Taking It Slow - Reese Knightley Page 0,51
on his.
Spencer groaned and sank his fingers into Liam’s hair, gripping it tight. He slanted his head and deepened the kiss, tangling his tongue with Liam’s and tasting him. His cock agreed wholeheartedly with Liam’s kiss and Spencer moved closer to grind his own hardness against Liam’s jean-covered cock.
Liam moaned and bit at his lips before drawing in a harsh breath and breaking the kiss.
“You’re fucking killing me,” Liam husked and cupped the nape of his neck.
The hand on his neck caressed the beginning of his scalp, sending chills down his spine.
“Fuck,” he gasped.
Liam leaned in and settled his forehead to his and they stood like that. Spencer couldn’t take his eyes from Liam’s to save his life.
It felt like he’d just woken up from a long sleep. Woken up from his own stupidity, and Liam was there waiting for him.
“I’m sorry,” he began to try and explain.
“No.” Liam shook his head, drew back, and touched his fingers over his lips. “Don’t be sorry. Everything happens in its own time.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
The breath he held shuddered out. “We’re still going to need to set some boundaries.”
Liam frowned. “What boundaries?”
“Regarding your money.” He clenched his teeth. “And your desire to pay like I’m some charity case.”
“I’m not.”
“You are.”
Liam let out a sharp, annoyed breath. “Yeah, we sure the hell are going to talk about that.”
The knock at the door was expected, but it irritated him that he couldn’t get this said and done.
“Come in!” Liam barked in a hard tone. The loving man from moments ago, gone.
“Spencer!” Wesley rushed through the door and toward him.
Spencer caught his brother tightly in his arms.
“Shhhh, I’m okay,” he whispered to Wesley.
“I thought you weren’t coming back.” Tears clogged his brother’s voice.
“What have I always told you?” he murmured.
“That you’ll always come home.”
He left it at that. Catching Forest’s gaze over the top of Wesley’s head, he nodded.
“I hate to do this, Wesley, but I need to take care of something with these guys. Think you can hang out with Adam and Jessica until I’m done?”
Wesley drew back with a nod, then wiped a sleeve at his eyes. “Yeah, I can do that.”
With one last glance his way, his brother left the room.
That left Forest, Zane, and Isaac along with Liam remaining.
Forest shut the door and walked over to take a seat at the small conference table on one side of Liam’s office.
They all took a seat.
Liam sat on the opposite side. Good thing, Spencer needed a clear head.
Forest cleared his throat. “We’re dealing with some pretty powerful government officials.”
“Good thing we have the SOD in our corner then, isn’t it?” Isaac said.
“True,” Forest agreed. “When push comes to shove, we might need the Secretary’s pull to get the last puzzle piece out of office.”
“And who is the last puzzle piece?” he growled.
“Councilman James Coulier.” Forest lifted his briefcase and withdrew several documents.
“No shit?” Zane gaped at Forest.
“Yes. No shit. And not only does Coulier have his hands in extorting money from scared and terrified parents, he also takes advantage of children whose parents don’t care.”
“How?” Liam frowned.
“Coulier is selling some of the children that pass through CPS to human traffickers.”
“Jesus, fuck,” Zane muttered.
“Yeah. It’s another way to line his pockets.”
“Damn it,” Isaac said tightly. “It’s bad enough homeless kids are snatched off the streets by traffickers, but to have them delivered by someone in our own fucking government?”
“It’s sickening,” Forest agreed.
“What’s the plan?” he asked, bringing it back to the solution rather than the problem.
“Because of Colonel Cobalt’s level of security and access to more, I’ve okayed for you to stay here for your protection.”
“Okay. How long?”
“For a few days. I’m going to have you call Mayer and smooth things over. Apologize and arrange a meet.”
He wanted to pound that fucker into the pavement instead, but he knew it wasn’t the way to get the big fish.
“You think he’ll fall for that?” Liam asked.
Forest looked at him and Spencer answered. “The guy’s greedy. He’d sell his family for a fucking buck. I can get him to meet, but how does that get us to Coulier?”
“We believe that Mayer meets with Coulier’s aide, Steven Moss, and delivers the money minus his cut.”
“I never give him much money.” Spencer frowned.
“Think bigger,” Forest said, drawing out several papers. “This is a list of people he extorts money from.”
“Holy hell,” Isaac said, looking at the number of names on the list.
“Yes, it’s a small fortune,” Forest said, his gaze running over Isaac. “And that’s only the ones we know about.”
Zane