Page 14 of Reunion at Mistletoe Lodge
They drove into Denver, heading for the Four Seasons, with Liam’s mind reeling from the information Patrick had just dropped on him.
"You really didn’t know about the baby?" Patrick asked, confused. "Surely Barb would’ve called to pass that kind of news on."
"All our phones were taken away when the first threat on my brother’s life came through and replaced with clean ones because we thought someone had compromised the ones we had," Liam reminded him. "And I know the connection from Africa to Montana wasn’t the best from where Barb was located."
“You shouldn’t have tried to get rid of Barb when you ran into her at the lodge earlier,” Patrick pointed out. “It’s made her suspicious.”
Liam looked at Patrick in surprise. “No!” He shook his head. “I would’ve noticed if she was.”
“Would you have?” Patrick looked at him pointedly. “You were blindsided when you saw her.”His eyes narrowed. “Did your contact know Barb was going to be at the lodge?”
“Seems like they did,” Liam confirmed. “I think they also knew about Barb filing for divorce.”
Patrick looked at Liam in the mirror. “What are you going to do about it?”
“Stall,” Liam shrugged. “What else can I do?”
“Give Barb her freedom?” Patrick's words sent tiny waves of shock down Liam’s spine.
“I don’t think that’s a decision that should be made right now,” Liam stated firmly.
“Then you’re going to have a hard time trying to keep them safe if anyone else finds out who she is,” Patrick advised him.
“Luckily, only myself, Courtney, the annoyed person waiting for me in Denver, and you know about Barb and Oscar,” Liam pointed out, his voice holding awarning. “I will call Courtney and warn her about Barb when we’re in Denver.”
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Patrick assured him, a flash of annoyance in his eyes at the suggestion. “But it is a concern having Barb and her kids here if this investigation goes sideways. If whoever’s after your brother finds out where we are, they could be in danger and used as leverage.”
“You don’t have to remind me!” Liam’s jaw clenched. This was just creating more of a headache, especially if, as Patrick said, Barb was becoming suspicious.
They drove into the entrance of the Four Seasons Denver, and Patrick pulled into a parking space. “While you’re in the meeting, if you want me to, I’ll see what I can find out about Barb’s new baby.” He climbed out of the car and opened the back door for Liam.
“Thank you, Patrick,” Liam said as he climbed out of the vehicle. “I’d appreciate that. Could you find out who the attorney handling the divorce is as well?”
“What are you thinking?” Patrick asked, pulling their luggage from the trunk. “Want me to try and get the divorce papers ‘lost’ in transit?”
“That’s an idea.” Liam nodded. “It would help, as I made a deal with Barb. She promised to stay away from Zac and explain to Oscar to do the same if I’d get the divorce papers signed when they arrived in two days.”
“I’m on it,” Patrick promised.
Twenty minutes later, Liam and Patrick walked into the cocktail lounge, where they were escorted to a discreet booth out of the way of prying eyes. When they reached the booth, Liam’s contact was already waiting.
“Hello, Liam,” the haughty, impatient voice of the person he was meeting greeted him. “You’re nearly an hour late. My source will be here any minute if your bodyguard, dressed like someone out of Men in Black, hasn’t spooked them.”
Liam glanced to where Patrick had taken a seat nearby and was asking for a dinner menu.
“If they know who I am, they’ll appreciate that I have to have security,” Liam pointed out. “And as for being late…” His brows rose accusingly. “I got delayed by a rather shocking surprise that you,Priscilla, could have warned me about.”
“Honestly,” Priscilla’s cool eyes and soft voice held no hint of remorse, “I didn’t think, after what Barb and Oscar went through thanks to your family, that any of you deserved to know.” Perfectly groomed eyebrows rose pointedly. “It was your family that just cut ties with them and decided to leave them out of this.”
Anger flashed in Liam’s eyes as he glared at the person across the table. “You’re wrong about me not having the right to know,” he retorted. “If this goes south and they find out who Barb and her kids are…” He let the consequences hang in the air.
“I can assure you,” Pricilla’s voice dropped a few frost levels, “I have already ensured their and my family’s safety. You’re not the only one with power and influence, Liam.” Her eyes narrowed. “As far as my family, which includes Barb and her kids, are concerned, I want you and your family to stay as far away as possiblefrom them.”
“It’s going to be kind of hard, considering she’s in Bungalow Number One, right next door to our chalet!” Liam pointed out.
“I only realized Barb had been put there late this afternoon when I got in from Los Angeles.” Priscilla leaned back as a waitress placed a menu on the table. “I’ve arranged for them to be moved to the far end of the resort, nearer to Ryder and Avery, in the morning.”
A pang of regret zapped through Liam, but he pushed it away. “Good, I appreciate that.” He steered the conversation away from Barb. He needed to get her off his mind as she and the kids were a distraction he could ill afford at the moment. “Who is this source? And how are they connected to my brother?”
