Page 57 of Wraith
Later, as Amelia laid in Liam’s arms, a feeling of dread descended over her. She trembled but Liam probably thought she was cold. He pulled the blankets up to her neck and drew her closer into his chest. Amelia pretended to be asleep, not wanting to worry him.
He kissed her forehead. “I’ll get you home, Hummingbird.” Liam said, his voice soft, cracking. “I’ll get you home safely, with or without the damn painting. I don’t care what happens to it. All I need is to know you’re okay. Everything else is not important.”
Tears filled Amelia’s eyes.
Still, she remained still, making the same promise silently to his heart.
Chapter 16
There is no place on earth more mind-numbingly quiet as Russia when all hell could break loose. Amelia was positive even as she allowed Liam to zip her into her clothes. The outfit was a little snug but it would have to do. She wiggled a little then reached back to tie her hair up. Once they were ready, they waited.
She watched in awe as Barbie put together her weapon then cracked the window a little. Amelia didn’t even notice when Barbie had pulled the trigger. But, in less than thirty seconds, she was once again dismantling her gun. Quick as lightning, the pieces were in her bag and Barbie began zipping it up.
Amelia made a mental note to ask Barbie to show her how she worked the weapon after they were finished. Before she could confirm her thought, the others were already gathering their bags.
“Let’s move!” Liam called, handing her a bag. “Amelia, I’m going to need you to keep up, got it?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
The others piled out the door. Liam didn’t leave until Amelia was out. They used the back staircase and dipped out into the frigid air. The ride over to the address was a quiet one. Liam sat in the front with Beast and Barbie in the back with Amelia. The two of them talked in hushed tones, Barbie stared out the window but kept looking back.
“You got the tires, right?” Amelia asked.
“What a question?” Barbie grinned at her. “Keep in mind, if I ever miss, someone on my team doesn’t go home. I don’t ever want that on my watch. My boys will always go home.”
“I’m jealous of you,” Amelia said. “I feel like I’ve wasted my life.”
“How do you mean?”
“I want a team—boys who I protect. I mean—I have all this money and nothing to show for it. My life isn’t my own and the man I want…” Amelia looked toward Liam then leaned over to whisper to Barbie. “The man I want is right in front of me and I’m terrified I’ve ruined his life.”
“Has he been complaining?”
Amelia shook her head. “No. But he’ll find out I’m nothing like you or Lili and he’ll hate me.”
“You’re going to find out soon enough the caliber of man Wraith is. And when you do, you owe me a Canadian vacation.”
Amelia laughed.
“Now. Head in the game.”
“Aye-ay captain!” Amelia offered a mock salute.
Barbie grinned but bounced Amelia playfully with her shoulder. “If you…”
“T minus ten minutes.” Tex’s voice blared through the ear piece Liam had given her. “Y’all set?”
“As set as we’ll ever be,” Beast replied.
Ten minutes flew by and soon they were trudging through bare trees toward the back of a massive home. It wasn’t an easy trek and at one point, Amelia thought for sure she’d done something to her ankle. But there was no room for complaining. These guys were doing this for her, trying to solve a mystery for her and figure out if her father was dead or alive.
With Tex’s help, Beast hacked into the security grid and they were able to get in and close the gate behind them. While Barbie and Beast remain as security and look out, Liam and Amelia went through the house, floor by floor, room by room.
She didn’t’ expect they’d find anything until they heard voices along a corridor. Liam pressed a finger to his lips, signaling for Amelia to remain quiet. She nodded and he snuck to the door and peeked out. When he stepped back, he held up two fingers. Amelia nodded.
Two men
