“He could have suspected you, a while ago. You have been ignoring his calls.”
It was true. “We know he’s here on the coast. He was trying to set up a business here. He can’t just walk away. But if his enemies are after him…” She allowed the thought to trail off.
“He’ll panic and go back to Panama.”
“Either way, we’ll know where he is. If his enemies are after him, he won’t have time to worry about coming after us.”
“It’s worth a shot.” Liam kissed her on the forehead. “Are you sure you’ll be okay working from here doing it? Everyone is staying here until Alejandro is found.
“I’m sure. I can still work from here,” Liam knew it was a big concession for Cora to stay at Hound’s longer, but he appreciated it.
“Get some sleep, Amazon.” His statement was met with silence. Liam looked over at Cora, but she was already passed out.
~
If Cora thought staying at Aaron’s would be easy she had been wrong. Cora had lived alone for over ten years, and now she was sharing a room with Liam, in a house full of six other men and Hannah. It was crowded, to say the least. At least Aaron’s house was large, and she only had to share a bathroom with Liam. The guys spend the next two days clearing out the bodies, and fixing the gate. Aaron had to contact a contractor to fix the roof. Cora spent a majority of her time on her computer working, and disabling the security on Alejandro’s accounts. Cora felt bad for Hannah who didn’t seem to know what to do. Hannah didn’t want to interrupt Cora’s work, nor get underfoot for the guys, so she ended up spending a lot of time on her own.
By the end of the two days, Aaron’s computer alerted him of a facial match to Alejandro was seen heading back to Panama. Cora’s plan had worked. After the defeat at Aaron’s house, and now Alejandro’s enemies after him, he was retreating. Cora told Liam that she was ready to go back home.
“I think it’s too soon.” He argued that night.
“Aaron said that Alejandro was seen going back to wherever it is that’s he’s from. He’s too weak to come after us anymore. This is what we discussed a few nights ago.” she argued, she was tired of living with so many people. She wanted her house back. She wanted her life back.
“Panama,” Liam said absently. “It doesn’t feel right. He came all this way with an army, and we beat him again, and he just leaves two days after the fact? I get his enemies are coming after him, but people like him don’t just give up and forget. His enemies wouldn’t be able to come after him so quickly.”
“Liam, we talked about this. This was the plan. Expose him, and he would leave.”
“I know but…” Liam started pacing their room. “I feel it in the pit of my stomach, something is wrong. That we underestimated him.”
“I don’t know. What I do know is that I cannot stay here anymore. Living with seven men is too much. I want to sleep in my own bed again. I want to go into my living room where there is no belching, arguing, or farting.”
Liam’s lip twitched trying not to laugh.
“Don’t you start, Liam Anthony Macintosh. I’m being serious.” She said with a pointed finger jabbing him in his chest.
“Wow, full name usage. How do you even know my middle name?”
“That’s not relevant right now. I saw your driver’s license. I want to go home.” Cora was whining, but she was at the end of her rope. She needed her normalcy back. She needed something to make her feel even a semblance of normal again.
“I know, babe.” Liam rubbed her arms up and down, sensing her agitation. Their moment was ruined when Liam’s phone went off. He pulled his phone out and looked at the ID. “Sorry I have to take this. It’s Rosa.” Liam stepped away and answered his phone. Cora watched Liam whisper on the phone and his shoulders hunch. Whatever she was saying couldn’t be good. Cora worried about Liam and June. Cora sat on the bed waiting for Liam to get off the call. She had no doubt that Liam would have to run out to help his sister. She was thankful that he didn’t keep this from her anymore. It was a major responsibility to shoulder, and she was glad she could be there for him. Liam hung up and slid the phone into his back pocket. He kept his back to her as he breathed heavily. Cora walked up behind him, and leaned against his back giving him her support. She wrapped her arms around his middle and laid her head between his shoulder blades. He remained stiff a moment before placing a hand over hers across his middle. They remained quiet and just stood there.
“My sister had a seizure,” Liam whispered. “It was mild, but Rosa is keeping a close eye on her.”
Cora hugged him tighter. She knew he wanted to go to his sister but worried about leaving Aaron’s. Just moments ago, she wanted to go home, and he told her no. But Liam had to go. He would worry about his sister until he saw her. Just meeting her the once, Cora liked her. “When do you want to go?”
Liam turned around to face Cora. “You would go with me?” he asked confused.
“Of course,” Cora was hurt. She told him she was with him for the long haul. If that meant dropping everything to help his sister, then that was what they were going to do.
“You never cease to amaze me,” Liam told her, in awe as he palmed her face and stroked her cheek with his thumb.
“I’m not that special. I just know how much your sister means to you.” Cora shrugged.
“You mean the world to me. I don’t want
