Run or stay, I would never survive.
“My brave wife.” Liam kissed the top of my head. “I don’t deserve you, Gabriella. But I will fight to my dying breath for us. Because I want you, cailín. I want all of you—the good and the bad. I’ve claimed it as mine, and I hold it more sacred than any saint’s shrine.”
A sob threatened to choke me, but I swallowed it. I felt the same. Damn me, but I’d fallen hard for my husband.
“There will never be anyone else for me. You’ve filled all the missing pieces in my heart, little bird.”
My grip tightened. I had to tell him. I just…had to. I couldn’t leave without this goodbye, without him knowing how I felt.
I wished we had more time.
“You’re everything I wanted.”I will never forget you, Liam.“You came when I needed you.”And if I could keep you, I would.“You set me free.”
He was silent for a moment. I worried I’d said too much, even though I’d kept the love I felt for him burning unspoken.
“Lass?”
“Mmm?”
He let out a short breath. “Nothing. Let’s get you back to bed, and then I’ll join you after I help the lads sort out this mess.”
Stumbling under the weight of the future, I tucked myself under the protection of his arm and allowed him to lead me back upstairs.
Where Storm had destroyed the bathroom.
Shaking with anxiety, the puppy clawed his front paws down our legs. Barking and snuffling, he spun about before attacking us with kisses of pure affection.
The comic relief of the mess helped to quell the overwhelming sense of the impending loss. I was in love with my husband, and I needed to leave now, or I would forever be captured by that soul-binding feeling. Which wouldn’t be a bad thing if my heart was my own to give.
Chapter 46 – Gabriella
Everything was prepared. Tonight was the night. It was too late to leave without my heart being torn, but the decision was simple. Liam was an adult. While he had needs, he could always find another wife. On paper, I was replaceable, even if his declaration last night promised that wasn’t true.
If I didn’t leave, nature was going to gnaw at me until I was brittle with loss.
The precious cash was hidden in the bottom of my bag, and I only had to get through the day with a semblance of normalcy. Which meant taking my weekly walk to the park.
I didn’t think I could stomach that.
Especially when Liam walked through the door, holding two coffees. I stifled a yelp of surprise and braced myself against the kitchen island. He was here. Why was he here? This man had a thriving empire, yet he just strolled into the house like he had nothing better to do than spend a morning with me.
My heart clenched tightly.
“What’s this?” I gasped, trying to act breezy and natural.
Liam cocked his head. “I just wanted to check that you were okay. After last night.”
He could have called.
Instead, he’d made time for me.
Pain lanced my heart. It was a struggle to find the words.
“The house stinks of bleach, but I’m good,” I said, even though that was the furthest thing from the truth. “Need some fresh air.”
Liam slid the iced latte across to me. “I’ll get Storm. Then we’ll go for a walk. The Bay Front Park is just down the street.”
I blinked, heart in my throat. As if he didn’t already know I went there every Tuesday morning. Merda…why? Why was he coming with? I drew a ragged breath through my nose and forced myself not to tremble.
