Stolen (Sequel To Capture)

Seventy-Three

He held me tight in his arms cradling me, neither of us wanting to break away from the other. After all this time I knew that I could spend a lifetime in his arms and it still wouldn't be enough. "Are you two idiots done standing the in rain?" Casey's voice floated towards us. I felt Liam laugh as we looked at each other falling into a fit of giggles together.

"Way to ruin the moment Casey." Liam called out as he looped his arm around me walking us towards the front porch where Casey stood with a giant smirk.

"I think you mean 'thank you' since I'm the one who set this whole thing up."

"Oh is that so?" Liam jeered playfully. "How do you figure?"

"If it wasn't for me you two stubborn jackasses would still be fighting."

"Oh that's sweet, name calling." I laughed.

"Well, she is right." Liam shrugged as I glanced at him scoffing. We step out of the rain under the cover of the porch. "Thank you." He smiled genuinely placing his hand out for Casey to fall into a hug. Suddenly and sharply she slapped him hard across the face. I gasped not sure what the strike was for as Liam cowered away from her.

"What was that for?" I shrieked as I tended to Liam quickly.

"He deserved that for what he put you through." She huffed crossing her arms. "What he put us all through."

"I thought one slap would have sufficed." Liam laughed but still kept his distance from Casey to avoid another.

"You deserved both." She smirked.

"When did you hit him the first time?" I frowned as Liam stood straight up holding my hand at his side while he rubbed his cheek with his free hand.

"When she got here." He told me. "I answered the door." He added with a shrug.

"The first one was more of a shock slapping than anything with substance." Casey smiled the kind of smile when you talk smack.

Liam tilted his head smiling. "Really? The both felt pretty substantial."

"Good." She huffed angrily.

"Did I mention how much I missed both of you?" Liam smiled escorting both of us inside. I squeezed the water from my hair before stepping though the door. Seth and Jen both stood up as we entered, the room went silent between the five of us.

"Hi." Jen finally spoke crossing over to Casey to shake her hand. "I'm Jen, Emma's protector." Her eyes flickered towards Liam as she announced her role as my protector. "You must be Casey, Emma's told me so much about you."

"That's me." Casey smiled politely. I watched as Seth hung back not introducing himself at all. He looked to be sizing up the whole situation.

I felt Liam uncomfortably shift his feet next to me causing our arms to bump together. I slowly slipped my hand into his palm feeling him go still as I did so. He squeezed me tightly rubbing his thumb in circles on the back of my hand.

"We should probably go get dried off and cleaned up." I suggested.

"Good idea!" Liam replied a little too excitedly making me smile. I steered him towards my room shutting the door behind us and locking it. "Your agents hate me." He spouted immediately making me laugh.

"They just don't know you yet. I'm sure they're weary of you seeing as your kinda the whole reason I'm in protective custody." I crossed over the the dresser and pull open a drawer rifling through the clothes inside. "Here I've got some clothes in here you can change into."

My hand felt the worn material of the fabric and I smiled knowing which shirt it was before I even saw it. I pulled it out and tossed it to Liam who had already discarded his wet shirt from his body.