Valorie felt so cold. Snuggled in the blanket Liam had wrapped her in wasn’t helping her stay warm. She wasn’t sure where he went but she needed him. Why, she couldn’t say, but it pissed her off. She could take care of herself. She could take care of herself. She hadn’t needed anyone since she was eighteen years old.
She kept shivering and her teeth were chattering. Nausea set in as her head began to pound. Yep, she was in rough shape. She wondered if not only the stress but she might be getting sick. Valorie asked, “Camilla, can you please come here?”
“What is it, hon?” Cam pushed her thick long hair away from her face.
“I’m not feeling too well.”
“Valorie, you have been through a hell of a shock. Your body is probably reacting to it.”
Before she saw Liam, she heard him come up to her father in the hallway.
Her sister saw her looking past her so she turned as well. “Who is Dad talking to, Valorie?”
“I’m not sure. He looks like an older version of Liam though.”
Cam smiled. “You’re right. Well, I’m going to go and find out for myself.”
Valorie watched her not too shy sister walk right up to the man. She stuck out her hand. “Hi, my name is Camilla Thorpe. You are?”
Valorie wasn’t shocked that her sister acted so forward. It was just like her to do something like this. Camilla wasn’t intimated by anyone. Nothing bothered the woman.
“Razan Livingston. I’m …”
“Let me guess, you’re Liam’s father.” Camilla laughed as the man nodded his head smiling.
“I like this woman, Liam. Maybe we could talk her into coming to our team.”
“And, that would be?” Camilla tilted her head, smiling.
“We own an investigation, protection, body guard, and search and retrieval business. Maybe you’ve heard of us, Livingston Agency. Here’s my card. Give me a call. We could really use a great secretary.”
Valorie had to hide her smile. Camilla a secretary? That was funny. Forgetting for a moment she wasn’t feeling well. She waited to see exactly what her sister was going to do with his comments.
“Hate to disappoint you, sweetheart, but I would definitely have to kick your ass if you think I’m a secretary. I was in the Army for four years then when I left that, I continued my education. I wanted to take after my father.” Camilla started to walk away from the group.
Razan stepped forward. “I’m sorry if I offended you. If you ever need a job, we hire and train police officers who are unable to find a job.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind. Now, if you’ll excuse me. My sister needs a hot tea.” Camilla started to walk away, then turned back around to stare at Liam. “Oh, before I forget, dumb head, maybe you should take your father over and introduce him to Valorie. She’s a little in shock, you know it’s been a bad day for her. With you leaving and all, she’s a little pissed off.” Camilla waved to Valorie then winked, slapping Liam’s ass as he walked past her.
“Ouch.” He rubbed his rear end.
Valorie instantly felt better watching the play between Camilla and Liam. Just having him back in the room was calming.
“Wow, that sister of yours is mean.” Liam walked up to the side of the bed.
“Camilla is a treat for sure. It was something that the family had to get used to because she is one tough female. When she became a beat cop, none of us were surprised.” Valorie started giggling at the look on both her father’s and Razan’s faces.
Liam was laughing as he sat down next to her on the bed.
She looked up at him and the world shrunk into nothingness until it became Liam and herself. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry I left you like that. I had to meet with my father.” He pointed to the older man talking to her dad. “We went over just a small portion of what was going on…” Liam’s voice faded.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m okay. I know I’ve taken enough of your time. I can go home with my dad. Maybe that would be better anyways.”
“Valorie, you have to do what you feel is best for you. Nobody can tell you what or where you need to go.” Liam stood.
She reached up and grabbed his hand. “I don’t know what I want right now. All I know is I’m kind of numb to everything. This guy came into my life, turning everything I know upside down. I just can’t figure out what the hell I did to piss someone off that much.”
“Dad, Vince, can you please come over here?” Liam called out.
He didn’t finish his conversation with Valorie. It made her feel somewhat uncomfortable. Instead of staying cuddled up in the blanket, she swung her legs over the side of the bed sitting up. She didn’t want to appear weak. These people were here to help her figure this all out. So she stood up walked up behind Liam. “Hi, my name is Valorie. It’s Razan, correct?”
“Yes, it is.” Razan walked forward and gave Valorie a hug, softly patting her on the back. “I have wanted to do that since my son came home so long ago and told me that Valorie Thorpe punched out a football player over bullying him.
“That reminds me, do you think this has anything to do with Matt? You know, you hooked up with Liam and suddenly everything escalated,” Razan said out loud.
Vince responded, “You know I thought of that right away. I searched and found him. His alibi is air tight, he’s not the one.”
“Yeah, I thought of him right away.” Valorie could hear a slight accent in Razan voice. She couldn’t decipher what country or where this man had originated from. She’d always been happy she stood up for Liam back then. She spoke up, “Sir. It was my pleasure to punch Matt in the nose. That guy was a bully and I didn’t like the way he was picking on one of my best friends. The only thing I regret from that day is—I lost him.” Valorie pointed to Liam. She needed to keep the fragile control as she reached and grabbed his hand.
“Oh, sweetie, you didn’t lose your best friend that day. In my heart, I was always there and I’m here now.” Liam touched her cheek with his hand.
“I’m just glad we found each other again.” With a tender smile, she looked up at him.
“I would like to talk to your father, Valorie, as well as have Liam show me your apartment if you don’t mind?” Razan asked quietly. His smile told her what the man thought of them being together. He seemed pleased and happy.
She nodded. “Anything you need; you go right ahead.”
“Just so you know, Valorie. I’ve asked my father if we can have a team of people come in to help protect you as well as help the police catch this guy.” Liam’s frown and anger told her he was suppressing his aggression to a certain degree. She hoped he held it together and not lose it. Her father wouldn’t appreciate that behavior at all.
“That won’t be necessary, Liam. I know I asked you earlier, but the police have asked that I leave and let them do their job. I’m not sure why, but I should respect them. They’ll be working day and night to solve this.” Vincent walked up to Liam and his father.
“With no disrespect to you or any of the police officers,” Razan spoke up this time to her father. “My team can offer Valorie twenty-four-seven protection, as well as have special employees that actually work at solving the crime from a different prospective.”
Valorie wasn’t sure what Liam and his company did. She thought they were only investigators and body guards for rich people. Now she was just as confused as her father appeared to be.
“Okay. Before we go any further, Razan, you need to explain exactly who and what your company is involved in. I can’t have anything to do with illegal activities.” Vince shut the door to the guest suite to block out any of their conversation from flowing out into the hall.
“There is nothing illegal about my company. I built this from the ground up. I was a twenty-year veteran. I retired from the Army with nothing but the skills I was taught while there. I ran a battalion, so I had saved up as much money as I could. Then when I got out with four kids and a wife, I figured why not open a security firm. That was a long time ago.” Razan sat down in a chair taking the coffee Vince offered him. “Thank you.”
Liam looked over at Valorie as she made her way back to the bed and was snuggling up to the blanket. She was so adorable. He just wanted to protect her. Once the guy was caught, he needed to spend time with her to get to know each other.
“Go ahead, continue,” Vince urged.
“Well, I soon discovered several military men and women came home with problems, disabilities, and no job to get them started as a civilian. I’ve hired many people of all walks of life,” Razan told Vince the story they gave to everyone in the public.
Liam knew it was difficult to explain the types of employees they had. Most were special ops, military but some were a whole other race of people.
Vince nodded. “So, how do you all think you can help Valorie stay safe. More than I can?”
“No disrespect, sir. But I think I can answer this.” Liam stepped forward. “My team is absolutely one of the best we have in the company. I handpicked my entire unit. I have several that are ex-military as well as law enforcement who just can’t find a home.” How much did he want to tell Vince? “We employ a hacker who once was a criminal, a CSI who moved here from New York to be with her husband who had been transferred to this state. They’re the best of the best.” Liam took a breath.
These people were more qualified to handle this case than even her father who’d been on the police force for over thirty-five years. They hired only the best. They did protection detail for United States Congress members, presidents and CEO’s of some of the largest companies in the United States.
They helped catch people who were on the FBI’s most wanted as well as come in and help agencies find criminals. Liam’s job was dangerous. At any time, he could be killed. Leukemia didn’t have anything on him with the job he was doing now.
Vince seemed to take in the information and finally, nodded his head.
“Okay, I would like to see her apartment,” Razan announced. “That way I will know the exact team I need to call in for this job.”
Valorie stood as Razan was leading her dad out into the hallway. “Wait.”
Liam wasn’t sure what Valorie was up to.
She hobbled across the room holding the back of her leg. “Shoot, I have a leg cramp.” Then she stood in front of Razan. “I wanted to thank you.” She threw her arms around him.
Liam watched the tears spill from her beautiful green eyes. He wanted to comfort her. He knew this was bothering her and she was trying to be strong for them all.
Razan peered over her shoulder at Liam. His father’s face clouded with unease.
Liam mouthed to his father, thank you.
Razan smiled as he clumsily patted Valorie on the back.
Liam knew his father wasn’t a big on hugs but it was so cute the way he was trying hard to give her comfort.
“Come on, Valorie. We need to go down and have another look at the apartment.” Vince started down the hallway.
“Wait a minute, Thorpe.” Razan turned back around. “Liam, I want you to call in Randi and Andre. Tell them to meet you and Valorie over at your house. Until this bastard is caught, sweetheart.” Razan looked right into Valorie’s eyes then he turned back to his son.” “I want her at your house. We’ll discuss more after I see what’s exactly going on before we decide if she can go to work.”
“Hey, I don’t get a say in this? I should go to work. My job is extremely important,” Valorie spoke up.
Liam felt impressed and not at all surprised at how calm his father acted. Valorie looked upset but Razan didn’t beat around the bush he said it how it was.
Vince spoke up now, “It’s fairly safe for Valorie to go to work. The detective on this case is a friend of mine and he feels she can still go to work every day if Liam stays near.
“Vince, I believe this guy is a stranger. I’m not sure yet about the work place. I’ll have my team go over her employer and the office. For now, though, Valorie, you are better off over at Liam’s. His house is set up like Fort Knox.”
Liam nodded to his father. “Thanks again, Dad, for having faith in me.”
“Son, it wasn’t that I doubted you. Sometimes, we let our heart get in the way of our brain. I just needed to make sure this wasn’t the case.”
Their dads left the room to head down to her apartment. Razan turned back. “Liam, take Valorie. I want you to go to the clinic. What we talked about, son, I agree with you. Good luck.” Razan headed off with Vince.
Valorie gazed up at Liam, her forehead crinkling as she hesitated.
He knew she needed answers. Her life had been out of control and he’d learned enough about her now to know she liked to know what was going on.
“What are you not telling me here?” she asked.
“Nothing, my father just needed to hear your side of what was going on. He takes his company very serious. We don’t just run off halfcocked with just anyone who runs into trouble. Settle down and put your ruffled feathers back in. And I will explain in a little bit about the clinic.” His laughter eased the tension between them. Liam grabbed his phone and called Randi.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Hi, Randi, I need you to phone Andre. We have a new client and I need you both to meet me at my house. I should stop by the clinic then I’ll text you when I’m on my way. Just go over there ahead of me.”
“Excuse me?”
Liam knew already why she was asking this question. He had allowed no one into his home. He never socialized or shared much personally with anyone.
“Would I go over to your house?” Randi cleared her voice. “Did you just ask if I would go to your house?”
“Yep, we’re on a protection detail. This woman is important to me. Dad suggested you and Andre, he wants you there tonight. We’ll come up with the plan as soon as I get there. Make sure the house is secure.” Liam disconnected and gazed at Valorie. “You ready?”
Valorie nodded. She looked shaken but better than before.
Camilla headed toward them carrying a large cup. “Hey you two. Here, Valorie, is some hot mint and Zen tea mixed. It will help you calm your nerves plus soothe your tummy. Are you leaving?”
“Yeah, I’m going home with Liam.”
Liam liked Camilla.
“I love you,” Valorie said as the two sisters hugged.
“I love you too. Take good care of her, Liam. I’m going to stick around and see if I can help in any way. I’ll call you later and see how you are doing.” She hugged Valorie one last time before leaving them to find their father.