Liam~
As much as I’d like to forget the outside world exists and to stay in bed with Mila, we have to face the cult.
I phoned Hunter and asked him to bring Hailey over so we can find out what she knows.
I find Mila in the kitchen, making coffee. We’ll need to go by her place so she can pack her stuff, because I’m not letting her stay in that dump a day longer.
“I spoke with Hunter. He’s bringing Hailey over. We need to find out what she knows and then we’ll map out a plan on how to get to Claire.”
Her movements still and her body stiffens. I hate that she has to deal with this. I wish I could just do it all for her while she stays safely here, but I know there’s not a snowflake’s chance in hell of that happening.
“It started snowing. After we get all the info from Hailey, we’ll head over to your place so you can get your stuff. I want you here with me,” I say as I go to stand behind her. I place my arms around her and bury my face in her hair. “I know it’s happening fast but I won’t survive another day without you.”
She turns in my arms without looking up at me. I totally get that it will take her some time to get used to the idea of us.
She places her hands on my chest.
“I never felt like I belonged anywhere,” she whispers. “At the compound, I felt like an outsider. When I stayed with Cathy, I felt like I owed her for all she had done for me. Staying with Hailey and Harper, I felt like I had to be thankful that they were allowing me to have the corner of the living room. I’ve never felt like I belonged-” Her eyes slowly move up until they find mine, “-until you. I don’t care where I live as long as it’s with you, because you’re my home. You’re the only person who makes me feel like I could be more. You make me feel like I’m not Mila who has to hide her past, but Mila who has a future.”
This woman has a way of bringing me to my knees. She has the power to break me or make me into a better man. She holds my heart in her beautiful hands and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I love you so fucking much, Mila.” I press a kiss to her forehead and soak in the feeling of us finally being together.
I hear a car pull up outside, and my body tenses just thinking about what’s lying ahead of us today. If I’m feeling the pressure of what’s coming then Mila must be feeling it too.
“No matter what happens, I’m here,” I say before I go to open the door.
I open the door to a tired looking Hunter and a distraught looking Hailey.
“Thanks for keeping an eye on her. I owe you,” I say to Hunter as I let them walk in. “I’ll get Mila. Go through to the family room.”
“Sure,” Hunter says in a low tone. He sounds pissed off, which is pretty unusual for him. He’s always been the one to see the funny side to everything. Then again, there’s nothing funny about the shit that’s going down right now.
I find Mila exactly where I left her. She’s fidgeting with her watch and there’s a heartbroken look clouding her face.
“I’m sorry you have to do this, babe. We have to find out what she knows.”
“I know,” she whispers. She tries to give me a smile.
I take her hand and we walk to the family room, the coffee she was making now forgotten.
The instant we walk into the room, Hailey gets up. “Mila, please, let me explain.” There’s a nervous urgency to her voice that almost makes me feel sorry for her. But then again, I’ve never seen a good side to Hailey so I just can’t bring myself to care about her, especially seeing as she’s practically back stabbed Mila.
Mila~
She looks so sincere.
My heart aches just seeing her. I’m torn between feeling angry and sad. If I let the sadness take over, then I’ll pity her, and I can’t afford for her to get her nails any deeper into my heart.
I go with anger because it fuels me to find out what the truth is.
“Last night was a complete mess,” I say as I walk to the fireplace. I stare at the leaping flames, keeping my back to Hailey. “You said we’re cousins?”
“Yes!” she exclaims.
I hear movement and quickly look over my shoulder to see her coming closer.
“Don’t.” I shake my head at her. “I don’t want you near me.”
I turn to face her and I let my eyes glide over her. She looks like hell. Her eyes are swollen red and her hair’s a mess.
“You said you were sent to keep an eye on me?”
Answers, that’s all I want from her.
She nods and then sits down next to Hunter who’s staring at the floor. I’ve never seen him look so serious before.
“At first it took a while for them to find you, but then you got your GED and they sent me from Salt Lake City.”
“I thought you said you weren’t a part of the order,” I snap, a blinding bolt of anger lashing through me.
“I’m not!” She gets up again but one look at my face makes her sit down. “I’m not, Mila.”
“Then how do you fit into the picture?” Liam asks, sounding impatient. He never liked Hailey. He was right not to.
Hailey’s shoulders slump and her posture looks beaten down. Hunter glances at her and I see the pity on his face.
“What are you not telling me?”
A tear rolls down Hailey’s cheek and she takes a shuddering breath. Her voice is thick with tears when she whispers, “You know by now that the order is a front for sex slavery, Mila. Men buy a wife from Uncle David, and, in a controlled environment, they get to do anything to her.” She takes another shaky breath and then continues, “I worked the outside. Not all clients wanted a bride. Some just wanted a quick fuck. There’s an entire outside market you know nothing of.”
She looks up and her eyes are bruised pools of pain.
“All women born into our family are traded in some way or another.”
Silence falls over us and for a moment, all I can do is look at her. My heart is torn in two. I want to feel for Hailey. It’s almost second nature to care about her, but I can’t get past the fact that she lied to me.
Eventually, I find my voice again. “So the rumors of you taking payment were true?”
She just nods. Hunter gets up and limps out of the room. He looks almost as upset as I feel.
I frown when the realization hits. “You and Hunter?”
Again, Hailey nods, and then she whispers, “He didn’t know about my dad and Uncle David. He thought I was being full of shit.”
She gets up and clasps her hands in front of her. Her eyes find mine, pleading with me.
“I know what I’ve done is unforgivable. I understand that I’ve thrown our friendship away, but please let me help. Let me help you get Claire. I’ll disappear after that, and you’ll never have to see me again.”
I look to Liam, not sure if I can trust a word Hailey says. This can all be a trap.
“How can you help us?” Liam asks, his eyes still cold on Hailey.
“I can phone them. I can get you into the compound. They won’t just let her in with you there. I can tell them you’re looking to do business with them.”
“And they’ll believe you, just like that? It’s so easy, right? Everything’s easy when it comes to you.”
“Liam,” I whisper to stop him. There’s no need to insult her. It won’t make anything better. “Hailey has a point. Maybe if you say you’re there to buy me, David will let you in?”
Liam shakes his head and I see the determined look on his face.
“No. I don’t trust her. We’ll go with our own plan.” He looks at her with contempt. “Go back to Salt Lake City and tell them to go fuck themselves.”
Hailey doesn’t even look at Liam as he tells her this. Her eyes stay locked with mine. “I didn’t fake our friendship, not once. It might not mean anything to you, but I do love you, Mila. I really tried to protect you.”
She doesn’t give me chance to respond, but walks out of the room. Liam follows her out.
Inside me it’s screaming to go after her, but my bruised heart won’t let me.
I need time to deal with her betrayal.
Hunter took Hailey back to the apartment, or so we thought, but when we got there to pack up my stuff the place was empty.
“Do you think Harper is with Mickey?” I ask on the way back to Liam’s house.
“Yeah, he texted me last night. She’s going to stay with him until everything has blown over. Let’s just get you settled in, and then we’ll put a plan together.”
I stare at the snow covering everything as we drive. The cult is just the same. From the outside, some might think everything is peaceful, but underneath that deceitful layer, there is only destruction and death. Nothing survives.
When we get home, Liam helps me take the bags up to his room.
“I’m going to go make that coffee I promised you last night already.” He kisses me lightly on the lips. “Please, don’t think of this as my house. I want you to think of it as our home, our room, our future.”
That brings a smile to my face. It’s a dream coming true. I just wish it wasn’t tainted by the cult.
I unpack my stuff and then put on clean clothes. When I throw my dirty clothes in the laundry basket, a smile creeps over my lips. I’ve never had my dirty clothes mixed with a man’s before.
I go downstairs and find Liam in the family room. He seems to love the fireplace. I can’t blame him - it’s the warmest room in the house.
He’s standing by the window watching the snow come down. I go to stand behind him and place my arms around his waist. I rest my cheek on his back and close my eyes.
“Thank you for everything,” I whisper. I’ve been thinking a lot about the cult. I’m still scared to death that something might happen to Liam. I’m not so sure I can just sit by and let him come along. But I don’t tell him this as he turns around and smiles down at me. I keep my worries buried deep, hoping he can’t see them in my eyes.
I just want one more day with him. I just want one more day of feeling like I belong before I risk it all for Claire.
“No more worries for the rest of the day. Let’s just take it easy,” Liam says.
He brushes the back of his knuckles over my cheek, down my neck, over the tip of my breast, and then I feel him start to work the zipper on my jeans.
I grin up at him. “This is your version of taking it easy?”
He kneels before me and it makes my heart stutter. No man has ever kneeled before me.
“Liam,” I whisper his name with all the love I feel for him. “Don’t go down on your knees.”
He grins wickedly up at me. “Baby, relax. Let me do this for you. I want to.”
“Relax,” I mumble as he hooks his hands into both my panties and jeans, and then he pulls them down in one go.
Embarrassment of standing before Liam in such a vulnerable state makes me look at the window. Our reflection stares back at me and it’s a sight to behold – Liam on his knees in front of me.
I feel the trembling all the way to my soul, and it makes tears well in my eyes.
All my life I’ve been the one to kneel. Now the man I love is on his knees staring up at me with all the love my heart has always desired.
“You’re a dream come true, Liam Wright,” I whisper, and then he pulls my legs apart and his tongue brushes over my pussy.
My legs almost give way from the wonderful sensations that I have to place my hands on the window to brace myself against the assault.
He circles his tongue around my clit, making my hips jerk with pleasure. This is … damn, this is heaven.
I feel the tingling start low in my abdomen and the combination of his tongue working me and seeing our reflection sends me spiraling over the edge.
Before my senses have returned, Liam strips himself of his clothes, and then lifts me. Quickly, I wrap my legs around his waist. He walks to the fireplace where he lies me down on the soft rug, and before I can brace myself, he thrusts into me with a loud growl.
I dig my toes into the carpet and wrap my arms around his neck as he starts to ruthlessly thrust into me.
My hands travel down his back until I cup his muscled ass. I can feel it tightening as he moves in and out of me.
His whole body tenses over mine and I can feel the power pour out of him as his orgasm hits, leaving him breathless.