured and dragged Liam’s woman across the room. She fought him every step of the way, kicking, punching, and scratching.
Billy’s laughter filled the room as he watched the melee. “That one’s a tigress.”
“Billy.” Brandy moved away from Liam and motioned to the remaining guard.
Satisfaction glinted in the other man’s eyes as he approached Liam, flexing his hands.
“Brandy, no. Please, don’t do this.” Piper redoubled her efforts to get away from Moe.
The guard struck her with a backhand and knocked her to the floor. He rolled Piper to her stomach and cinched her wrists behind her back. That done, he flipped her over and hauled her to sit against the closest wall. When she scrambled to her feet, Moe slammed her against the flat surface, scowling. “Stay.”
Billy’s fist flew into Liam’s jaw. A second blow landed in his gut followed by a third to his mouth.
Piper rammed into Moe, trying to move him enough to run to Liam.
The guard shoved her back and backhanded her a second time. The blow sent her crashing to the floor.
“Baby, stop,” Liam managed to call out before Billy landed another blow, this one to his ribs. Yeah, pretty sure that one cracked a rib or two. No matter how painful his own wounds were, he couldn’t let Piper be injured in her desperate fight to reach him. She couldn’t help him right now and all she’d succeed in doing was place herself in the path of flying fists.
When her pleading gaze locked with his, Liam shook his head before another blow from Billy split his lip.
“Enough.” Brandy held up her hand. “The pain stops if you give me what I want, Piper. When Billy grows tired of beating on your boyfriend, Moe will take over. Trust me. You don’t want Moe to go to work on Liam. I can’t guarantee he’d survive.” A lazy shrug from the woman. “If he does, I have other men at my beck and call who will take over. Several love to hurt women. Maybe you don’t love Liam as much as you pretend to. If you did, you wouldn’t allow him to be beaten to pulp in front of you. What kind of woman are you to allow the man you love to suffer?”
Tears tracked down Piper’s blood-stained face. Her gaze remained locked on Liam’s, silently begging him to give her permission to tell Brandy what she wanted.
He couldn’t do it. The only way to keep them alive was to remain silent. Liam shook his head again, then mouthed, “I love you.”
More silent tears from his woman.
“What’s it going to be, Piper? More pain for Liam or a reprieve?” Brandy folded her arms.
Piper kept her gaze locked with Liam’s and refused to respond to Brandy’s questions.
Smart woman. She’d figured out that her reactions incited their captors. The more she reacted, the greater harm they’d inflict with the intent to make her break and give them what they wanted.
A loud sigh. “Seriously? He’s suffering needlessly, Piper. All you have to do is give me Gavin’s information and Liam’s pain stops.” When Piper didn’t respond, Brandy growled. “Fine. Since your boyfriend seems to be as tough as he looks, I guess we’ll shift our persuasion techniques. Billy, take over for Moe. We need his special talents.”
A resentful glare from Billy as he crossed the room and wrapped his hand around Piper’s throat. “You fight me and I’ll choke you until you pass out,” he growled. “After that, I’ll drag you out of here and find a nice, quiet room where no one will bother us. You need a real man to tame you and I’m just the one to do it.” He tightened his grip around Piper’s throat.
Billy the guard was a dead man as soon as Liam freed himself.
An abrupt movement by Moe caught Liam’s attention. The guard brandished a four-inch fixed-blade knife. The steel gleamed in the light.
Moe lumbered forward, stopping in front of Liam, waiting for the go-ahead from his mistress. “You don’t want to do this,” Liam murmured. “Cut me free. We’ll stop her together.” He needed more time for his teammates to get here or to regain full control of his limbs.
“I don’t have a choice,” came the whispered response. “She threatened my kid.”
“We can protect your family.”
“What are you waiting for?” Brandy snapped. “You have your orders. Carry them out. If you don’t, you know what will happen.”
Moe swallowed hard. “Sorry, man.” He plunged the knife into Liam’s left shoulder.
Liam rode the waves of pain, keeping his expression blank as Piper watched him with anguish in her eyes.
“Again,” Brandy demanded, her gaze riveted to the growing bloodstain on his shirt.
The knife blade penetrated the outside of his right thigh. Liam grunted at the flash of pain. At least Moe hadn’t stabbed him in the inner thigh where he could have sliced Liam’s femoral artery. So far, the wounds were painful but not mortal, the injuries designed to coerce Piper into talking.
The knife dripping with Liam’s blood, Brandy smiled, her gaze shifting to Piper. “Still refuse to talk?”
Piper remained silent.
Liam had never loved her more than he did right at this moment. She was the strongest woman he’d ever met.
With a look of disgust, Brandy motioned for Moe to continue his work.
The guard circled the chair and came to a stop behind Liam. A moment later, the blade of the knife plunged into Liam’s side.
Nausea roiled in his gut as the pain built. He didn’t dare show reaction. Piper was suffering enough as it was. Another plunge of the knife, this time into his back above the liver.
Too much more of this and he’d pass out from blood loss. Weakness spread throughout his body and Liam’s blood pooled under the chair.
A phone rang in the room. Brandy pulled out her phone and smiled. “My love is calling me. Moe, Billy, leave the two lovebirds and come with me. We’ll come back to play with Piper and Liam in a few minutes. Maybe Liam will convince Piper to spill her guts before he bleeds out. If he doesn’t, we’ll turn your skills on her.”
A moment later, the three of them were gone, locking the door behind themselves again.
Piper lurched across the room and knelt beside Liam. “Liam.”
He dragged in a shallow breath. Man, breathing hurt. Definitely had at least one cracked rib. “I have knife in my right boot. Get it.”
“What if they’re watching on camera?”
“Move fast. We’ll only get one chance.”
She scurried to the other side of the chair. “Tell me where.”
“Near the outside of my ankle.”
Piper twisted to put her back to Liam and groped for his boot with her bound hands. She fumbled a moment, then grabbed the hilt of the knife and pulled the weapon free. “What now?”
“Hand it to me.”
She maneuvered the knife until she gave him the weapon hilt first.
Liam fought off dizziness as he sawed at the zip tie restraining his right wrist. In seconds, the plastic gave way and he made quick work of the ties holding his other wrist and both ankles. “Hold your hands as far apart as you can.” When Piper complied, he sliced through her restraint.
He rose from the chair and swayed, gritting his teeth to keep himself upright. Not good.
“The door is locked and Brandy and her merry band of thugs are on the other side of the door. I can hear them in the hallway.” Piper steadied Liam with an arm around his waist.
“We do whatever is necessary to survive until help arrives.” He nudged her toward the door. “Stand behind the door. I’ll take down whoever comes into the room first. Slam the door in the face of whoever follows. Hopefully, we’ll both be successful so we only have one of those clowns left to handle together.” He didn’t bother to tell Piper he wasn’t sure he would be mobile at that point. His goal was to keep her alive long enough for his teammates to arrive.
The voices in the hall grew louder. Brandy was wrapping up her phone call. Liam positioned Piper behind the door, shut off the light, and pressed his back against the wall on the other side of the door.
The door opened and Moe strode through first. “Hey, what happened to the light?”
Using Moe’s momentum, Liam jerked the guard forward, throwing him off balance enough to fall to his hands and knees. Trusting Piper to give him a few seconds to handle Moe, Liam delivered a roundhouse kick to his head. The guard dropped to the floor and lay unmoving.
A rustle of movement at his back and a feminine scream had him pivoting to go to Piper’s aid. She was on the ground, fighting with Brandy.
Before he could intervene, Billy tackled Liam with a roar of fury.
“I’m going to kill you, McCoy.”
Liam didn’t have enough breath to reply or strength to waste on taunting the security guard. He did, however, have the determination to stop Billy from hurting Piper.
He blocked two punches and landed an elbow strike to Billy’s temple. The blow stunned the guard long enough for Liam to slam his fist in the man’s throat and crush his windpipe. Billy’s eyes widened and he grabbed his throat as he fell to the concrete, struggling in vain to breathe.
After making sure the other man didn’t have weapons within reach, Liam turned toward Piper and staggered her direction just as his woman landed an uppercut to Brandy’s jaw. Barone’s mistress slumped to the floor and lay still.
Piper got to her feet and turned. “Liam.”
He reached out and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “We have to get out of here.” Liam staggered to toward the door. One step, two. His legs gave out.