Taken With Trouble (CAUGHT IN CHAOS #2)

43. Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Serena

I was about ready to slap Liam a few minutes ago when he wouldn’t stop taunting Sebastian. But maybe I was whacked on the head a few too many times as well, because I swear Liam just called the very intimidating man who I assume is The Boss… his dad. That can’t be right. I would have recognized him.

But… I never met his father in all the years I knew Liam. I don’t think I even saw a picture. Family was the last thing Liam and I ever talked about.

The man has straight silver hair and a rigid, shaved smooth jaw. The only thing they appear to have in common is the blue of their eyes and the ever-present charming smirk. “Son.”

“What’s going on?” I’m not sure if the words come from my mouth or Liam’s.

I also can’t decide if this is good news or really bad news. Judging by Liam’s scowl, it’s the latter.

‘The Boss’ sits on the red sofa, unbuttoning his suit coat. A memory flicks to life from that night. He was younger, but he had been one of the two men in the shadows calling the shots. I hadn’t recognized him, but I’m sure there’s enough footage to arrest him.

“This is who I am.” Liam’s dad grins, arms outstretched .

“A psychopathic murderer?” Liam asks. “No wonder I turned out so bad.”

“Agreed.” His father sits forward. “You are a disappointment.”

“Here we go again.” Liam sighs.

The Boss narrows his eyes. “You imbecile. I told Sebastian to let you go, and you still come back.”

“I’m nothing if not persistent,” Liam says.

“It was that quality I thought I could use to get you to become like me.”

Liam scoffs. “You were the last thing I wanted to be. Still are.”

The Boss’s cheek twitches, but he forces a breath and relaxes into his seat, propping one foot over his other knee. “That’s why I had Scarlett seek you out.”

Liam’s head jerks. “Come again?”

“She started working for me just before she headed to the States. I knew you couldn’t resist a pretty face. I thought with her influence you’d become great, but you always had your head in a computer or wrapped up in some art project and didn’t care as much to get your hands dirty.”

“I’m sorry.” Liam shakes his head. “You’re spouting nonsense. I don’t speak idiot.”

The Boss seethes, dropping both feet to the floor and leaning over his knees. “I’ve built the biggest drug smuggling empire in all of Europe. You had all the talent to join me, but not even a woman pretending to love you could give you the passion to follow in my footsteps.”

“Let me get this straight, even in my teenage acts of rebellion, I actually became more like you?” He rubs the back of his neck. “I’m going to need some serious therapy.”

I think over Liam’s life, and I can see it. Liam was interested in the arts. His father only wanted to use it to smuggle drugs. That made Liam risky.

“You were untrained and impulsive. Scarlett was supposed to rein you in, turn you into a man.”

We must not be looking at the same person. Where I sit, Liam is the only real man here.

“Me?” Liam scoffs. “I reined Scarlett in. And leave her out of this. She had nothing to do with this. ”

“That’s where you’re wrong. She had everything to do with this.”

“No,” Liam says, but for the first time today, he shuts his mouth and stops arguing.

The Boss pours himself a cup of brandy. “She was so eager to learn. I sent her after that first box when it appeared in Atlanta. She was supposed to bring it to me, so we could retrieve the evidence and follow the treasure, but she got distracted by the allure of her fame instead.”

I sneak a peek at Liam to see how he’s taking this. His jaw is clenched, and he’s shaking his head, but otherwise, he’s silent.

“So, I sent Sawyer to retrieve it, but even he failed. Then you got involved, so I decided to wait and see if you’d do what I wanted. But according to Sawyer, the box was lost.” He shrugs. “I could only wait—and patience has never been my strong suit. Then lo and behold, Sebastian found her .” The Boss’s eyes swivel to mine for the first time since entering the room. “The very woman who had been the cause of all of this.”

Liam shakes his head, seeming to have found his voice. “Serena did nothing wrong. She’s the only good one in this room.”

I’d be flattered but the competition is pretty pathetic. With the exception of Liam.

The Boss grins wider, glancing between the two of us. He heard it, the care in Liam’s voice. And he plans to use it.

“Give me the Spartan box,” The Boss says to Sebastian who immediately stands, offering him the box.

Instead of pulling out a key, he grabs a hammer he apparently had sitting beneath the coffee table.

“Don’t you dare destroy Davy Crockett’s time capsule,” Liam shouts, and despite myself, I bite back a laugh.

“Get your head out of the clouds boy. Art is only good for one thing—transporting more valuable currency. Miss Seraphina knows that.” His steely gaze turns on me.

My back stiffens .

The Boss brings the hammer up and smashes it down on the box. Liam and I flinch as we watch him repeatedly hit the jewel-encrusted metal before he gets it open enough to shake out the cell phone.

“This is the evidence I’ve spent years searching for?” The Boss barks out a laugh, holding up the flip phone like it’s a foreign object. “It will be so grainy it will hardly be convincing. Is this the only copy?”

“Yes.” I’ve allowed my eyes to glaze over, my emotions as well, so my lie doesn’t falter coming off my lips.

“I don’t believe you. Ford!” he calls, and that sad excuse for an agent runs forward to do his bidding. “Did you take care of her partner as well?”

My heart drops to my stomach. What did he do to Caleb?

“I’m, uh, on it, sir.”

“He’s fine,” Liam whispers as Ford rushes from the room.

The Boss sighs dramatically. “It’s so hard to find good help these days. Who else did you show?”

“Only Liam,” I say, honestly.

“I don’t believe you. But I suppose it doesn’t matter, since anyone who stumbles upon that video will never be able to make sense of it. I’ve wasted years hunting this down when all I needed to do was get rid of the only eyewitness.” He pulls a gun out, aiming it at my head. I don’t flinch. I don’t move. I can’t. I’m mentally and physically numb.

“Don’t touch her.” Liam jumps from his chair and is in front of me in a second.

“Pipe down, son. Chivalry is dead. And make no mistake, I’ll put a bullet through you to get to her.”

“Does Mum know about your side business?” Liam asks.

The Boss scoffs. “I give her enough money and men to spend her time with. She never bats an eye. Now, move. I’m done with this game.”

“Sir,” Sebastian interrupts.

“What?” The Boss grumbles.

“I was… uh, wondering if I could have her?”

“Excuse me? ”

My brain goes blank. What did he say? He wants to have me?

I’d prefer the bullet.

The boss raises a brow. “Lonely?”

Sebastian shrugs. “Mother has been bugging me for grandbabies.”

I’m going to be sick.

“Fine,” The Boss says and lowers his gun a touch. “Take her and see that she never leaves your home.”

Sebastian tries to grab my arm, but I pull away. “I’d rather you kill me.”

The Boss purses his lips. “I can sympathize with his plight. So, either you go with him, or Liam dies.” He aims the gun at Liam now.

“You won’t kill your own son,” I say through gritted teeth, hoping to call his bluff.

“Won’t I? I kidnapped my own father.”

My heart slows to a crawl, and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to survive this. Either way.

“Don’t go with him,” Liam whispers. “I’ll gladly die for you.”

The Boss laughs then clicks the gun, bringing it closer to Liam. “What’s it going to be?”

I swallow the thick lump in my throat. Liam was willing to walk into fire to save me. This time, it’s my turn. My chest feels heavy, like it’s trying to crush my heart, but I force the words out. “I’ll go with Sebastian.”

The Boss smiles. “Good. Get out of here. And keep an eye on her, Sebastian. I feel she’ll give you a run for your money.”

Sebastian yanks me out of the room. My will to fight has died… along with my hope for the future.

Sebastian was right. There was no other choice.

I pinch my eyes closed. This can’t be the end. I know one hundred and eighteen ways to kill a man. One day I’ll get to use them. I will get away from him, if it’s the last thing I do.

I look at Liam one more time as I leave. His expression mirrors mine, and I know in this moment something I’ve hesitated to believe.

He loves me. And I love him.