Page 9 of Bound by Adoration

“Absolutely. Please go on,” Liam responded, sitting back in the chair.

The dynamic between these two had my blood boiling. I wanted that. Wanted the knowledge in her head. Wanted her trust. Wanted her to come to me with her problems, and I’d fix them. Whatever this was, I would make it go away. There wasn’t any doubt in my mind about that. Ravage was at my back.

“Elizabeth, that’s my mom’s name, had some serious secrets that she hid from me. I learned many of those secrets after she died and was placed in her position.”

Silence filled the air, thickening the tension already present. I felt like I was on pins and needles just waiting for her words. For them to stab me.

Neither Liam nor I moved a muscle, though. She needed this moment, and she was going to get it. Maybe I needed it too because of the bold, blatant words that came from her lips after had anger like no other building inside me.

“All in the name of family, they said.” She closed her eyes, then tipped her head back, remembering. “I was punched, tortured, starved, and kept captive against my will for years. Just like my mother.”

My heart hurt as the lava in my veins threatened to erupt. I’d kill them. Every fucking one of them. I’d make it painful as fuck before I allowed them the peace of death. My fists clenched so hard that my nails bit into the flesh as rage like no other consumed me.

Muscles tensed, flexed, and I wanted to go to her. Wanted to punch something. Wanted to scream. Wanted to burn whoever these motherfuckers were to the ground. It took every ounce of power and strength in my body to stay in place and not move.

I was about to speak, but kept my mouth shut as she continued. “The men were dangerously powerful in Atlanta, and while they thought it was impossible for me to get away, I did with Liam’s help. I vanished like a ghost in a puff of smoke, never staying in one place too long until I came to Sumner. If Liam’s here, it means my cover is blown, and I’m not ready for that to happen … ever.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” I asked, not liking the vagueness and how much of this story she was leaving out. Every word seemed to be some riddle that I was supposed to connect the dots to figure out.

A loud banging came to the door, and Nyx’s head popped up, widened eyes lasered on the door. She thought they’d found her. And it terrified her. Fuck that. Grabbing my gun, I rose from the couch as Liam did the same from the chair, grabbing his gun as well.

If I just lifted my hand and pulled the trigger, the man beside me would fall to the ground.Why did I hate that thought as much as I liked it? And of all times to have such a thought. No, this was not the time.

“Nyx!” Screech’s voice came through the wood as the pounding came again, and Nyx jumped up. “Put the guns down,” she ordered as she moved to the door with purpose and determination.

“Open the door, Nyx!” Screech yelled once again.

As Nyx came by, I tried grabbing her arm to stop her, but she ripped it away and gave me a scathing look.

“Wait!” I called out at the same time as Liam. Fucker. But she didn’t listen to either of us. Go figure. That fucking woman was stubborn as fuck.

Nyx didn’t even check the door, just swung it open to a frantic Screech, pissing me off after she'd just told me men were after her.

“Oh my God! You turned off your phone! You give me that directive and then what? Go ghost without giving me some kind of information? Some kind of follow through. How the fuck am I supposed to protect you!” he yelled at Nyx, but not in a pissed off way. No, in a worried that she would be dead on the floor when he got here way.

“I’m sorry…”

Screech’s gaze flicked up from Nyx, obviously seeing she was alive and breathing and moving his attention to the two men with guns in their hands. “What’s goin’ on here, Nyx?” he asked, his eyes moving rapidly between Liam and me.

“Just my life imploding. Come on in, and join the party.” She stepped aside, and he didn’t move. Nyx turned to us, seeing our guns still out and ready to shoot.

“Put those fuckin’ things away. I’ll string you up by your balls myself if you hurt one hair on Screech’s head,” she barked with her eyes narrowed as if she were in fact going to cut off all four of our balls.

I smirked and put away my gun since I’d met the man before. She was cute thinking she could rip body parts off. But she loved this guy. As a friend, but still, that kind of loyalty was admirable. Therefore, he was on the untouchable list. Unless he put Nyx in danger, then all bets were off.

“Who’s this one?” Screech asked, pointing to Liam as he sized him up. His unusual height put him above everyone in the room. He was a bit scrawny, not a threat. Now his computer…

Nyx grabbed Screech’s arm and pulled hm into the room, shutting and locking the door. “Just in case someone else wants to join. This party is closed.”

It took Liam a few beats, but he finally put his gun away. “Liam.” He held out his hand to Screech, ever the respectful one. Just pissed me off more. Any little thing the man did ticked me off.

“Uhmm… Screech,” he said, surprised, taking the man’s hand and shaking once.

Screech moved quickly to Nyx. “We don’t have a lot of time. You have to go.” Screech pulled a backpack off his shoulder and handed it to Nyx. “There’s cash, ammo for your gun, three different IDs, and startup paperwork. You need to get set up somewhere invisible until all this blows over.”

“Wait a fuckin’ minute here. Why does she need to run?” I blurted, trying to get the word vomit from his lips to stop. She wasn’t leaving.

Screech was panicked. “Because those assholes are coming to Tifton which is only thirty miles from here. You have to go!”

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