“Almost there.” Someone murmured an update, and I could hear their fingers flying over the keyboard. “Likewise.” One of Theo’s men responded.
We had confirmation that Sara was inside the manor, but we didn’t have confirmation that she was unharmed or even alive. It was only my tactical training that kept my feet in place, knowing that every precious minute that passed was a minute Sara could be injured, in mortal danger, or worse.
“Any day now,” Liam muttered.
“She’s strong; she’ll pull through this.” I shifted, fingers pressing into the soft earth beneath me, willing my words to prove true.
“You don’t know that,” Liam murmured. “People do terrible things when they’re desperate.”
“Well, let’s hope she’s the one doing them.” I countered, my chest feeling tighter than ever. “We both know she’s capable of raising hell when she wants to.” Liam huffed a heavy breath that might have been amusement.
Sara was resourceful, yes, but Tag—I worried about the lengths he would go to prove himself, in whatever larger picture was playing out. He’d threatened her at gunpoint and then proceeded to empty an entire clip into me—that reality left every cell in my body drenched in fear, and it was a luxury I couldn’t afford. So, I returned to my box-breathing in an effort to steady my panic as I watched the sun melt beyond the horizon in blood red hues.
“I don’t know how I didn’t see this coming.” Liam admitted quietly. “I should have known the lengths my father would go to save his own skin—should have seen the signs, the way he was pillaging the estate, I should have known something was up.”
I exhaled a long breath, thinking the same. “I don’t think anyone could have predicted this.” I added, “It’s not your fault.”
“Is it yours?” Liam asked, no vitriol in his voice, as he finally turned to look at me.
I looked down, jaw fanning. “Honestly, it might be.”
He hung his head, giving it an exhausted shake. “It’s not.” After a moment, he added with such disgust, “What a fucking cocksucker—trying to buy a wife.”
“Liam, I need you to know she wasn’t just a fling.” I admitted quietly, and he shot me a glowering look. “I love her.”
“Why the fuck did you break her heart, then?” He demanded softly, keeping his eyes on the manor rather than looking at me.
“Back then?” I swallowed hard. “You made it very clear that I’d be dead to you if I ever made a pass at her. And when myparents died, you, your family, her, it was the only thing that kept me alive.” I felt his gaze on me, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at him as I admitted something I was incredibly ashamed of. “You think I was going to jeopardize the only family I had left by making a move? You’re practically my brother, Liam. You can be pissed at me all you want, but back then, no matter how I felt, I stayed away because ofyou.I couldn’t admit it to myself that I loved her, because I was terrified of alienating you. Terrified of losing your parents’ support.” I studied the dirt beneath me. “You don’t know what it’s like to be all alone—to have no one.”
“You’ve never had no one.” Liam huffed.
“Because I played by the rules, you set up for me. Read between the lines when your father warned me.”
“You ever think that was for a good reason?” Liam’s eyes were dark, unforgiving. “You went behind my back with her and then decided to break her heart anyway. Just like I knew you would, from the very beginning.”
“Liam, they drugged and beat the shit out of me and then turned around and threatened to do the same for her—worse, actually. What the hell was I supposed to do?” He stared at me for a long minute. “I stepped back for her own goddamn safety.” I huffed, lowering my voice further. “Because no matter how much I love her, keeping her safe is always going to be my top priority—no matter the cost.”
“So I’m supposed to believe you broke her heart for the better good.” He asked quietly, as if that’s what he wanted to believe, but couldn’t. “How can you love her if you’ve never been able to hold down a serious relationship?” He muttered. “Do you even know what love is? What commitment really means?”
“Are you even hearing me?” I demanded, “They kidnapped her, sold her like it was nothing—Liam, they threatened to kill her, and I believe them, because theymurdered my parents.” I barreled on even as his eyes snapped to mine in realization. “This organization, this Society your father is so proud to be a part of, they’re not playing fucking games, and they will stop atnothingtoget what they want. I get that you’re angry, and you have every right to be, but tell me you wouldn’t have done the same damn thing for Gina—if you thought it’s what would keep her safe—keep heralive.”
“This isnotabout me and Gina.” He grumbled, “Sara’s just too fragile for this. Everyone just hurts her, over and over again. She carries the weight of the world on her shoulders all the goddamn time, and I just want to see her happy,safe.”
“I think she’d say the same about you—and she’s not fragile, Liam. She feels deeply, yes, but give her credit where it’s due, for Christ’s sake. She’s strong, and determined, and resilient—not to mention, she’s a grown-ass woman who’s perfectly capable of deciding who she’sallowedto love.” He glared, but I kept on going. “And if you really do care about her happiness, when I ask her to marry me, don’t be the one that stands in the way.” He opened his mouth to object, but I didn’t stop. “I’ve always loved her, and that’s why there wasn’t anybody else, because it wasalwaysher. She’s my forever, Liam, and if she’ll take me back, I can’t step aside for you or anyone else. Not ever again. Don’t draw a line in the sand when it doesn’t have to be that way.”
“And when you’re done playing house?” Liam demanded softly. “Marriage means something to her.”
“The day I’m done with her is the day they put me in the dirt.” I looked back towards the manor cooly. “And even then, I’ll never stop loving her.”
Liam stiffened as he returned his gaze to the manor. “She’ll be the one to decide, then.”
“And Liam?”
“What?” he snapped roughly.
“When we get in there, I need you to get her out because when I get my hands on him,” My blood went red hot as the sound of Tag’s hand meeting Sara’s cheek rang through my memory, the feeling of metal biting into my wrists, the helplessness I felt as she crumpled to the ground. “I’m gonna kill him.”
Liam opened his mouth to argue, but just then Theomurmured, “Alright kids, put your seatbelts on, we’re in, and it’s time to raise hell.”
