Page 25 of Destructive Truths

“No. Sorry, I was in a world of my own.”

His eyes hold mine, and for a beat, we stand lost in the moment while nothing but the soundtrack of a soft breeze and early-morning bird chirps fill the silence. It’s only then I realise I haven’t seen Liam since I abandoned him at the introduction party to dance with Rohan.

Guilt tugs at my heartstrings. Liam has been nothing but attentive since I arrived in Killybegs, and all I’ve done is throw his hospitality in his face, yet here he is, showing up to help me, even after the way I treated him. He deserves an apology for how I’ve behaved. He asked me not to choose Rohan, and time and time again, I did. Even when I knew it would break me.

“Look Liam,” I fidget with my hands, searching for the right words. “About the other night—”

His eyes focus over my shoulder, like something in the distance has caught his attention. Finally, he brings his mischievous gaze back to me. “Hold that thought.”

Reaching forward, he takes my hand in his. “Come with me.” He tugs gently, and a wide smile lights his face.

Confused yet thankful for the distraction, I follow behind him, running along the shoreline until we come to an abrupt stop in front of a large sycamore tree. Off to the side, an old tire hangs from a Tiffany-blue rope secured to one of the many branches. “Oh my God.” My voice quivers with disbelief. “It’s still here.”

Liam drops my hand and heads for the old swing. I stand back as he tosses the tire up and over the branch, unravelling the rope and bringing it closer to the ground. Once it’s at the right height, he takes hold of the tire and gestures toward it with a tip of his chin. “Hop on, Free Bird. It’s time to fly.”

My eyes dart between him and the swing, and even though I have a billion things on my mind, the carefree look he’s directing at me wins, crumbling my resolve. “Fine. For old times’ sake.”

One push turns into countless, and for a moment in time, I forget about the weight pressing down on my shoulders. For the first time in weeks, I feel at ease. But like all moments, they pass, and the reality of what I need to do barrels back to the forefront, stealing the sliver of happiness I’d allowed myself to indulge in. A heavy breath huffs past my lips as I drop my feet to the ground, halting mid-flight. My emotions tumble over, and before I can stop myself, tears are cascading down my cheeks.

Liam steps in behind me. Grasping my shoulders with a gentle touch, he moulds my back to his chest. “Hey, hey. It’s okay, Saoirse.” His arms circle my waist, then with little to no effort, he extracts me from the tire, rotates me and draws me into the safety of his arms. My face burrows in his hoodie, and we stay like that for what feels like hours—him holding me together while I so desperately try not to break apart in his arms and drown his sweatshirt with my tears.

“I’m sorry,” I grumble against his chest as he caresses my hair with feather-light strokes.

“You don’t have to apologise for anything, Free Bird.”

That’s where he’s wrong.

“No, I do. I’ve treated you poorly, and you’re still trying to make me smile. Why, Liam? Why would you waste your time when all I’ve done is treat you like shite?”

His hand cups my face as his eyes portray a million things, some of which I don’t have the energy to dissect. “Listen carefully, darlin’. Do you remember what I said to you in the hallway when I asked you to be my date to the dance?”

That conversation seems like a lifetime ago, not days, but still, his words ring through the white noise filtering through my ears. “You asked me not to count you out, and if there was a slight chance I’d pick you at the finish line, you wanted in.”

His lips tug into a smile. “I also said I would fight for you, and I meant it. Was my ego bruised when I heard you left with Rohan? Sure. But then Lorcan filled me in on why you left. A part of me hates it was Rohan who comforted you when you needed it, but I still meant what I said that day. I was born to be a fighter, Saoirse, and I sure as shit don’t back down from a little competition.”

His words spark something dormant inside me, but I can’t help but wonder if he’d change his mind if he knew everything Rohan and I shared.

Not that it matters now.

If what Lorcan said is true, Rohan got everything he came for, and now he’s done. Once again, I was a priceless pawn in one of his sick games. It’s hard to believe I ever meant anything to him. Well, nothing more than a quick fuck to pass the time.

With Liam, it’s different. He’d never use me the way Rohan has. And he’d certainly never disregard me as though I were nothing more than a discarded condom wrapper. The history Liam and I share connects us beyond the physical. That’s not to say I’m not attracted to him, because who wouldn’t be. With a canvas of tattoos decorating a mass of muscle, searing grey eyes, and a jawline that disintegrates panties, Liam Devereux is a sight most women melt for.

Beyond his bad-boy exterior, he brings me comfort. His larger-than-life presence wraps around me like a safety blanket, providing me shelter from the battles I know I need to face. Something about his protective demeanour allows me to show him all the vulnerable shades in the palette of my life, and that’s what attracts me to him most—the safety I feel when I am in his arms, as though nothing in the world could ever bring me harm.

“Talk to me, Free Bird.” His forehead falls forward, resting against mine as he peers into the windows of my soul. “I’ve got you. Promise.” The intensity of his gaze mixed with his gentle touch forces me to step back, creating a sliver of space between us—just enough distance to enable me to think clearly without drowning in the scent of Liam wrapped in leather and pine.

“I’m scared.” I whisper my confession. “I don’t know the first thing about running an organisation, Liam. Never mind one that is steeped in crime. Everyone expects me to slide into this world and take it in stride. But I’m falling head first, gaining more than a few bumps and bruises on my way down. I’m not cut out for this lifestyle. As much as I want to be the queen everyone believes I am, I don’t belong on this chessboard.”

“That’s a load of bollocks, and you know it.” He steps forward, reclaiming the space I put between us. His hand settles beneath my chin, tilting my head back until my eyes lock on his. The intensity burning in the depths hypnotises me. “You belong here. You know it. Your mam knows it. Hell, even the whole syndicate knows how important you are. Why else would your presence here have grown men running scared, scrambling to keep you away from what is rightfully yours?”

“Do you really think I can beat Gabriel King and take back the Ryan seat?”

“It doesn’t matter what I think, Free Bird. Only you know your limits.” My brow furrows as his words sink in. With his free hand, he swipes his thumb along my cheekbone as he lowers his mouth to my ear. “But for what it’s worth, everyone knows the king is the most vulnerable player on the board.” His breath travels along my jawline, and a shiver shoots down my spine. Once his lips are parallel to mine, he whispers against them. “Any guesses on which piece is the most powerful?”

I glance from his lips to his eyes and back again, my words trapped in the base of my throat. I should walk away now, remove myself from his spell, but I can’t. I’m paralysed by every word, lost to every caress, and dulcified by every shared breath. Then he closes in, capturing my lips in a sweet, delicate kiss. All too quick, before I have time to react, he steps back, flashing me a movie-worthy wink and a teasing smile. He slides his hands into his pockets and retreats backward toward the cabins, keeping his eyes on me the entire time. “The queen, Free Bird. The most powerful player is the queen.”

Finally, he turns away, leaving me staring after him with a mind full of racing thoughts.

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