Page 69 of Taken With Trouble

“Where is the evidence?” I ask, almost afraid to know the answer. “It wasn’t in the box when Scarlett and I got it. Did someone else find it?”

“It was never in the box. I put it somewhere safe.”

I raise a brow. “You’re using my line now.”

“It worked well for you.”

My mind is running a million miles an hour. Sebastian has the box. By now, he will know the video evidence isn’t in there. He’s going to be angry, and he’s going to take it out on… “Sebastian has my grandfather.” Thebed suddenly feels colder.

Serena swallows. “I believe so. And now he wants me.”

“That’s not going to happen. I’ll keep you safe.” I clamp my jaw together and splay my hands across her back, hoping to convince her of the sincerity of my words.

“You’re capable of a lot of things, but not even you can compete with him. He’s powerful and dangerous.”

I brush my lips over her hair. “I’m starting to get offended by your lack of belief in me.”

A ghost of a smile creases her cheeks. “Not everything is about you.”

If it was, they wouldn’t want her. I cup the back of her neck and bring her mouth to mine. Though she was freezing mere minutes ago, her mouth comes alive, kissing me back the way I dreamed of kissing her when I was fifteen. We’ve bridged that gap in time, growing into the people we are today. I keep my kiss soft, promising to protect her this time. She clings to me; I want to believe it’s because she finally trusts me. I’ll do anything to be that man for her. I slide my hand down her side, gripping her hip and deepening the kiss.

The blankets tangle around us, trapping us in warmth and… love.

Her heart has planned the perfect heist and kidnapped mine. I’m all hers. I press a kiss to every inch of exposed skin on her collarbone, dropping my mouth to the hollow of her neck and running my lips up her smooth skin, back to her mouth. She eagerly greets me, making my body flame with desire. I want to throw caution to the wind, like I used to. But that’s not who I am anymore. This woman deserves the very best in a man—one who would never hurt or break her.

I might not be that man yet. But I want to be.

I drag my lips away from hers, and she groans. I press another kiss to her forehead before rolling to my back and dragging her into my side. “Time to get some sleep, sweetheart.”

She snuggles into me, and within moments, her breaths come slow and steady.

A feeling hits me right in the chest as I watch her sleep—something I haven’t felt for far too long.

I could try to deny it, but I’ve already loved her once before.

Chapter 27

Liam

Location: Liam’s grandfather’s backyard

Time: fifteen years ago

I pull Seraphina under the weeping willow between our two houses, right to the center. Her grandmother won’t be able to see us from here.

“What is it you wanted to show me?” Seraphina asks.

“Do you even know what patience is?” I tease her.

“It’s never worked for me.”

I know. That’s why we get along so well.

“Stand right there and close your eyes.”

Seraphina shakes her head but puts her hands over her eyes anyway. “You better not put another frog on me. I know where you sleep.”

“What would your grandmother think if she heard you say that?” I chuckle as her cheeks turn pink. Her grandmother is overprotective, but at least she’s not abusive like my father. I’m dreading going home tomorrow, but it’s only for a week. These summers, far away from my father, are my haven. Just me and my grandfather.

---