Chapter One
Liam knewwhen he was the butt of a joke, but this time, he was certain it came from higher above, which was even worse. The elation he’d experienced at meeting Catriona was so quickly squashed that he felt dizzy and frustrated by the divine way of tricking him.
Although he should have been used to being smacked in the back of his head by destiny, it was the only end possible for Finch’s bastard sons.
Bracing himself, and most importantly, curbing any inappropriate thoughts, he decided that the faster the job could be done, and Finch was behind bars, the quicker he could go back to his life of sinful thoughts. Not that he was a complete dog, but he was male, and this situation was weird.
Gabrielle had snuck out, almost guiltily so, but Catriona didn’t seem to mind. On the contrary, she had that unwavering angelic smile on her beautiful face. Liam knew that he was now in hell.
“I did read the documentation that was available on the plane, but I’m sure there are loads more that we’ll need to look into. In my experience, when you start digging, it’s like a bottomless pit.”
Gabrielle had said she was Irish. Her accent was soft, with the warm lilt diluted with many travels. His own had mostly disappeared since he’d arrived in America an eternity ago. “When did you arrive?”
She smiled, looking up at him. “An hour ago. As soon as I landed, I hopped into a rental car and came here, as per Gabrielle’s request.”
Liam frowned. “Just like that, because a friend told you she needed help, you get on a plane and fly to the other side of the world without question?”
She laughed. “I was already in Washington D.C., so definitely not the other side of the world. Gabrielle is a friend, and when she told me people she cares about needed my expertise, I didn’t have to ask anything else.”
Liam turned his coffee mug in his hand, shaking his head. “Did she tell you that it might be dangerous? We’re not just dealing with numbers here, but men with guns.”
Still nothing in her face wavered. “I guess each and every one of us must act according to their conscience. I’m at peace whenever my end arrives because I’m trying to do good.”
Something settled into Liam’s belly. Those words rang true with him because he felt the same way. His entire life he’d wanted to be a cop and knew very well what the risks were. His latest knee injury was the proof of those risks. A couple of inches higher and the bullet would have hit his femoral artery and Liam Harker would’ve been a memory.
“Yeah, it’s the best outlook to have.” He gestured at the papers strewn on the small table. “I don’t know exactly where to start with all this. And I guess it’s not the best place to discuss this. What are your plans?”
Catriona started to gather the papers in a neat pile. “I haven’t thought about that yet. I was too impatient to find Gabrielle and to meet you.”
Liam blinked. “Meet me?”
If possible, her smile grew even wider. “Yes. Gabrielle told me how hard you and your brothers were working on the case. She wasn’t keen on telling me the details, but she said it was important to you. And also, she told me you were an officer in the Chicago Police Department. If I could’ve taken that road, I think I would’ve liked being part of the police force.”
Was that regret that he saw blinking in her eyes? Her golden amber eyes. It reminded him of butterscotch caramel, his addiction when he was a kid. Now too, as a matter of fact.
“If you’re as good as Gabrielle said you are, you could enter the financial brigade even if you’ve never held a gun in your life.”
The smile returned and Liam was glad. “Thank goodness. I don’t think I’d ever been able to shoot someone, even in the leg.”
Liam sat back, arching an eyebrow. “After being shot in the leg myself and with all the pain and trouble it’s brought, I don’t recommend it. I should’ve been asked to be shot in the heart.”
The look of utter dismay on her face was too fun to pass, but only for a minute. “It’s okay Catriona, it was only a joke.”
“So you haven’t been shot?”
“Oh, I’ve been shot in the leg, but I’m not ready to die yet. I have something important to do and that’s why you’re here.” Not interested in lingering any longer on his war wounds, Liam opened his pack to put the papers back in. “Where are you planning to stay?”
“I thought to stay with Gabrielle, but as she’s moving and her house is already rented out, I need to check out what’s available.”
Liam paused as he grabbed his coat. “The holiday season won’t make it easy. What about I make a few phone calls? A couple of my brothers have connections, they may find you something. Some place safe.”
Catriona frowned. “Are you insinuating that we’re in some kind of danger?”
Chewy pushed at Liam’s hand, a sure sign he needed to go outside, although there was a much more pressing matter on his hands. He realized he was stuck with a beautiful, inaccessible woman, who had no experience with dangerous situations, who’d probably never been directly involved in one, who despised violence and could become more of a liability than an asset. Just his luck.
“What did Gabrielle tell you when she asked for your help?”
Her warm eyes looked at him as if he were the one not grasping the situation. “Not much. That a family needed my help.”
