Page 8 of Married to Mischief

“It’s a beautiful one,” Liam says, then leans back in his seat and rubs his chin. “Cillian Moore was never married.”

“But he must have been in love once. And this treasure was for her. LH. Do you know who that was?”

Liam shakes his head. And for the rest of the drive to his secret house, we each research the initials on our devices.

Two hours later, sitting in front of the willow tree mural, I find it.

“Lydia Hale.” I sit forward.

Liam jumps over the couch and looks at my phone.

“Who is she?”

“Well, she could have been no one, but they were rumored to be childhood friends. It would make sense he fell for her butcould never return to her after all he’d done. He could only love her from afar. The next clue says 'where our memories and dreams forever abide.' Do you think he meant where they grew up? Or where they both ended up, able only to dream of one another?"

"We don't know where he ended up. If we did, this wouldn't be a treasure hunt." Liam scrubs a hand through his hair, as exhausted as I am by our travels. “Let's find her.”

An hour later, we find what we need. Her old family home belongs to someone else now, but her last known residence is now a jewelry shop. Interesting. What better place to hide treasure than a jewelry shop that’s practically one large bank vault? It’s too late to go anywhere tonight, but I have a good feeling about what we’ll find tomorrow.

Chapter 4

Serena

“Wakeup,sleepyhead.”Liamwaves a plate of sausage and pancakes over my face. I reach for them, but he pulls them back.

“You’re cruel.” I groan, stretching the aches out of my back from where I must have fallen asleep on the couch researching last night.

He leans over the back of the couch, his face hovering over mine. “I never said I’d be nice.” He presses a kiss to the hollow of my neck, and I shiver and turn my head, exposing more of my neck. But he only nips at my jaw before pulling back.

“Let’s go on an adventure, beautiful.”

I sit up. “Food first.” I snag a piece of sausage and devour it. “Is your grandfather coming?” We FaceTime Henry once a day. He’s healed well from his kidnapping, though it might havesomething to do with the sweet neighbor who promised to look after him. Henry couldn’t help himself from flirting with the woman and is determined to wear her down. He informs us of his progress daily.

“He’s taking Maria to brunch but will be around later to help us ‘uncover the treasure,’” Liam says.

“Good, I can’t wait to see him.”

Twenty minutes and a plate of food later, I’m in the driver's seat of Liam’s Lamborghini. I run my hands over the smooth wheel.

“Will you kill me if I crash it?” I ask.

“It’s just a car. And I'dnevertry to kill you.” He smirks.

“That felt very pointed.” I turn on the car, revving it up. Liam doesn’t even flinch.

“You’ve tried to kill me fifteen times.”

“But I never succeeded. You’re welcome.” I shoot him a smirk and speed out of the driveway. The world passes by in a blur of color and motion. The London I used to love is coming back to me slowly but surely. I can’t stop the grin from covering my face as adrenaline courses through my veins.

“You can slow down,” Liam says casually.

“Can’t handle it?”

“You know I can. You know I will. Always.” Liam grabs my hand, and the warmth in his voice, his touch, eases my foot on the gas. I’ve gone to therapy, thanks to my boyfriend and my partner conspiring against me—the one and only thing they’ve ever agreed on. I’ll admit, I needed it. I’ve worked through my past, but sometimes I still can’t kick the feeling that I’m running, waiting for someone to catch me. It’s a hard habit to break.

Last night we decided we’d first visit the home Lydia Hale grew up in since it was closer.

“What are we going to say? ‘Can we dig some holes on your property until we find a long-lost treasure?’” I ask, my handsgrowing sweaty against the steering wheel. What if this doesn’t work?

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