Taken With Trouble (CAUGHT IN CHAOS #2)

22. Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Serena

I’m shaking in my heels as we walk up the stone steps to the Lang Palace. The pure magnitude of the palace and the number of guests flooding in has already overwhelmed me.

In theory, performing a hostage exchange with Liam should be easy. It should be simple, not terrifying at all and were something to go wrong, I can take care of it because I’m a trained special agent. But my life as an agent feels like it was merely a dream. Liam stole me away from my home base, put me in a dress, and turned me into a different woman. There is an old me and a new me. In less than a week I’ve changed and I’m struggling to reconcile these versions of myself into the strong woman I am, capable of anything tonight.

“I can’t do it.” I grip Liam’s arm, and he flexes his bicep, probably to push my nails off.

“Yes, you can.” He smiles at the faces we pass. We aren’t even inside yet, and I feel like a walking imposter. Everyone is going to see through this pretty little facade Liam painted and I haven’t even made it through the door. “Just think of the treasure we’ll get to find after this is over. ”

The last thing I’m thinking about right now is the treasure. Getting his grandfather back is the only thing I care about, and I fear everyone can see right through me.

“Everyone is staring at me,” I hiss. “They know.”

He stops and turns his body into mine, brushing his hand over my cheek. “They are staring because you are the most beautiful woman they’ve ever seen.”

“They’re judging me with their eyes.”

His lips tip in a half smile. “They are envying you with their eyes.”

I swallow and shake my head. His hand falls from my face.

“What do you do before an important mission?” he asks, suddenly serious.

“Uh…” My mind is utterly blank. What do I do? “I shoot fifty rounds at a target.”

His neck twitches. “Well, that’s good to know. What else?”

“Usually spar.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that before we left?” He mutters a curse. “Wasted opportunity.”

Despite myself, I smile, and he smiles right back.

“There’s always next time,” he says. “Now, what do you do right before you break down those doors?”

“There aren’t always doors.”

“I’m talking hypothetically.”

“I don’t know. I guess I try to clear my mind of everything except for the goal.”

“Okay, let’s breathe.” He takes a breath, and I copy him, holding it in for as long as he does if only to win a game we aren’t playing but are always engaged in. “Let it out. This time, close your eyes and clear your mind while you breathe.”

I do as he says again, unsure why. I take another breath, and when I let it out, I also let out all the fear, all the unknown, forcing my mind to focus on only one thing: saving Liam’s grandfather.

“You’re a brilliant federal agent,” he whispers in my ear, sending chills and confidence coursing down my spine. “A sexy assassin who can kill a man with one look. I’m already on the verge of a heart attack. ”

A little dramatic, but oddly helpful. I nod, opening my eyes. “You’re right, I’ve got this.”

“There’s my girl.” He holds out his arm, and I place my hand on the crook of his elbow, allowing him to lead me. This time I don’t look at the people staring. I hold my head high and walk forward.

We reach the top of the steps and walk through the doors into the grand ballroom. There are gold chandeliers hanging from the ornately carved wooden ceiling. The walls are a deep burgundy red lined with paintings that should be in museums. The spiral staircase is located in the northeast corner. The whole scene is breathtaking, but I don’t allow myself to indulge. Instead, I confirm every exit, count each security guard, and study the passing faces.

People are mostly milling about and talking, but the dance floor is alive with people in beautiful dresses and tuxes swaying and waltzing.

Liam is focused, his jaw flexed, eyes hard.

This is why I’m scared. I don’t know this version of Liam. Though I’m prepared, there’s no telling how it will go down, simply because of the unpredictable man beside me.

“Let’s take a turn about the room and see if we can find the Winthrops,” Liam says.

“What if there are people here to kill you?” I hiss as he leads me down the stairs.

He shrugs. “They’ll do it quietly.”

“That’s not as comforting as you think.”

“All I have to do is return this ring to the Winthrops so the bounty can be called off, and then I can rescue my grandfather.”

He makes it sound like this is just a regular night, a simple misunderstanding and… I’m stupidly voting for simple. “Then let’s go find them.”

Liam escorts me along the edges of the ballroom as we continue to scan through faces. Several minutes later we find the Winthrops in the middle of a group of diplomats.

Liam angles us toward them. “Remember, you’re a ruthless agent delivering a criminal to repentance. ”

Right. Okay. Callous agent. I’m good at that. So why am I nervous?

“Oh, I almost forgot.” Liam whispers, “I brought these for us.” He pulls a pair of handcuffs from his satchel.

And just like that, the nerves are gone, replaced by the annoyance that accompanies his existence. “I’m not handcuffing you while we’re at a gala.”

“I thought you’d enjoy the chance to lock me up?” He wiggles his brows.

“You and I both know those won’t hold you.”

“Was that a compliment?”

“No. It was the opposite. An honest person wouldn’t need them to begin with. They only belong on criminals, such as you.”

“Hmm.” He clenches his jaw, thinking. “Perhaps we have different views on which one of us is the criminal.”

My heart thuds against my ribcage. What is he getting at? What does he know? He can’t possibly know about my last partner. He’s trying to rattle me before an important meeting with influential people.

And it’s working.

“Just shut up and let me take care of this,” I say, locking his wrists in the cuffs that look like he stole them from a costume shop.

“Yes, ma’am.” He bows to me. Right as the Winthrops turn to look at us.

They are flanked on either side by men I assume are bodyguards, the one nearest me sporting a gun.

I stand straighter, acting the part, and grab Liam’s upper arm, which he flexes, repeatedly. Annoyingly.

“Liam?” The woman rushes forward, wrapping ‘the criminal’ in a hug.

I drop his arm, completely confused. I thought they hated him.

Liam meets my eye over the woman’s shoulder and winks.

So much for working together here. He played me. This is why he was so sure they didn’t kidnap his grandfather.

When Liam cannot bring his arms up to return the hug, Ms. Winthrop looks down at his hands then glares at me. “Get these off him; he did nothing wrong.”

“He’s wanted in four countries,” I say stiffly .

Her eyebrows rise, and she holds herself high like the important woman she is. “Not in this one. Besides, most of that was my daughter.” She waves her hands in the air. “Get these off. We must dance and catch up.”

My jaw clenches. Scarlett was in on it. And the Winthrops knew. What is happening right now? Why didn’t they tell us?

They wanted her to be remembered as a wonderful person, not a thief.

Liam turns to me, with a barely concealed snicker as he holds up his wrists. I pinch the cuffs tighter and he grimaces. “I’m going to tie you up and use you as a pinata,” I hiss through my fake smile as I release him.

“As always, I look forward to our rendezvous of wills, Agent Cruz.” He smiles again before extending his arm to Ms. Winthrop.

I glare daggers at his back as he leads her to the dance floor.

“He was always good at making ladies mad,” someone says beside me.

I glance up to see a large man. Mr. Winthrop. He didn’t say a word to Liam. As I study him, I wonder if it’s because he doesn’t believe Liam is as innocent as Ms. Winthrop does.

“Good at smooth-talking them, too,” I say. I watch as Liam pulls something out of his pocket and places it in Ms. Winthrop's palm. She takes the ring, slipping it onto her finger and dissolving into a puddle of tears in Liam’s shoulder. His expression is stoic as he sways a broken-hearted mother along the dance floor.

Mr. Winthrop purses his lips and nods. “That he is. But he’s a good man.”

Does he really believe that? I shake my head and hold out a hand. “Special Agent Cruz.”

His eyes light up with recognition, and he takes my hand. “You were one of the ones who found our daughter’s killer. We knew Liam was innocent, but we hated not knowing who was truly responsible.”

I simply nod and release his hand.

“Thank you.” He drops in a small bow.

I shirk off his praise and study him. They clearly didn’t kidnap Liam’s grandfather, but we are no closer to figuring out who did. Something doesn’t add up. “May I ask, why did you put the bounty on Liam if you knew he was innocent? ”

His brows furrow. “What bounty?”

I frown. “The fifty-thousand-dollar bounty.”

“Wasn’t me. If I’d put a bounty on him, I would have done it while he and Scarlett were dating,” he says with a small chuckle.

“I could have sworn…” my voice trails off as I try to remember exactly where the bounty had come from, but I can’t recall. It was told to me by S-A-C Ford who assumed it was the Winthrops. But if they didn’t do it… that means it’s still out there, and Liam is still in danger. In more ways than one.

Ice-cold dread settles in my stomach. I have to tell Liam. Now.

I cut in as the song ends. “Excuse me. Liam?” I look at him expectantly.

“Ah.” He beams. “The other beautiful woman I promised to dance with tonight.” He kisses Ms. Winthrop’s cheeks and escorts her to her husband before returning to me.

“No, I don’t need to dance. We need to talk.”

“I believe we can multitask.” He slips a hand around my waist, reeling me in. “Though, don’t think you’re getting out of dancing with me later tonight. Our next one is at nine-twenty-seven .”

I’m well aware. He has this weird obsession with setting the breaking point for odd-numbered times. He says it seems more sporadic and less planned. I think it’s ridiculous. “We need to get out of here. This is a trap.”

“What are you talking about?” The flow of couples brings us closer to the center of the room.

“The Winthrops didn’t set that bounty, Liam. Someone else did. Someone who probably wants you dead. The same someone who may have your grandfather.”

He curses while glancing around. “I knew that was too good to hope for. Come on.” He leads me off the floor, and we round a large statue of a nude Greek god. He pulls me to a stop right behind the buttocks. His head right below it.

I can’t help it. I laugh. And what terrible timing .

He glances behind him then plants his hands on his hips, his lips twitching. “Can you be serious for even a minute?” He teases. Then turns us sideways so the buttocks is to the side of us.

“Sorry.” I bite my bottom lip.

“It’s time for plan E,” he says.

I furrow my brows. “I don’t remember a plan E?”

“You don’t? Hmm. I swear I laminated it for you.” He points to the statue. “We must engage in the beautiful French pastime of kissing.”

That plan.

“No, that was in case of an emergency.” I hit his shoulder. “We need to leave. Now.”

“No one’s going to make a move on us in the middle of all these people,” Liam says.

“Really? Because a crowd makes a perfect excuse in many situations.”

“No. I need to clear my mind and come up with a new plan, and there’s only one way I want to do that.”

“We aren’t kissing right now!” I slap his shoulder and he holds his hands up in surrender.

“I was kidding, but I still hoped to convince you.” He teases, clearly trying to lighten the mood like he does, but I can find no humor in this situation. “Okay, let’s think this through…”

My fists clench, and his voice drifts away as I glance around, studying every face I find, searching for the one who might be after us. Waiting for us. Everyone is smiling or talking. Everyone except…

My body turns to ice, the blood draining from my face.

It’s him.

I swallow the panic rising through my throat, but it’s too late.

His head swivels my way. I see it happening in slow motion, and I execute the last plan that registered in my brain. I grab the lapels of Liam’s suit jacket and press my lips to his.

He only remains confused for a moment before his mouth moves against mine with a hungry fervor. I can tell with his kiss that somehow he’s smirking right now. He slips a hand around my waist and another one around the back of my head, tilting my body just enough to gain better purchase. Then he parts my lips, dragging my bottom lip into his mouth with his teeth. My knees give out, and I fall into him, trusting him to hold me up. Something in the back of my brain is screaming at me to stop this, but my body isn’t listening. I slip my arms up his chest, settling around his neck, pulling him even closer as I taste his bottom lip. He groans somewhere deep and low, and it sets off a thrill inside me.

I’ve never been kissed like this. I’ve never kissed like this. This is a whole new adventure. I feel like I’m flying and free-falling at the same time. Maybe that’s because I’m kissing Liam—the man who has endlessly lied to me. He’s kidnapped me but also cared for me. I thought I knew exactly what kind of man he was, but he’s proved me wrong at every turn. He surprises me, and I’ve come to enjoy it.

There’s a raging fire in my chest ready to demolish my heart and soul for this man.

All my reservations from earlier have been obliterated. I thought I was in control of my heart, in control of this kiss, but now I realize I never was. Pushing him away was never going to work; it was our destiny to collide. And collide we did. Now I can’t stop kissing him. He’s an addiction I must satiate.

His hands sneak down my sides as his tongue slips over my lips. I’m putty in his very capable hands.

I have to tell him.

My pulse slows. No. I can’t. Not right now. Not with Sebastian here.

I drag my lips away, and he pulls back, his eyes glazed over. “I knew you wanted me.”

“I…” I glance behind him.

Sebastian is gone.

I untwine myself from Liam and take a step back. “Time for plan F,” I say.

“Please say it’s more kissing because that was incredible,” Liam says. “Though, I say we take it—”

His words drop off when the lights go out. His arms disappear, and I have the distinct impression he’s gone, though I can’t see a single thing .

“Liam?”

A hand comes over my mouth. Another one around my waist. The overwhelming scent of Ralph Lauren permeates my senses. My stomach drops.

“Hello, love,” Sebastian whispers in my ear, scratching my cheek with his rough beard. “Did you miss me?”