“Why? My situation is the same.”
“This is all about my boys, Erica.”
She pushed up in bed, using a hand to hold a corner of the sheet at her chest. “Don’t you realize I know that? I have babies of my own. I’d welcome heaven, but would endure any hell put before me to do right by them.”
Liam pulled her close and they shared a lengthy, demonstrative kiss before he drew back to search her face. “You’re an incredible woman.”
“You’re an incredible man,” she drew the back of her hand down his cheek. “Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“I may need help remembering that from time to time.”
A smile brightened her lovely face. “I’m happy to be your reminder.”
“You mean that?”
She understood, moved close to put a soft kiss to his mouth. “I don’t want this to be the end of us either,” she pulled back to vow.
They engaged in another kiss. The morning passed in a sweet and sensual blur.
***
Liam returned home around noon. It was out of habit, he knew. He’d already showered and eaten at Erica’s. There was no reason for a trip home. He kept spare clothing in his office at the factory for when he had to head out for a meeting after putting in time on the floor alongside his employees.
Habit, he silently reiterated. On days when no meetings or factory matters required his attention, he went home not only for a ready meal, but to be with the boys. Athena hadn’t tried to contact him once aside from the letter-the one announcing her pregnancy by yet another man, this one, his brother. His late brother.
The reality had been rendered to the farthest reaches of his mind thanks to the euphoric hours spent in Erica Lewis’ arms. Now, it barreled in like a missile and Liam crumbled in the middle of the living room floor where he had spent some of his happiest times playing with his young sons.
Liam surveyed the spot where the coffee table had been before splintering beneath Giaimo’s great weight once Liam had driven him through it. The memory was the tipping point and Liam knew he had to get out of there or risk demolishing the place. It wouldn’t do for his boys to find their home in ruins when they got back. When he brought them back. Soon...God...let it be soon.
Desperate to leave then, Liam rushed to the door and whipped it open. Emilio waited in the hall.
“Athena?” Liam breathed.
Emilio fixed his brother with an apologetic look. “Nothing yet. Not on her, anyway.”
Liam blinked, stiffening as he rose to his full height. “The Irishmen. Where?”
“Li,” Emilio looked stressed, his jaw taut. “I promised to tell you when we had them and I’ve done that. Now I need you to do what is smart. Stay away from this.”
Liam went back into the apartment. He headed for the kitchen, to the cabinets where the liquors were kept. “How can I do that after all that’s happened, Em?”
“Because you have a family you still need to be whole for, boy.”
“Why wouldn’t I be whole?”
“Have you ever killed anyone, little brother?”
“I just killed our brother. Or have you forgotten?”
“Li? The Irish-”
“Why do you think Gia was at the factory? He came to see me-to make it...make it right.”
Emilio grinned. “You’re a bold man, Li. Not even I’ve ever tried to read Gia’s mind.”
Liam wasn’t amused. “The Irish did the deed, but I provided the victim. Makes me guilty-perhaps more so. I put my own blood in the crosshairs.”
“Li-”
“No Em,” Liam’s biting tone left no quarter for argument. “I stayed behind when you went to avenge Ma and Papa. Don’t ask me to stay behind now.”
Emilio regarded Liam for a long, silent moment. Then, he waved for the door. Liam downed the drink he poured in one swallow, grimaced in approval of the burn and then proceeded his brother.
~~~
The sobbing and tortured moans of several men, met Liam’s ears when he followed Emilio into a dank warehouse close to one of the city’s garbage dumps. Despite the rancid aroma of spoiled food and decaying materials, the nauseating smells of human excrement and blood rose above it all.
“How long have they been here?” Liam asked.
“Almost a full twenty-four,” Emilio shared.
Liam stopped in the wide entryway of the loading bank. Emilio walked on ahead, leaving his brother to stare open-mouthed into what could be described as nothing less than hell on earth.
Shiny material, like the rain slickers worn by sailors at the wharf, was spread across vast areas of the warehouse floor. The material was slick, not from rain, but blood and waste. Liam assessed that the chair supporting the limp bodies of at least fourteen men were scattered across the area.
“Jesus...” Liam whispered, frowning even as he and Emilio were greeted by the grinning faces of those who had proudly doled out the pain.
Liam realized he hadn’t come close to an accurate guess of how many men his brothers had in their employ. He counted upwards of 50 easy. While some dished out the torture, others lounged on folding chairs and twin mattresses. They chatted, played cards and had their fill of drink.
