Tainted Life by Mel Gough

Author:Mel Gough [Gough, Mel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mel Gough

When Pete poked his head around the door of the ICU bay just after four, he found Liam awake and lying propped up on several pillows.

“Hey.” Liam’s smile warmed Pete’s heart. It was like a great weight lifting off his chest, seeing Liam awake and focused. The lines of pain that had creased his forehead the day before had also diminished.

“Hey yourself,” he said and settled in the chair by the bed. “How’re you feeling?”

“Better, now that you’re here,” Liam retorted. Then he shifted and winced. “Other than that, like I’ve been hit by a truck.”

“It wasn’t a truck, but you got hit all right.” Pete got back to his feet. “Let me help.”

Together, they moved Liam onto his right side, so he could face Pete without having to crane his neck.

“Hey, I got news,” Pete said when he’d sat back down. “About your Sid Vicious.”

Liam’s eyes narrowed. “Very funny.” His right hand tightened into a fist. Pete took it and smoothed out the fingers with gentle determination.

“Apparently he was taken into custody at Heathrow, hours after he attacked you,” he said.

“Oh?”

“He was trying to leave the country using a fake passport. He was off his head on drugs and behaving suspiciously, so Border Police took him in for a background check. Nothing added up, so they kept digging.” He snorted. “Took them until today to connect him to the Enfield house. He’s used all sorts of names all over his fake documents. His real name is Sebastien Chaupard. Some kind of impoverished French-English aristocracy. Got a record as long as his arm in France, and he’s wanted for a whole barrage of things. He’s on his way to La Santé Prison. It’ll take a while to sort out the trial, but he’s unlikely to get bail.” Pete jerked his head towards the door. “I’ve already sent your bodyguard away.”

Relief warred with a whole array of other emotions on Liam’s face. In the end, he gave a lopsided smile. “Shame. Officer Quinn was very easy on the eye.”

Pete couldn’t help a chuckle. It was good to know that his traumatic ordeal hadn’t squashed Liam’s puckish sense of humour. He held Liam’s gaze for a moment, mesmerised by the electric-blue eyes, just as he’d been during their first encounter.

“God, Liam,” he sighed. “When I think…” He swallowed thickly. It was time to address the elephant in the room. "I need to apologize, for what I did to you. If I hadn’t lost it, none of this would’ve happened.”

Liam’s brow furrowed. “How’d you make that out?” But when Pete started to explain he interrupted, “Don’t tell me some shit like I would’ve been safely tucked in your bed instead of walking into some madman’s trap.” He shook his head disparagingly. “I’d’ve just gone another night, Pete. I needed the money.” There was a quiver in his voice on the last words, but before Pete could say anything Liam pressed on, “I know you weren't angry with me, I just caught the tail end of what’s going on with you right now.

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