Page 66 of Wanted
“Liv. Didn’t his wife leave his ass because he beat her? He’d harassed several people, and was a loan shark. I’m sure a lot of people are glad he’s gone.”
Behind the door to the office, someone moved in the workshop, so Liv exhaled and dug into the food to stuff his face.
“You’re right, that happened.”
“He was a shitstain and you know it! Why would you be sorry for him?”
“I’m notsorryfor him, but now I’m a murderer, and that’s that.”
Knox shook his head. “It was an accident. Maybe he shouldn’t have been waving that machete around.” He put his hands on Liv’s cheeks. “You’re a good person, okay?”
The insistence in his voice trickled all the way to Liv’s chest, soothing the ache that had been throbbing inside it since the night they needed to leave their home behind. Liv wasn’t so sure. He'd broken a lot of hearts, he occasionally sold drugs to people who should not buy them anymore, and had stolen a thing or two, but there was a hard line between all that and taking another person’s life, even someone as violent and evil as Vlad.
“How do you know?” he whispered, ignoring the shuffling in the workshop.
Knox kissed him, and there was an intensity in his blue eyes as he whispered, “I’ve had youinsideme. I know you. I know your heart.”
Are you getting soft on me, Knoxie?Pushed at Liv’s throat, but he couldn’t say it. He couldn’t take Knox’s kindness and throw it in his face just because he didn’t know how to handle it coming from another guy. Instead, he kissed the little finger resting next to his lips and leaned close, pressing his forehead against Knox’s. His heart chimed with a strange sensation that felt somehow both painful and pleasant.
Knox believed in him.
“Thanks.”
They both flinched at the roar of fury from the workshop.
“The fuck was going on here?” Frank yelled. “How dare you touch my shit!”
Liv instantly knew what this was about, and he darted for his pants, but the door was flung open, leaving him to face their host naked.
Chapter 22
Knox
Knox’s reaction was primal.All he knew was that he had to stand between Frank and Liv. Both for the sake of hiding Liv’s ass, and shielding him from Frank’s wrath.
But Frank’s face was a mask of fury, his shoulders set, and as soon as Knox was within range of his oversized arms, Frank smacked the side of his head so hard, Knox landed on the desk with stars swirling in his skull.
“Just because we had a few drinks last night doesn’t mean you can roam around my workshop like two horny buffaloes!” Frank roared.
The world spun as Knox rested his hand on the desktop, shocked by the ferocity of their host’s actions, but Liv already stepped between them like a wall of fury.
“What the fuck was that for? Don’t you fucking dare lay a finger on him again!”
Frank’s severe features tensed, and he slapped him too. “There. Is this better?”
Knox couldn’t think. The sound of Frank’s palm hitting Liv’s cheek was still resonating in his mind when he turned, fists up, and threw himself at Frank. He could almost taste the blood on his tongue. He craved the violence. But Frank took a step back just as Liv yanked on Knox’s jacket.
“We did nothing wrong! It was just there!” Knox yelled, twisting out of the jacket, and ready to take on a man twice his size. But just as he managed to free himself, Liv’s warm, insistent arms wrapped around his waist and kept him from charging forward.
“It’s fine. Calm down,” Liv said, pulling Knox back to his chest. When he spoke next, there was an edge of anger to his voice. “But he’s right. You were the one who left it out there and made us wonder who’s gonna use it. Ezra or you?”
Frank’s dark glare promised nothing good, and Knox stilled in Liv’s embrace. At least he was now between Frank and Liv.
“You two little shits… Mosquitoes have more self-preservation instinct than you.” Frank took a deep breath. “The machine was covered and none of your business. You won’t be mentioning its existence to Ezra unless you want a cement grave. Understood?”
“Yeah,” Knox mumbled, because Liv’s hot presence against his back did calm him down a little.
Liv hummed. “Ezra wouldn’t be very happy if you defended his honor by killing two nice boys who attended a party at his last night. Why don’t you chill out? We were drunk last night, but no one’s gonna go and tell on you.”
