Page 12 of Liam

“Want us to do that?”

Liam shook his head. “No, this is my mess and I need to fix it.”

Mitch dipped his chin. “This isn’t on you.”

“Maybe, but they’re my picks, so I have to take some responsibility.”

Mitch and Waggs said nothing because they knew if it were them, they would be the same.

“Can you stay with the Princess while I go?”

Waggs shrugged. “That’s why we’re here.”

“But first, coffee.” Mitch turned and walked to the suite’s kitchen, Waggs on his heels. They both grabbed a mug from the fully kitted cupboard before heading to the coffee pot.

Liam was about to follow when his phone rang. “Lopez, talk to me.”

“Well, hello to you too, asshole.”

Liam suppressed the eyeroll and waited. “Anytime today, Lopez.”

“Fine,” he huffed. “I’ve been monitoring the guestlist for the conference that Princess Taamira is attending and I just saw Abdul al Kamali is going to be there.”

Liam’s entire body went still, not moving a muscle. “Say that a-fucking-gain?”

“Prince Abdul al Kamali, Princess Taamira’s brother, is attending the conference with his wife.”

Anger surged through Liam’s body. “Piece of fucking shit.”

That man had sat back while men had threatened to rape his sister on live television and then slit her throat and he’d done fuck all to help her. Even worse; he’d heard her plight and knowing not only that atrocity but also the murder of innocent men and women would take place, had turned his back.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that Lucy and Jace and Dane and Lauren were getting married there in a double wedding, then he, Jack, and the Fortis team wouldn’t have been on hand to stop it. He shuddered at the thought of the horror that would have befallen the beautiful, stubborn woman who was right at this second, laughing with Mitch and Waggs. The sound hit him like a punch to the gut, and he wanted to spend hours listening to her laugh, seeing her smile.

“What do you need me to do?” Lopez was waiting patiently on the other end as Liam looped it over in his brain, trying to decide on a course of action and seeing only one that was safe.

“I want to know his movements. If that fucker farts, I want to know about it.”

“Okay, a little more than I wanted but fine.”

Lopez hung up and Liam slid his phone back into his back pocket and brushed his hands along his short hair. He was about to do battle and he knew it was going to get ugly. Some perverse part of him looked forward to sparring with the Princess though, and that made him an even bigger dick.

Mitch and Waggs looked up as he entered and immediately sensed his mood. “What?”

“Change of plans. I need you to speak with Derek. I need to talk to the Princess.”

Mitch placed his almost full cup of joe on the counter, and he and Waggs moved towards the door. He was grateful they didn’t ask questions, knowing he’d update them later. He waited until they had closed the suite door behind them before he turned his attention on her.

Her big brown eyes were focused on him, the warm burnished tone of her skin reminding him of the earth covered in autumn leaves. Lips that were full and rosy and begging him to kiss them. It was a fucking attractive package, but it was the unsure way her hand fluttered at her neck, and her voice shook as she spoke that had him wanting to shield her from anything that brought her a moment’s fear or pain ever again.

“Liam?”

He could see the pulse pounding in her neck as she moved closer to him. He wanted to touch it with his tongue, find out if she tasted as good as she looked, but he had to remain professional.

“I had a call from Lopez. He’s been monitoring the conference you’re attending and noticed a late addition to the guest list.”

She was closer now, and he could smell the sweet, floral scent she wore that screamed money, and it reminded him once again of the differences between them.

“Oh?”