Taken With Trouble (CAUGHT IN CHAOS #2)

49. Epilogue

Serena

Location: Phoenix AZ

Six months later

The FBI was lenient with Liam. Much too lenient. He got six months of house arrest, then a year of being an informant with none other than Agent Harris as his handler. Though, that’s where the leniency came to an abrupt end. Caleb was irate when the director told him and plans to make Liam’s life a nightmare.

Liam has much more delusional aspirations for their partnership: friendship.

And I’ve got a front-row seat for it all. But first, I get to celebrate my boyfriend being a free man.

I pull up outside the ostentatious penthouse Liam bought for himself when he chose to undergo house arrest in Phoenix. He tried to get Grandpa Henry to come with him, but the old man was stubborn and refused. Liam offered to buy a mansion for the two of us, but I very pointedly declined. I’ve been alone a long time and still need some space for myself. Of course, when I told him this, he said I could have an entire wing to fill with a shooting range and training area .

I turned that down as well, but now I firmly regret it. It’s been a long six months, and I’m ready to be in the same place as my boyfriend all the time… and to be able to go farther than a two-mile radius.

The doorman lets me in with a smile, and I take the elevator to the top floor.

I silently unlock the door, hoping to catch Liam off guard. We consider it a relationship-enhancing game when we both try to get the upper hand on each other. It’s not for everyone.

I ease the door shut behind me and press into the nearest wall, waiting, listening.

There’s a shuffling near the kitchen, and I spin, going in the opposite direction to catch him when he emerges. I wait for a few more noises and movements.

Footsteps draw near, and I count, having performed this specific takedown many times.

When he hits twelve steps, I jump from my hiding place, swinging an arm around his neck, prepared to get him in a headlock, but Liam is faster and scoops me into his arms instead.

“It’s about time, Special Agent Cruz. I’ve been getting impatient.” He grins, marching me straight to the couch and dropping me into the fluffy abyss. He wastes no time peppering me with kisses, scraping his new beard along the hollow of my neck where he learned recently that I’m ticklish.

“Stop!” I wheeze.

“You started it.” He pops up, his impatient hungry eyes on mine. “I intend to finish it.” He drops his lips to mine, and I forget all else as I fall into the world that only exists for Liam and me. I wrap my arms around his neck, bringing him closer. I never imagined a life like this was possible. Not just dating a con man… The whole thing. A relationship, happiness, freedom from fear… safety. Well, except for the dangerous job, but a girl’s got to take down drug rings and fight criminals sometimes.

The kisses slow, and Liam pulls back. “Did you bring it?”

I slip the small key from my pocket and hold it up. “Let’s see it.”

He stands and props his foot up on the couch beside me .

I run my fingers over the ankle monitor. “I think I’m going to miss this thing.”

“I’m not. It’s wreaking havoc on my very sensitive skin.”

“Such a baby.” I tsk, and press the metal key into the monitor. It clicks and releases. I hold it in my hand as Liam rubs his hairless ankle. “I liked knowing where you were at all times.”

“There’s an easy fix for that.” Liam stops rubbing his ankle and drops to his knees in front of me. “I’ll be wherever you are.”

I fight a smile. “That’s true. Caleb is going to hate it.”

“He is,” Liam agrees. “I’m going to flirt with you all day”—he kisses my cheek—“and kiss you at every crime scene.” He goes in for another kiss but I push him back.

“Not the most romantic of images.”

He grins. “Since my first official day of being an informant starts next week, I figured we have just enough time to take a quick trip to celebrate my freedom.” He jumps up, pulling me with him.

“W-what?” I’m taken aback by the sudden shift. “We can’t go on a trip right now.” Knowing him he’ll want to fly to South America where he believes the treasure to be. He’s been talking about it nonstop since he found the coordinates in one of Cillian Moore’s books two months ago.

“Yes, we can.” He grins, tugging me toward the stairs that lead to the roof, and my grip loosens. I suppose a trip to the roof is appropriate. But when he pushes the door open, a gust of air slaps my face from the propellers of a helicopter. On the roof. There’s a helicopter on the roof.

“Liam!” I pull back. “When did you get a helicopter?”

“I bought it as a graduation-from-house-arrest present. You approve?”

“It’s completely unnecessary!”

“It’s absolutely necessary for our trip, unless you intend to fly coach.” He narrows his eyes. “To be clear, I will not.”

I shake my head. “Where are we going?”

“I told you I’d take you on a trip. You’ve never been to Hawaii. ”

Hawaii? I mentioned that to him once in passing. I don’t actually want to go to Hawaii. And I’m not so much into vacations, considering what happened the last time he surprised me with one.

“Don’t worry, I packed your bags. They’re mostly bikinis but I don’t think I’ll mind.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. I’ve been looking for the perfect way to get him back, and it just happened.

I follow him onto the helicopter and let him help me with my seatbelt, thoroughly enjoying each precious lingering touch around my waist.

“Ready?” the pilot asks once Liam is buckled in.

Liam grabs my hand. “Yes, we are.”

My mind spins as we take off over the buildings heading west. I’ll never get used to the life Liam lives. But I sure love living it with him.

“Champagne?” Liam hands me a glass.

I take it, discreetly slipping the sleeping powder from my pocket. Have I had it long? Yes, I have. Petty? For sure. Excellent revenge? Yes.

I pour it into the flute and give it a swirl.

He turns to me and raises his cup in a toast, but I stop him.

“Care to trade?”

His expression turns hurt, but there’s an eager gleam there. “You really think I poisoned it?”

“Prove you didn’t.”

He chuckles and swaps our glasses. “To our next adventure.”

I clink my glass to his, then take a dainty sip.

Liam raises his glass, a challenge in his eyes, and drains the whole thing. I take a few more sips, waiting.

Liam’s eyes drift closed, and he leans against the seat.

I turn on the mic on my headphones. “Can we make a quick change to the destination?” I ask the pilot.

His eyes flick to mine. “Where’s that, Miss?”

“South America.”

His brows furrow and he glances at Liam. “You drugged him? ”

“No, of course not.”

The pilot laughs. “He told me to watch for that, but I didn’t think he was serious.”

“He’ll forgive me if you take us to South America.”

The pilot laughs again. “You two really are made for each other. That’s where I was already headed.”

Hmm. So drugging him was unnecessary. Yet warranted. Payback is a—

I yawn. One yawn turns to two, and my eyes struggle to stay open.

No.

He drugged me, too.

Good thing I love him. I’m still killing him when I wake up.

THE END