Abrade - [Charles Leclerc] A Sequel To Corrode

Undici

          Liam did something he maybe shouldn't have done.

But he had to do it.

"Give it to me again," Liam held his hand up to receive the binoculars from Mick once more. "I hate you for bringing me here," Mick grumbled, laying on his stomach between the bushes next to Liam. "I love you for bringing me here," Liam blew him a kiss, and he dodged the ball of dirt Mick nearly pushed into his face. After Charles asked him to help after his brother messed up, Liam had been thinking about it. He had heard some things about this crew and about the girls they were trafficking, but as he was barely involved in the business of his father, he couldn't imagine much of it. This day changed everything completely. Charles didn't know he was here, and he would probably get scolded at for not telling his father, but he needed to see it for himself without any bias yet. Mick had been a silent companion after he was convinced by Liam to take him. Liam looked at the men of the rival crew, pulling the girls out of the building and shoving them into a van. "Where are they going after this?" Liam asked, handing the binoculars back as he sat up to lean against the rock.

"Italy, Switzerland, Slovakia," Mick shrugged. "That's what they do. They traffic drugs with the girls," he said. "Come on," Mick got up and dusted the dirt off his jeans, looking around before making sure no one had seen them. Liam joined him as they walked back to the car, which they had parked in a spot that was hidden from the public. Mick knew all of these spots, of course. He had been out on missions a lot of times. "This is where you take Celia, huh," Liam teased, making Mick turn his head sharply towards him as he reached for his car keys. "You're a dick," Mick said, unlocking the doors and hopping into the Range Rover. "Tell me what's going on between you and the maid, Mickie," Liam continued. "Can you believe I used to baby sit you?" the guard replied, starting the engine and locking his seatbelt before turning the car onto the road. "She has a name. Not the maid," Mick added. "Sorry, man," Liam rose his hands in an innocent way. "I like her, the rest is none of your business," he grinned, making Liam huff in response. "Thanks for taking me here," he said, switching the topic.

"You and your brother are going to get me killed for real once," Mick sighed, nevertheless with a small smile as his fingers drummed on the steering wheel. They entered the center of Monte Carlo again and Mick drove them back home, seeing Charles' car was still gone. "Where is he anyway?" Liam asked when the gate opened and Mick parked the car. "He's out for lunch with your mom," Mick said. "Teresa's with them," he added. Liam nodded. "They left that criminal of a brother of mine alone and unwatched?" he said extra loud when they entered the house. "I heard that!" Jules yelled from upstairs. "You haven't become a day older since you got out of the diapers," Celia said, shaking her head at the noise she heard when they came into the kitchen. "Mentally," Celia added. "You can't know because you weren't there," Liam defended. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone, I'm going to prepare myself to speak to dad later," he said, saluting Mick before making his way upstairs. "Lovebirds?" Celia asked, a blush covering her cheeks. "Ignore him," Mick waved it away, making his way around the table to come closer to her.

"Do you have anything to do right now?" Mick asked, looking down to look her in the eyes, making her feel a bit giddy. "No, I don't," she replied. "Do you want to have a coffee with me in the garden?" he asked next. "Yeah, I do," Celia smiled, getting to the coffee machine to make two coffees. Mick leaned against the kitchen, and she glanced to her side to see him looking back at her. She felt the heat creeping up her neck again, and she swallowed hard before speaking up again. "So, how's your recovery?" she asked. "Doing pretty good," Mick replied. "Look, it's starting to become a scar now," he said, moving his shirt up and making her eyes dart over his sharp abs. "The scar's here, darling." Celia pursed her lips together, following Mick's finger that pointed out the scar on the side of his body. "Put your shirt down," Celia said, making him chuckle. "Don't get cocky now," she added, making him laugh even harder. She handed him the cup of coffee and followed him outside. They sat down between the flowers, and he turned to face her. "I was wondering something," Mick started, making her look at him. His eyes flicked between her eyes and her lips. "When are going to bake cookies again?"