Page 103 of Debt of My Soul

I toss the drawing and magazine on the nightstand. “That’s all I ask.”

Liam laughs, pulls me to him, and kisses my forehead. The joking from seconds ago abates with his tender kiss, and in the silence of the room, I close my eyes while he strokes my band-free wrist.

Liam reaches up to cup my face, eyes searching mine. They trace the outline of my face like he may be drawing me in his mind, and I catch myself hoping he doesn’t ever have to only commit me to memory. I pause, realizing I want more with him.

I tilt my chin up, mouth hovering near his.

He hisses as I brush my lips over his. The rough timbre of his voice whispers, “You’re the best thing that’s come into my life in a long while, Fleur.”

Liam closes the gap between us, pulling me flush to him, and I melt into his arms, protected and safe. With a peck to my nose, he continues over my cheeks before moving to my mouth.

This kiss is slow and unhurried. Like he’s savoring the moment before it poofs out of existence.

I want more,needmore from him. However, he seems content to be as we are in this moment, not taking it any further.

Connection, deep and meaningful, is what I crave. It’s what I was searching for when Adam kissed me. And Liam, he blows it out of the water. It feels less like a connection and more like a fusing our souls together.

Chapter 39

Liam

There was a bra on the bathroom floor this morning.

I’m not sure why this tidbit of knowledge is still rolling around in my head four hours and a truck ride later, but it is. I’ve seen a bra or two before. It’s just a scrap of fabric. Although the part of me responding at the thought has not gotten the memo.

Thick pine needles coat the path I’m on, and I’ve counted each step since leaving Fleur in the truck. Something, anything to get my mind off of her in the bath a few nights ago.

More than her alluring body beneath the water, I was drawn to her story. I want to pound her ex’s face in the pavement for what he did to her. It’s tempting to Google the guy and pay a visit to Michigan—I hear it’s nice weather this time of year.

The night turned into pure comedy when she drew a picture of me. It was awful. The entirety of my face was made up of four shapes. But, hell, did it bring me more laughter in that moment than I’d had in years.

Agent Wilson lifts a hand in my direction, a half wave, half robotic movement that makes me wonder if this man spendsmuch time in the field. With the way his eyes keep darting back behind him, I’d guess not much.

This is one of three dead drop and meet locations we preestablished after I took this mission. Scouting areas while under Darrin’s supervision was not easy but all three of these give the best cover and are the most out of the way without being questioned for going too far.

“This is the second time you’ve brought her.” Wilson motions to Fleur sitting in the truck.

Her legs are propped up on the dash, feet crossed, and I can practically hear the gum she is blowing into bubbles from here.

Without thinking, I smirk.

“I told you not to get involved.” The fall wind crushes his words into a murmur, but I hear them all the same.

“I’m not.” I turn to face him, pinning him with a stare I give Blitz most of the time when he pisses me off.

“We got word of what went down several nights ago. Boss man says we aren’t waiting much longer.”

I freeze, a piece of my hair slapping me in the mouth, and I cross my arms, annoyed. “What do you mean you aren’t waiting much longer?”

“It was Raven, right?” he asks.

I fish out the black bandana from my back pocket and toss it to Wilson. He fumbles with the fabric as it hits his bureaucratic suit shirt before spreading it open to reveal Raven’s signature “raven” in the middle. To the average person, this is only a bandana with a bird on it, but Wilson and I both know that around the ankle of this bird is a cuff, thick and damning.

“Raven,” Wilson says. “How did Darrin take it? Is he rattled?”

“He’s pissed. We lost a guard.”

“No. Darrin lost a guard,” Wilson spits. “It’s important to remember that. Regardless, with Raven’s attack, it changesthings. The task force believes we can’t wait much longer before Darrin spooks and moves his operation.”

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