Page 112 of Attraction (Mobsters + Billionaires 3)
He shakes his head. “I'd really rather not get into the specifics. That night changed my life, and not always for good.”
I nod. “Same. I don’t want to talk about the specifics either. It was horrible for me, and I'm certain walking in on that was horrible for you.”
“Plenty of therapy bills, that's for damn sure,” he says with a sardonic smile.
“Yes. All of the therapy. I guess what I really just wanted to say was thank you. Thank you for making your presence known. It allowed me to get away.”
“I just wanted him to stop,” he says, dropping his head, his overgrown hair drifting into his eyes.
And that's when I see it. I did recognize him before, but this disheveled look brings me right back to that night.
“I guess I just wanted to know what happened to you after. Is that something you mind telling me?”
He shakes his head. “No, that's fine. I first went to my mom, and she said I got it wrong, that my father would never do that.”
“That’s awful.”
“I thought you might bring charges against him, but after getting into law enforcement, I understand why you didn’t.”
I look down, fidgeting with a rough cuticle. “I knew it would be his word against mine. I also knew it wouldn't stop him. So I just tried to get on with the rest of my life.”
He nods along with me. “His lawyers would have made it go away. I left for my grandparents’ that night, but not before I threatened to go to the board of his company if he ever hurt another person ever again.”
“I thank you for that,” I say, wowed by what young Liam did.
“I just did what I could.” He pauses. “You know, I've seen you in the papers, followed your success. We even saw each other briefly when Rand Wolfe gave that Ted Talk and got engaged. I could tell you didn’t recognize me.”
“You've got a better skin routine and a nicer haircut. I guess it threw me off,” I say, smiling.
He runs his hands through his hair. “I usually look better than this, I promise. It's just…my grandfather is in the hospital. They think he’ll be able to come home, but they’re not sure. I’m just here to take a quick shower and then head back.”
“I heard his condition was quite grave. I'm sorry to hear that.” I bite my lip, hoping my next question won’t be too painful for him. “Will your brother be joining you at the hospital?”
He shakes his head. “Fallon always thought my grandfather was some doddering old relic of a time gone by. He worshipped our father though.”
“Has he contacted you since the discovery of the body?”
Liam looks down. “He still doesn’t know where I live or what I do.”
“Some of that’s going to come out when your grandfather passes, no? If there’s a reading of the will…”
“Fallon isn’t invited. I’m getting the house and a stipend, and the rest is going to a charitable trust.”
I shift in my seat, unsure if I should reveal how much I know. In the end, I decide not to let an officer of the law know I’m party to a massive security breach, along with a few other felonies.
“If you’re managing the trust, I’m happy to help however I can.”
He bats down the request with a gesture. “Nah, that’s out of my hands. I’m sure my grandfather hired the right people for the job. He always does.”
I bite the inside of my lip, secretly cursing an old man clinging to life in the hospital. I don’t know what he’s thinking, leaving a world-building amount of wealth in the hands of his unsuspecting grandson.
I decide then and there to be Liam’s friend. Or at least a trusted acquaintance.
“I’m glad to hear it. I have to take off now, but I am very good with money,” I say, standing. “I’ll be happy to help you in whatever way I can. May I give you my number?”
His grin is wry. “I already have it.”
“Ah, yes. Of course you do. Make sure you use it, okay?”
