Page 5 of Liam

“You’ll go to them, tell them you received this through the post, and you want to see us all burn for what we did.”

“They may not believe me.”

“They will because you’re not our only inside man.”

“Oh?” Gunner angled his head to Jack in a query, but Jack shook his head.

“That’s privileged information. But you’ll leave any information for us in a chat room for this game.” Jack showed Gunner an app that had been added to his phone by Will, Jack’s tech genius brother who worked for Fortis.

“I understand. So, what now?”

“Now you get thirty minutes to visit with your sister to settle in your mind she’s safe, and then you go back undercover.”

Gunner nodded as Alex moved to release the restraints at his wrists and legs. Gunner stretched and offered a grateful smile. “Thank you.” He looked at the four of them individually before he spoke again. “For what it’s worth, my decision was the wrong one. I’ll regret losing what I had with you all for the rest of my life.”

Liam nodded but didn’t speak. What could he say to the man that he didn’t already know? They had to move forward now.

“I’ll have Waggs and Alex escort you to see Milla.” With that, Jack and Alex left the room, as he and Decker followed.

Liam knew there’d be much discussion on this now, but he needed a minute of fresh air first. He walked to the exit at the back and opened the door, feeling the camera follow him as he did.

His feelings towards Gunner had changed wildly during that interrogation, although to call it an interrogation was false. Gunner had given up the information readily. Taking some cleansing breaths to rid him of the emotions clogging his head, he turned to go back in and saw Jack striding down the hall towards him, a pissed off expression on his face.

“What?”

“I just had a call from Princess Taamira.”

Liam groaned at her name. The woman drove him crazy with her demands and her stuck up behaviour. Yet, when he was with her, he couldn’t help but wonder what she would feel like soft and pliant beneath him, if she’d only put all that fire to good use and let go of her prissy ways.

“What now?”

“She just fired her security team and is demanding you fly out to her.”

“For fuck’s sake.” Liam hung his head as he massaged his neck.

“You need to find out what happened.”

“Fine, I’ll be on the first flight out. But if I wring her pretty neck, you have to post bail.”

Jack chuckled. “Deal.”

CHAPTER TWO

TAAMIRA PACED THE LENGTH OF HER PRIVATE SUITE, RUBBING HER HANDS TOGETHER IN AGITATION AS she did, before spinning and returning to the open laptop on her desk. A picture of her working out in the private gym, a room only she used, was splashed across the sensationalist magazine that had been dogging her for months.

Taamira sighed as she looked at the picture. What upset her was not that the photo showed her in tight-fitting clothes that were banned in public by her religion, it was the fact the only people who had access to that room were her private security guards. She shuddered as a feeling of vulnerability invaded her body.

Taamira glanced sharply at the door of her bedroom suite, where she had closed herself from the main room as the knock came.

Her head of security’s voice came through the door. “Princess, it’s Derek. I’m here with the team. We need to speak with you.”

Taamira took a cleansing breath as she weighed up what she should do. The only people who could have leaked that photo was her security team, but she had no idea which one of them it had been. She’d not been so vulnerable and exposed since the attack that had changed her life. Changed her entire outlook on her family, on the privileged position she was in, and how she could use it for good.

Indeed, the men of Eidolon were the only people who allowed her vulnerability to disappear and gave her confidence. Her safety when she was with them wasn’t a consideration it was so natural. The men and women from Fortis gave her the same vibe. But most especially Liam, with his surly attitude, loud vulgar vernacular, and gentle eyes. He irritated her and sparred with her, not caring for her position as a Princess. No, Liam treated her as a woman, and for some reason, she knew she could be herself with him.

Taamira even enjoyed the arguments they had and often found herself doing or saying things to initiate them. As the knock came again, she found herself having to make a decision regarding her security team. She had only one choice, and as she made it, she straightened her spine and walked to the mirror. Studying herself, she made sure not a second of doubt was evident on her face, nor a hair out of place. He royal demeanour securely in place, she strode confidently to the door and pulled it open.

Derek took a step back as she moved past him, her head high, neck long as her mother had taught her, sure she looked every inch the regal Princess of the Isle of Eyan.