it—wanted it—could be over.
Terrible silence fell, punctuated only by Raine’s struggles and sobs. His chest opened, bleeding out from a hollow, gaping wound. Anxiety rushed in to fill the chasm.
“Let go!” She pushed at his shoulders and tried to break free. “We have to do something. Help him. Now.”
Liam gripped her tighter, a hand at her nape, another at her ass, as he sat on the top step, plastering her against his torso. Though he forced her to straddle him so he could contain her, Raine still tried desperately to wriggle free.
Da stepped inside the house again and closed the door with a somber shake of his head.
So it was done. Hammer was gone.
Liam pressed Raine tighter against him. She might need him…but he would need her, too, now that he felt as if half his soul had been ripped away. And they would have to lean on one another for the next ordeal that would literally beat down their door in a handful of minutes.
“You’re right, love. We’re going to help Hammer. Be still while I call Barnes.”
She tried to stand. “I’ll go. Get dressed. I’ll demand the police—”
“It’s beyond the police, Raine.” He didn’t want to heap this on her, but he refused to withhold the truth. “This is a federal matter now.”
Raine paled. “The FBI took him?”
“I’m afraid so.”
If anything, she seemed more frantic. “What the… I have to talk to them. Maybe they’ll listen if I tell them what really happened.” She gave him another push, then a frustrated grunt when he wouldn’t let her free. “Liam, I have to fix this. Everything is my fault.”
He took hold of her face and forced her to look at him. “Nothing is your fault. Do you hear me?”
She shook her head, dark hair mussed and spilling around her. “I’m the one he stuck his neck out to save, so I have to make the FBI listen.”
“They don’t want you in the middle of this now. Neither do Hammer and I. Let me call Barnes so he can do his job.”
Liam gave his mother a mental nudge, and she appeared almost instantly.
Bryn eased beside Raine and drew his girl into her arms. “Shh. Try to calm yourself. You can’t think the worst.”
“How do I convince these people that Macen is innocent? Tell me what to do…”
“I don’t have the answers. What I know is that your wee one is taking on your stress. Neither of your men would ever want you both so dismayed.” Bryn stroked Raine’s hair, soothing her. “Have faith. Nothing has been decided yet.”
Instantly, the fight seemed to leave his lass. She let out a ragged breath, curled protective palms around her belly, and drew her legs to her chest. “I’m sorry.”
Liam didn’t know whether she meant her apology for him, their child, or whomever would listen. And she didn’t say anything more, just rested her chin on her knees and worked on breathing. But he felt the tension pinging off her. Anyone who didn’t know his girl might think she was sedate. Inside, she was a live wire. Watching her shut down tore at Liam’s heart.
Cursing, he tugged out his phone and rang Sterling Barnes, who answered immediately.
“Hammer is gone. How do we help him now?” Liam asked quietly as he paced away from Raine and his mother.
“Have the federal agents arrived to search the premises?”
Liam glanced through the living room window at the gathering throng. “They’re outside.”
“Nothing to do except let them in, give them access, and leave. Everything related to Hammer’s lifestyle, especially his relationship with Raine, is now open for scrutiny.”
“Fuck.” Liam hated feeling powerless to help the ones he loved. He despised being squeezed so tight by circumstances beyond his control that he couldn’t breathe. “We had so little warning. Raine’s not even dressed—”
A pounding on the front door drew everyone’s attention. Da looked his way for direction. Liam swallowed. He had to make a decision…but he didn’t actually have a choice.
“We’ll let them in.” Liam sighed into the phone. “Anything else?”
“I’m en route to see Hammer now. I’ll send you the numbers for some reputable federal bail bondsmen. Start arranging a substantial amount of cash, something in the six-figure range. Beyond that, you’ll simply have to wait. It’s time for me to earn my money. I’ll call when I have news.”
Thankfully, liquidity wasn’t a problem. But like Raine, Liam wanted to do something to help free Hammer and end this nightmare now.
The knocking became more insistent. “FBI. Open up. We have a warrant to search the premises.”
Raine froze, staring at the door, then at him with wide, terrified eyes. “There’s nothing here for them to find.”
“Liam?” His father pressed.
“I’ll talk to you later, Barnes.” He ended the call and didn’t bother putting his phone away. The FBI might take it from him in moments anyway. Besides, he had to warn someone at Shadows.
“Mum, take Raine to our room. Help her get dressed. Quickly. We only have seconds.”
Raine looked like she wanted to argue but turned and disappeared down the hall, Bryn in tow.
“Son?” Da asked from the living room.
“Don’t open the door yet. One minute.” Liam scrolled through his contacts and found Pike’s number, dashing off a text to expect the FBI at the club’s doors any minute.
The Dungeon Monitor sent back two words: They’re here.
And he could do nothing to help them or protect Hammer’s club. Bloody hell. All he could do now was shield Raine.
He called out to her and Mum. “Hurry!”
“Last warning. FBI. Open up or we’ll break the door down.”
“Fucking wankers,” Liam muttered. “Da, open it.”
Duncan nodded and reached for the latch as Raine emerged wearing a pair of yoga pants and a T-shirt, looking pale and shaken but resolved. She’d fastened her Valentine’s Day gift around her wrist.
“Good girl.” He took her hand in his and gave it a firm squeeze. “We’ll need to leave until they’ve finished their search. We can’t go to Shadows. They’ll be combing through the club, too.”
As if those words had punched her in the chest, Raine gasped just as his father opened the door. Federal agents swarmed in.
A tall blond bruiser approached Da. “Where is Raine Elise Kendall? We have a warrant to search her property, residence of Macen Daniel Hammerman.”
Everyone turned to look at her, and Liam held his breath. Would she crumble?
“I’m Raine Kendall.” She gathered herself and descended the stairs, her voice carrying over the collective din. “Show me your warrant.”
She faced down the official, chin raised. Liam had never been prouder of her.
The big agent met Raine in the middle of the living room. Liam stood right beside her, supportive and protective.
“I’m Agent Wade Kelly.” He pointed to a no-nonsense woman stepping across the portal. “This is Agent Vera Singh.”
“Ms. Kendall wants to see the warrant,” Liam reminded with an edge in his voice.
The fed raised a suspicious brow. “And you are…?”
“Liam O’Neill, Ms. Kendall’s partner. We both live here with Mr. Hammerman. We’d like to see the damn warrant.”
Agent Kelly motioned to Singh, who handed Raine the paperwork without a word.
She opened it with trembling fingers. Liam scanned the multiple pages of the document as she did, but the words swam before his eyes. SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF A CHILD jumped out first. Then he saw THEREFORE COMMANDED TO SEARCH THE PREMISES OF… Signatures, an official-looking seal, and references to seizing property filled the rest of the space.
God, this was so real and happening so bloody fast.
He felt Raine’s stare on him. She wanted to defy this court order, but she knew that wasn’t an option. A sense of violation tightened her face and burned in her eyes. Liam could almost read her mind. This was her fi
rst real home, and these investigators were going to trample all over it, defile the peace she’d found here.
Someday, somehow, he’d make it right for her again.
Until then, Liam could only take her hand. “Let’s leave so the agents can do their job.”
As soon as he entwined his fingers with Raine’s, he felt the fight she hid just under her skin. But she managed to nod.
When he looked back, his parents stood behind them, ready and waiting.
After a quick search of Raine’s purse, Agent Singh seized her phone. She endured the intrusion in stony silence, but Liam knew she wanted to scream. To his surprise, they didn’t take his cell phone.
As Agent Kelly shoved them out the door, Raine took one last look through the portal, obviously wanting to imprint her sanctuary firmly in her memory before the tornado of search teams hit it.
Liam curled his arm around her waist and plucked her off the porch. After prodding her to his SUV, he ushered her to the passenger’s seat and buckled her in. He didn’t ask if she was all right. She looked somewhere between ready to explode and a breath from falling apart. When he caressed her face, he felt her struggle.
“I’ll take care of you,” he swore.
Raine looked over at him with hollow blue eyes. “You didn’t sleep all night, did you? I’m sorry. You’ve tried so hard to comfort me… You’re upset, too.”
He sighed heavily. “Gutted.”
“You’re always giving me a shoulder to lean on. You don’t have to be the strong one. I’m here for you, too.”
Liam kissed the top of her head. “I have a feeling we may need each other before this day is over.”
She nodded, and Liam knew she was wondering how either of them would survive without Macen.
His parents climbed into the backseat, and Liam zipped away from the house. The gloom in the vehicle matched the mood of the overcast day. He drove north with a destination in mind. After all, they had a few hours to kill.
When he pulled up to the pier, he grabbed Raine’s hand. “Let’s get some breakfast.”
“Aye,” Da seconded his suggestion. “I’m starving.”
His mother stepped from the car with a smile in her voice. “You’re always hungry. It’s the Irishman in you.”
Liam appreciated his parents’ attempt to lighten the mood, but he wasn’t actually hungry. He’d bet Raine wasn’t, either. She looked out the windshield, lost in worry.
“You have to feed the baby.”
“You’re right.” She blinked, joining him in the present again. “Liam, what happens next?”
“I don’t know. We can only take things one step at a time. Once Sterling calls, we’ll figure out the rest.” He stepped out of the car and came around to open her door, holding out his hand. “Come with me.”
She nodded and laid her trembling fingers in his palm.
He led everyone to the little burger joint that opened for breakfast, allowing patrons to take advantage of the vast view of the Pacific Ocean. As they took their seats, the water seemed to disappear into the thick fog that would likely burn off by noon.
A few people strolled along the shoreline. A handful of hopeful fishermen cast their poles off the end of the pier, just a few feet from where the morning surfers caught their waves. Everyone seemed mired in their own thoughts.
The place wasn’t crowded yet. They ordered quickly, but it was a solemn affair. The food arrived in minutes…then sat barely touched. Even Da, who really did eat all the time, pushed his potatoes around his plate. Raine forced herself to eat half her eggs and a piece of toast before chasing it with a few swallows of tea.
Liam felt more worry settle in his shoulders.
She’d gone too quiet and was up in her head, either doomsday scenario-ing herself into a knotted ball of nerves or plotting some daring rescue he’d completely object to. Or both.
“Raine?”
She tried to smile at him. “I’m fine.”
Like hell. Pregnant, sleep-deprived, overwrought… She was bottling up before his eyes.
Liam wished they could go home so he could pull her into familiar surroundings and crawl inside her head, make her give her worries over to him. But in public, with his parents mere feet away, how the devil could he do that?
Did she think he would break if she leaned on him any more? That he lacked the spine to carry her burdens? Or did she think that only Hammer was strong enough to do that for her?
Da got up to pay the bill at the register. Mum slipped away to the toilet.
The question ate at Liam.
“Hammer’s arrest will become public knowledge, won’t it?” Raine asked into the silence.
“Yes.”
Another worry she’d chew on, damn it. The press had been merciless after Raine’s ordeal with Bill last December. They’d focused their spotlight on her being a supposed sex worker. Hammer had been at the center of the controversy, as well as being the face of it, giving all the statements until the vultures and their poison pens had left them alone to pick the flesh from someone else’s bones.
“Reporters will have a field day with this.” She sounded bitter.
“I don’t give a damn what anyone thinks about me. Nor, I suspect, will Hammer.” He took her hand. “Don’t worry, Raine. I’ll protect you.”
“You don’t have to.” She shook her head and tried giving him a smile full of dry irony. “I’m capable of saying ‘no comment.’”
Of course she was, but she’d let Hammer say it for her many, many times a mere two months ago. Why did she imagine he wouldn’t take on that role?
Da dropped a hand on his shoulder. “Ready to go?”
“Yeah.” Liam was more than ready to find someplace he could explore precisely what was in Raine’s head—and right any misconceptions she might be harboring.
“Raine?” his father prompted.
She rose, looking pale and brittle as she tried to smile. “I’m ready. Thanks for breakfast, Duncan.”
As they headed out, Liam held back, pretending to look around the kitschy little restaurant. Bryn played along.
“I know, son.” She patted his hand. “I’ll keep your father occupied. You have a talk with your girl.”
Thank god his mother understood. “I’m worried.”
“You’ve both been through a lot already today. Just make certain you’re not taking on troubles that aren’t real.”
Was he? Liam frowned. Did Raine simply want to stand on her own two feet now…or did she think him too weak to handle her care? Or maybe she didn’t want just one of them. After all, when he and Hammer had finally agreed to share her at the lodge, she’d made it perfectly plain that she would have them both—or neither. It was also the reason she’d refused their proposals. Since then, she’d done a fine job of giving them equal devotion and surrender. But now, if Hammer was gone for good, Liam had to wonder…would she still want the love they shared? Or would she leave—and take their baby with her?
Bad enough to lose Hammer. Losing everyone else would destroy Liam.
“I’ll do my best, Mum.” He kissed her cheek.
She shot him a quelling glance. “She’s falling. Be gentle but firm.”
“I love you. Now butt out.”