Taking It Slow - Reese Knightley Page 0,50
Maddox’s shoulder and the captain took a long, slow breath.
“He didn’t. That fucker came up and hit him from behind with a flashlight,” Eagle told Maddox. “I was there.”
Logan hung up the phone and turned to the group.
Liam held his identical twin’s green gaze.
“Fear’s waiting for the SOD to call him back,” Logan said.
“Let’s hope to God they can help us,” Liam growled and dropped into the chair behind his desk.
“Surely the Secretary of Defense could find out who took Spencer,” Link said.
“That’s if he was taken by the government,” Maddox responded worriedly.
Liam’s stomach turned sour. He refused to think it might be someone other than a government entity that had taken Spencer.
His cell phone buzzed with an incoming call and he frowned at the 562 area code.
“Hello?”
“Colonel Liam Cobalt?”
He snapped up straighter. “This is he,” he growled into the phone.
“My name is FBI Director Forest Taylor and I have someone here who wants to speak with you.”
His breath stalled and his eyes watered. There was a rustling over the phone and then the voice he’d been waiting for spoke, bringing the world back into focus.
“Liam?”
“Spencer,” he breathed, clutching the phone tightly. “Where are you?”
“Well, I’m on my way to your house, but you need to keep it a secret. Director Taylor and I will fill you in when we get there,” Spencer said. “Is that okay?”
“Fuck yes, it’s okay.” The words came out harsh and gritty. His palms dampened around the phone and he felt like throwing up.
“You’ll need to clear out the house of everyone but immediate family.”
“Okay, but I’m not at home yet,” he whispered tightly.
“Well, I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Okay.” He sounded like a robot.
“Liam?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
He closed his eyes and his mouth went dry, the world spun, and he couldn’t say a word to save his life. After a moment, the line went dead and with more regret then he’d thought possible, he missed his chance to respond.
“What’s going on?” Logan questioned, stepping closer, keeping his voice low and calm.
“I need you all to trust me. I’m calling off the search. I can’t say more than that at this time, because I don’t know. But I will when I can. This is a matter of Spencer’s safety.”
All eyes in the room were on him and then collectively, they nodded. Really, though, who was going to question his word? Well, Logan would, but never in front of his men.
“I’ll contact Fear. He’s probably left a message, but nothing that can’t be smoothed over.”
“Thank you, bro.”
“Let us know if there’s anything you need,” Maddox said gruffly.
“I’ll find out the details. If there’s any way that I can tell you about it, I will,” he promised. “Just know Spencer sounds safe.”
After returning his brother’s hug, Liam jogged out of the building and ran to his truck.
He was home in record time.
Spencer
“What happened to a clear house?”
“I only called in Zane and Isaac,” Liam responded tightly.
The strain around Liam’s eyes tightened Spencer’s stomach.
“Can you give me a fucking minute?” Spencer let out a harsh growl and ran a hand over his shorn head.
Liam caught his eyes over the top of the group of men. Forest had two FBI agents with him as well.
“Yeah, we can give you a minute,” Forest said and pointed toward the door. Nobody argued. Even Zane and Isaac left the room Liam used as a home office.
Liam shut the door and the quiet stretched between them.
Spencer couldn’t look away from Liam.
He hadn’t said it back. Liam hadn’t said that he loved him.
“Did you hear me?” he whispered.
Liam scowled. “Yeah, I heard you.”
Oh, his colonel was not happy.
“And?” He clenched his teeth. Damn, the man was irritating.
“Come here,” Liam ordered and pointed to the spot in front of him. “Come over here and say it to my face.”
His heart lurched and then tapped double time. Several long strides brought him across the room and he stood in front of Liam.
How could he have ever thought he could only be friends with this man? He must have been out of his mind. Liam was nothing like the men of his past. His solemn colonel would never use his money to belittle him.
“Say it,” Liam said huskily.
“I love you.” He wanted to say it with all the confidence he felt, but it came out wobbly and raspy in his throat.
Liam reached a hand out and gripped him by the shirt to pull him close.
“Ditto, babe. It’s about damned time,” the man muttered and then Liam’s mouth was