Beautifully Cruel

28

“Perhaps we have different definitions of what a criminal is.”

I say hotly, “Which one of us in this conversation is going to be a criminal defense attorney, me or you?”

This pause is the longest so far. Then, softly, disbelievingly, Liam starts to laugh. “You’re studying to be a criminal defense attorney?”

“Don’t laugh. From what you’re telling me, you might need me one day.”

“I need you now,” is his sharp, instant response. “And not for your skills in the courtroom. Which is why this is such a disaster in the making, and I keep warning you away.”

We sit in tense silence for a while, until I say, “If you truly think this is such a disaster in the making, then you’re the one who should stay away. I don’t know all the facts. I’m lacking half the evidence. I can’t make an educated decision, but you can.”

His voice goes rough. “Aye. And for almost a year, I’ve been telling myself every time I see you that it’s the last time, but it never is. So I’ve thought of something that might be a workable solution for us both. But you should still say no.”

I think for a moment, then give up. “Okay. No.”

His silence sounds surprised. That gives me a profound sense of satisfaction.

“Your move, Mr. Black.”

He says my name, my full name, in this hot, frustrated, sexy-as-hell guttural tone that makes me think he’d love nothing more in this moment than to take me over his knee and spank my ass.

Which, let’s be honest, would be a very satisfying outcome to the conversation.

“I’m going to hang up now, because I’ve reached my daily limit of growls. But my front door will be open tonight. If you don’t come, don’t bother contacting me again. I’m not going to play this cat and mouse game with you. I don’t have the patience for it.

“And if this is really the last time we speak and I never see you again…you should know that I think you’re the most interesting, aggravating, and beautiful man I’ve ever met. Thank you for everything. Goodbye.”

I hit the End button and throw Ellie’s phone over my shoulder. Then I sit on the bed, seething with discontent.

Liam Black. Criminal? Vigilante? Hit man? Warrior poet? Cultured badass?

Good guy who does bad things…or bad guy who does good things?

In the end, all my brooding gets me nowhere, so I get dressed and call a cab to take me to work.

My laptop’s in my car, and I’m in the mood to do some major online sleuthing.

12

TRU

M

y car is parked in the same spot I left it at Buddy’s. When I go inside, Lisa’s behind the counter, pouring coffee for a customer. She glances at me, does a double-take, and fumbles the coffee pot, almost dropping it. Coffee splashes all over the counter.

“Tru!”

“I know,” I say drily. “I look like a punching bag. It looks worse than it feels.”

“What happened?” Ignoring her customer, who’s obviously peeved about the mess, she rushes over to me and gives me a one-armed hug.

I think it’s best to be circumspect about the whole situation, especially in light of Buddy’s obvious fear about anything getting back to Liam, so I shrug and say, “Long story.”

She lowers her voice. “Did someone hit you?”

“Something like that. I don’t really want to get into it. I just came by to get my handbag and pick up my car.”

She takes me by the arm and steers me into the back, past the kitchen. Diego’s not on shift yet, so there’s another guy behind the grill, an older man named Tony who doesn’t look up as we pass.

When Lisa and I find a quiet corner, she turns on me and says sternly, “If you’re being abused by a man, I’ll help you. There are a lot of resources out there—”

“If a man laid a hand on me in anger, he’d lose the hand. It’s not that.”

“So what then? Did you fall?”

“I was jumped. By a couple of guys I didn’t know.”

Her blue eyes widen. “Oh, my god. I’m so sorry, sweetie! Are you okay?”

“Yes. I got lucky.” A wolf saved my life. “Honestly, I’m fine. I…got away from them.” “Where did this happen?”

I hesitate, because I don’t want to scare her. “In the alley behind the restaurant. I was taking out the trash.”

Her face pales. “Holy s**t. Nobody said anything about it to us! Did the police catch the guys?”

Oh god. How do I explain this? “They’re, um, looking into it.”

None of these things are lies, but they’re not exactly truths, either. Since I know what Buddy told Carla and Diego, I want to keep my story in line with that. And considering how spooked he was about Liam, there’s no chance in hell I’m mentioning his name to anyone else.

I can’t wait to see what I can find out about him online.

Lisa’s customer calls out from the front. “Can someone clean up this coffee, please? It’s dripping onto my lap!”

“s**t,” mutters Lisa.

“Get back to work,” I say, smiling at her. “And thanks for being so sweet.”

She gives me another hug, tells me to get Arnica cream for the bruising and to call her if I need anything, then heads back out to the front.

I go into the break room and quickly grab my bag from the locker, then leave through the side door that leads to the parking lot to avoid any more conversation with Lisa.

Which is where I run into Diego, who’s just coming in.

He stops dead in his tracks when he sees me. His mouth falls open in disbelief.