Maverick made a sound. “I can remove them. I’ve got a toolbox in my car.” He stomped off.
Liam wrapped an arm around me and led me inside his building. His friends followed.
It was a silent trip up to the penthouse. We all shuffled into Liam’s living room.
“I’ll get you guys some blankets.” Monroe disappeared. Moments later she was back, draping us both with blankets.
I dropped onto the couch, exhausted, and let the warmth seep in. I lifted my sore foot and saw a graze. It didn’t look too bad, but I made a mental note to give it a good clean.
Maverick stalked into the living area with a tough, black toolbox in hand.
“Okay, what happened?” Zane demanded. “The real story, not that sanitized one you just told the cops.”
“We got run off the road and shoved into the trunk of a car. They handcuffed us, took us to an abandoned warehouse by the water in Brooklyn, and tied us to chairs.”
“Who were they?” Maverick lifted some bolt cutters.
“We didn’t really have time for chitchat,” Liam said.
“But you suspect someone,” Zane said.
Maverick cut the handcuff chain, leaving the metal bracelets on our wrists.
“Freedom,” I said.
Then the tech billionaire pulled out another tool. I had no idea what it was. I heard a buzz, and saw the vibrating blade glow orange, and realized it was some sort of high-tech saw.
“A little experimental prototype of mine.” Maverick soon cut through the bracelet on Liam’s wrist. He turned to me and I held up my hand.
“I’m not going to ‘accidentally’ lose a finger, am I?” I asked.
The big man grunted.
He cut the metal off, and I rubbed my red wrist. “Thanks.”
The billionaires and Monroe were watching us. I felt the need to fidget.
“You can trust them.”
It was Monroe who’d spoken. I looked up, and saw the woman staring at me.
“Whatever trouble you’re in, you can trust them.”
God. “It’s not that.” I weighed the odds. Erica would leave the decision to me, but I was conscious that I held Jake’s life in my hands.
I couldn’t imagine these men would rush out and blow my investigation. They were just worried about their friend.
“Aspen?” Liam asked.
Maverick frowned. “Aspen?”
I juggled the blanket and pulled it tighter around me. “My name isn’t Penn Channing. It’s Aspen Chandler.”
Maverick’s dark brows drew together, and Zane frowned.
Liam took my hand and squeezed my fingers.
I realized he could’ve been hurt tonight. Or worse. I was damn glad we were both breathing and sitting safely on his couch.
I swallowed. “I’m not a blackmailer—”
Maverick crossed his arms.
“I’m a private investigator.”
You could have heard a pin drop.
“I’m undercover, investigating a white-collar-crime gang called Nexus. They specialize in insurance fraud, kidnapping, and —”
“Blackmailing wealthy people,” Zane finished.
I nodded.
“Fuck.” Maverick spun, hands on his hips.
Monroe smiled. “A PI. Badass.”
“We need you to keep this to yourselves. My client’s husband is being held by Nexus. She works for Liam and they demanded she spy on him. She came to me for help. One wrong move, and Nexus could kill Jake. They believe I’m Penn Channing, and that I have Liam on the hook. They want him to sign over a warehouse in the Bronx.”
Maverick frowned. “They didn’t want money?”
I shook my head.
“We can help,” Zane said.
“I don’t want you dragged into this,” Liam said.
Zane threw up a hand. “If you’re in it, then we’re already in it.”
“Vander’s helping out,” Liam said.
“So why kidnap you?” Monroe asked. “They think Penn’s almost got you ready to sign over the warehouse.”
“Doyle, the leader of Nexus, is suspicious as hell,” I said. “He told me he’d do whatever he had to do to help convince Liam to sign the deed to the warehouse over.”
“How dangerous is he?” Zane asked.
“Dangerous.” Another giant shiver hit me.
“We need hot showers and to clean up.” Liam rose. “Then Aspen needs to get home.”
“To her sisters.” Monroe smiled.
Finally, Liam’s friends left.
“Come on,” he said. “You need a hot shower.”
I almost moaned out loud at the thought.
In his bathroom, he flicked on his huge shower. “I’ll find you some clothes. Take your time.”
I stared at him.
Everything that had happened closed in on me. We could’ve been hurt tonight, or killed.
Liam Kensington was a good man. He’d helped me, protected me, and stayed by my side. Sure, he’d been handcuffed to me, but I knew deep down that he wouldn’t have left me.
My throat was tight and I swallowed.
I closed the distance between us.
He stilled.
I started unbuttoning his shirt, uncovering the golden skin of his chest.
“Aspen?” His voice was low, husky.
I met his gaze. “Don’t go.”
With a low groan, he yanked me close and kissed me.
13
The Best Kind of Blackmail
Liam
Liam’s brain stopped functioning.
Aspen’s mouth was on his, the taste of her filling him.
And firing up other needs.
Everything that had happened to them settled in his gut, and caught fire.
Both of them were safe.
Both of them were alive.
It was time to make the most out of that. Time to finally make this intriguing, smart, confident, and maddening woman his.
Liam wanted his hands on her flesh. Wanted her cries in his ears. Wanted her hot and wet on his cock.
“Liam—”
He gripped her jaw, then nipped her lips. Her face was flushed, naked desire on her face.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I’m not sure if it’s my best decision, but I’m sure that I want you.”
With a growl, he kissed her again. She melted against him. He pulled her flush against him. Her lips were pliant and hungry, and he slid his tongue inside her mouth, then swallowed her throaty moan.
He went to work on the rest of her clothes. Soon, her trousers and shirt were gone. She was wearing a blue bra and panties with a touch of lace and he slipped the bra off.
“Damn, you’re beautiful, Aspen.” He cupped her full breasts.
She pushed into him with a moan. Her pretty pink nipples were hard.
“Later, once we’ve taken the edge off, I’m going to take my time with these.”
“You a breast man, Kensington?”
“With you, I’m an everything man.” He touched her cheek, then her collarbone, then cupped her ass. “I find all of you enchanting.”
She stared at him—wonder and need on her face. “I don’t think anyone’s ever described me as enchanting.”